God and His Relationship to Evil (Suffering 05)

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

God works ALL things together for GOOD.

Those whom he foreknew, he predestined TO BE CONFORMED to the image of his Son...

He will complete it.

Through any and every means possible, including suffering.

In these verses, we have the truth that God brings good out of evil; that he is sovereign over evil; that evil will not prevail.

For many, this problem of evil is a stumbling block.

Greg Bahnsen notes...

He [the atheist] wants to know about the problem of evil. My answer to the problem of evil is this: There is no problem of evil in an atheist’s universe because there is no evil in an atheist’s universe. Since there is no God, there is no absolute moral standard, and nothing is wrong. The torture of little children is not wrong in an atheist’s universe. It may be painful, but it is not wrong. It is morally wrong in a theistic universe, and therefore, there is a problem of evil of perhaps the psychological or emotional sort, but philosophically the answer to the problem of evil is you don’t have an absolute standard of good by which to measure evil in an atheist’s universe. You can only have that in a theistic universe, and therefore, the very posing of the problem presupposes my world view, rather than his own. God has a good reason for the evil that He plans or allows. The Great Debate: Does God Exist? University of California, Irvine, 1985. Greg Bahnsen

So, ironically, an atheists contention of “the problem of evil” conflicts with their worldview of God failing to exist.

It is an obvious problem that evil and suffering exist.

The problem is not proving not but reconciling that with the reality of a good God and even what it means for something to be good.

At least part of this problem is rooted in our perception of what is good and evil.

Jim Elliff notes..

It is true that God is good and that in the world under His control bad things happen – at least bad things happen from the human perspective. When I discipline my child, it might seem like a bad thing from his vantage point, but it is a good thing from mine. When a nation wins a just war, it might seem bad from the enemy’s side, but it is good for the world. So at least part of the problem is perspective. Are we saying something is bad from God’s perspective or man’s? Jim Elliff If God is Good, Why do so Many Bad Things Happen?, Christian Communicators Worldwide, www.CCWtoday.org. Used by Permission. Jim Elliff

Evil and sin originate in the fall.

However, God is good and neither commits evil nor is enticed by it.

Part of our problem is what is noted above…our understanding and definition of what is good or bad.

Today, we will consider God’s relationship to evil.

We will see, as we have been, that God is neither evil nor commits evil but uses evil for good.

Sermon Body

God Always Does Right (Even when it seems evil)

A. God never personally does evil (Gen. 18:25; Dt. 32:4).

Genesis 18:25 ESV

25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Deuteronomy 32:4 ESV

4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Why is this truth so important? What would happen if it were not true?

Everything would change and all would fail if this was not true.

God could not be trusted

Truth (Absolute, objective) would be erased.

Not only can God NOT commit evil, he is not even enticed by it.

James 1:13.

James 1:13 ESV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

God NEVER commits evil himself NOR is he tempted by it.

HOWEVER...

B. God does send, permit, and move others to do evil (Heb. 1:3).

1. Nothing develops outside of God’s will (Heb. 1:3).

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

2. “Upholding” (Carrying something from one place to another).

a. Carrying the paralyzed man (Lk. 5:18)

Luke 5:18 ESV

18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,

b. Carrying wine to the feast (Jn. 2:8)

John 2:8 ESV

8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.

c. Bring Paul’s books and cloak (2 Tim 4:13)

2 Timothy 4:13 ESV

13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.

This idea of UPHOLDING the universe means that God is carrying, sustaining all the events, all the elements of creation and carefully, successfully carrying them to where he intends them to be.

GOD IS moving in his creation to carry out his will....even when it involves evil.

Evil is a tool that God is using to carry out his perfect plan. It never was, is not, and never shall be out of his control.

HE SIMPLY DOES NOT ENGAGE IN EVIL.

This upholding means....

3. Means an active participation, not just merely a sustaining the action. Present participle: continually carrying along all things in the universe by the power of His Word.

“God, the Son, holds each and every aspect of creation, including all of its evil aspects, in His hands… and carries it by His word to where it accomplishes exactly what He wants to do.” John Piper

C. “All things work according to the council of His will” (Eph. 1:11).

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

What things are included in “all”?

What things are excluded from “all”?

1. “Works” God actually brings about all things in accordance with His will. It is not merely God carrying all events to their appointed end.

Phil 1:6.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

What does lit say about the work that God began in us?

HE WILL bring it to completion.

This is the same idea in Ephesians 1:11.

2. The evil events are used by God to bring glory to Him.

a. He punishes evil doers (Ex. 9:13, 14)

Exodus 9:13–14 ESV

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14 For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.

b. To reveal God to others (Jn. 9:3).

John 9:3 ESV

3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

c. To chastise believers (Heb. 12:3-11).

Hebrews 12:3–11 ESV

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

d. For sanctification purposes (Jas. 1:2-4).

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Looking back at Eph 1:11 again...

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

3. “Predestined’ God has not left anything up to chance; even the evil.

Evil was not a speedbump in God’s plan.

Evil was PLANNED FOR as part of his plan.

ALL things are orchestrated, permitted, governed, and controlled by the hand of God. ALL THINGS.

D. God is even using the wicked for His purposes (Prov. 16:4). This includes horrendous evil such as the Holocaust.

Proverbs 16:4 ESV

4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

What has God made for his purposes?

GOD USES evil TO ACCOMPLISH HIS GOOD WILL.

In so doing, in the way he goes about it, it draws attention to HIS glory and worth.

E. God controls the good and the evil (Eccl. 7:14).

Ecclesiastes 7:14 ESV

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

Evil, though finding no origin, source, or execution in God IS controlled, managed and used by God.

For the Almighty God, who, as even the heathen acknowledge, has supreme power over all things, being Himself supremely good, would never permit the existence of anything evil among His works if He were not so omnipotent and good that He can bring good even out of evil. Augustine

F. There are no surprises when it comes to the evil in the world (Isa. 46:9, 10).

Isaiah 46:9–11 ESV

9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

(Isa. 46:11: This verse is referring to Cyrus conquering Israel as a result of her sin.

God brings even about FOR HIS OWN PURPOSE.

Though God takes no pleasure in evil, he uses it for his good purposes.

God does not desire that any suffer as a result of sin and evil not even the smallest sparrow.

G. God is even concerned about the smallest sparrow (Mt. 10:29).

Matthew 10:29 ESV

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

However, God, in his perfect wisdom, recognizes the powerful tool of evil and wields it with perfection for his good purpose.

Practical Application: Isa. 45:7: Amos 3:6.

Isaiah 45:7 ESV

7 I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Amos 3:6 ESV

6 Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?

Clearly God does orchestrate evil against men. The evil is always the result of man’s sinfulness. In reality, God allows men, as individuals and as a group, to reap what they sow, even when it seems unfair to the innocent. God wants man to see how horrible sin is and what it is doing to our relationship with Him. Man needs to be asking why there is no peace.

God and Evil

God is not evil.

No evil will emanate from him

But it is a tool.

Consider the following.

A. “A distressing spirit from the Lord” (1 Sam. 16:14-16). (This is a lack of peace as a result of disobedience. Saul brought it on himself.)

B. God sent a spirit of ill will against Abimelech (Judg. 9:23).

C. King Zedekiah rebellious toward God (1 Ki. 22:23-28) God allows lying to take place to bring judgment on him (1 Ki. 22:18).

1 Kings 22:13–28 ESV

13 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” 15 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 16 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’ ” 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.” 24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” 25 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 26 And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 27 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace.” ’ ” 28 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”

1 Kings 22:29-40 detail that Ahab does indeed go into war and he does indeed die.

God used the evil of lying to convince a wicked king to go into battle so that he might be judged for his evil.

D. As a result of man’s stubborn heart, God sends delusion (2 Thess. 2:11). The delusion is from the heart of men and He allows it for His purpose. He gives man what He wants. We know some will be saved in spite of this.

E. God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah to make a point then and now regarding homosexuality (Gen. 19).

Probably not JUST homosexuality but the general heart condition that was evidenced by their flagrant homosexuality.

F. God sent poisonous snakes because of man’s rebellion against Him (Num. 21:6).

G. He sent a pestilence to kill seventy thousand again due to rebellion (2 Sam. 24).

H. God sent raiding bands because of Israel’s disobedience, and lack of love for Him (2 Ki. 24:2-4).

I. God destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers to protect Israel (Isa. 37:36).

One can argue that many, if not all of these, are done at man or nature’s bidding.

And yet, in each case, God takes the credit for it.

God used nature, the curse, the adversary, man’s wicked and evil intent and decisions to accomplish his purpose and plan.

Practical Application: Though our pea brain can’t quite make sense of all this, it is clear that God has His hand on every evil. I believe He merely allows man his way and God is using it in ways that we do not see to accomplish His will.

He Permits Other to Do Evil

A. God offered Job to Satan (Job 1:6-12). God permitted Satan to viciously attack Job. Job proved that man can sustain Satan’s attacks and glorify God, even when he does not understand. We can trust His sovereign will as He works among men.

B. Jacob and Laban (Gen. 31:7); the death angel at Passover (Ex. 12:23) God controls the evil done to others.

Genesis 31:7 ESV

7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.

Jacob notes that God protected him from harm DESPITE Laban’s cheating him.

By implication and reverse, we also acknowledge that if God is able to protect Jacob from harm, HE WAS (and is) able to protect Jacob from the cheating as well…HOWEVER, God permitted that treatment for a reason.

Exodus 12:23 ESV

23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.

The death angel at Passover was a messenger of God sent to do the actual deed of the killing, though in this case, it was also a just act of judgment for Egypt’s rebellion.

This evil, this wrath was done, was sent, was permitted for at least two reasons....

1. To impress upon Egyptians concerning the only God.

2. To impress upon Israel of the greatness of their God.

C. Satan had to ask God for permission to sift Peter (Lk. 22:31).

God PERMITS others other commit evil all the while utilizing, shaping, and redeeming that evil for HIS GOOD PURPOSE.

Practical Application: We do not have to understand why God does what He does, but we can know that God will always do what is best for all mankind and the individuals involved.

God Moves Others to Do Evil

God permits others to commit evil...

BUT, he also MOVES among them to commit evil.

A. Egypt goes against Egypt (Isa. 19:2).

Isaiah 19:1–4 ESV

1 An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. 2 And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; 3 and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers; 4 and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord God of hosts.

One of favorite OT stories, Jonathan and his armor bearer going against the entire Philistine army (1 Samuel 13-14) also speaks of God causing a great confusion among the camp and soldiers of the same army went against each other.

God has and does insight men to commit evil against each other, FOR HIS OWN GOOD PURPOSES.

God is good…all the time....

B. God oppresses Israel through David; allows David to disobey by numbering Israel (2 Sam. 24:1).

2 Samuel 24:1–17 ESV

1 Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 2 So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.” 3 But Joab said to the king, “May the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?” 4 But the king’s word prevailed against Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel. 5 They crossed the Jordan and began from Aroer, and from the city that is in the middle of the valley, toward Gad and on to Jazer. 6 Then they came to Gilead, and to Kadesh in the land of the Hittites; and they came to Dan, and from Dan they went around to Sidon, 7 and came to the fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites; and they went out to the Negeb of Judah at Beersheba. 8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000. 10 But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” 11 And when David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’ ” 13 So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 14 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.” 15 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”

God incited David to number the people.

A sin.

David CHOSE to following the temptation to number the people, a temptation sent by God.

As result God judged the nation....a judgement that God incited through David because of their rebellion.

Notice though, David recognized HIS own sin. He repented and God told him what to do in order to set it right.

Though God sent the temptation and incited David, DAVID WAS RESPONSIBLE. David is the one who chose to sin.

God did NOT sin, nor did he tempt David to sin. He willed that the temptation be sent; God willed that David would be incited to number the people AS A MEANS FOR GOD TO BRING JUDGMENT UPON THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR SIN, but GOD HOLDS DAVID accountable for his choice.

Practical Application: Sin has greatly complicated life. God is so great that nothing is complicated to Him. 2 Pt. 3:9 says that God is not willing that any should perish. He has carefully orchestrated every detail of life to motivate every soul to acknowledge who He is and the relationship we can have with Him. As His children, the suffering is to keep us growing in our relationship with Him. God is not only concerned about us getting saved from the Lake of Fire. He is also concerned about us wanting to develop our love for Him. He wants us to love Him more than anything for all of eternity.

Conclusion

Big Idea: God always does what right, even when it seems evil.

God always does what is right

God and evil

Her permits others to do evil

God moves others to do evil

The Old Testament authors do not hesitate to name God as the origin of calamity or trouble, often described by the same term for “evil.” For examples, God sent a similar “evil spirit” (like the one He sent on Saul – 1 Sam. 16:14) between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem (Jud. 9:23). The Bible does not attempt to answer the questions, Why does evil exist, and Where does evil come from? Instead, biblical authors attempt only to expose the nature of human sin, which they see as the ultimate origin of pain and suffering in the world. NIV Application Commentary-1 Samuel, 2003, p. 242. Bill Arnold

God is not evil

He does not commit evil.

But he does use it in his pursuit of helping us to be growing together to become more like Jesus for the glory of God.

As we rest in that truth, may we find peace and joy in the suffering knowing that it is producing an eternal weight of glory that we have not even begun to fathom.

Application

Where do you personally struggle with the tension between God and his goodness and the presence of evil?

Read Habakkuk 1:1-4. What is Habakkuk’s complaint?

The wickedness of Israel is running rampant with no justice and response.

Read Habakkuk 1:5-11. What is God’s response to Habakkuk?

I am raising up the Chaldeans to punish Israel for her sins.

Read Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 What is Habakkuk’s second complaint?

Indignation!

How can you use a nation MORE wicked than Israel to punish Israel? How is that just and right?

Read Habakkuk 2:2-20. What is God’s response?

I am bringing judgment on the Chaldeans as well. They will receive their just recompense for their sins.

They are my tool to punish Israel BUT they will too be punished for their sin.

Read Habakkuk 3:1-19. What is Habakkuk’s final response?

Worship, trust, submission.

Hope

What should this teach us about our response to evil and suffering when we see it? How should we respond?

God uses evil for His purpose.

BUT perfect justice WILL ALWAYS be had. Even if we have to patient while we wait.

While God USES evil, HE ALWAYS intends it for his good and holy purposes.

We can trust and rest in that.

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