God and Evil in the Bible

The existence of evil is something that affects everyone. Philosophers have used up a lot of ink writing their ideas about it. Many a flake of dandruff has landed on a shoulder from people scratching their heads over it. Many a tear has landed on a pillow over the consequences of it.

Three things need to be considered in a discussion about evil.

How can there be evil in a universe created by a perfect God?

Why did God create evil?

What are the consequences to us?

How there can be evil in a universe created by as perfect God

This facet of the topic has various permutations...

• Maybe God made a mistake and isn't perfect after all
• Maybe it just got out of control and God isn't as much of a God as he's letting on
• Maybe God is evil
• Didn't the universe start out perfect?

First of all, the universe wasn't created perfect; it was created good initially.

“And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.” (Genesis 1:25 AV)

The women reading the following may like what they see next.Genesis 1:26-30 is the description of what happened on the sixth day and Genesis 1:31 is God's conclusion of what transpired on that day.
Genesis 2:7-25 is a detailed description of what occurred step by step on the sixth day starting with the creation of man.

“And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 AV)

Now we know from Genesis 1:26 that God made man in his own image...

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26 AV

That was referring to man only, not woman. But, before God creates woman and after he created man and that man is single, look what he says...

“And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” (Genesis 2:18 AV)

The universe became not good, and just because there was one single guy in it. The principle to be considered here is that anything is not good if there is something bad in it. In other words, an apple isn't good if there is a worm in it or a tall, cool glass of water isn't good if there's a drop of someone else's spit in it.

Look what happens immediately after he puts one woman in the universe...

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31 AV)

Wow, very good. Of course, all women know this. The sequence of events is: universe made = good; add one single guy = not good; add one woman = very good.

The point here is that as good as the universe may have been created, it wasn't created perfect. Very good is as good as it's ever been.

Maybe God is evil

It could be that there is some failing in God that he couldn't create a perfect universe. Possibly, he missed some detail and satan was able to take advantage of the failure. I suppose that being perfect, maybe he didn't take evil into consideration. But then, he wouldn't have been perfect, etc. Let's see what he says...

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things].” (Isaiah 45:7 AV)

One thing for sure, he's aware of evil and, as seen next, destruction...

“Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.” (Isaiah 54:16 AV)

So, what's happening here? Let's look at man...

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:19 AV)

Then satan...

“And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou [art] cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:” (Genesis 3:14 AV)

Man is dust and satan's food is dust. But believers are told to put on armor...

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13 AV)

That armor is held up by the girdle of truth...

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” (Ephesians 6:14 AV)

No truth, armor doesn't stay up and the dust is visible. Lunch for satan.
How does satan test for solid girdles? By roaring.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8 AV)

Those who fear and those who have no armor, non-believers, are next on the menu.

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8 AV)

Based on all that, the creation of evil as well as a destroyer looks quite deliberate.
However, he gives people a choice...

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” (Deuteronomy 30:19 AV)

For the time being, let's leave the nature of God at that and return to it just prior to seeing what the consequences of evil are for us.

Why would God create evil?

Satan is an interesting character, since one of his tasks is to be the accuser of the brethren.

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:10 AV)

Well, anyone will testify about themselves that they are just fine. However, when an accusation is made and witnesses brought forth, then the actual truth can be established. We have an advocate, our lawyer...

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” (1 John 2:1 AV)

The lawyer plus our testimony defeats the accusation...

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11 AV

Of course, the accuser questions God, also...

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1 AV)

“And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” (Matthew 4:3 AV)

Now God does not have an advocate as we do, and there is no witness who can testify as what God is doing or thinking.

“And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35 AV)

“...Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?” (Isaiah 45:9 AV)

Therefore, to establish whether God is evil or good, one must use circumstantial evidence.
Not only that, one must use all of it.

If one leaves out any circumstantial evidence, then there could be some room for doubt.

Just Prior to Seeing What the Consequences of Evil Are for Us (as promised)

To cover all the evidence, one must look at the accusation. If the accusation is that God is good then case dismissed. That leaves the only accusation being that God is evil. If he were, then he would simply declare that he isn't. He does that, but so would someone that is falsely accused, so that proves nothing so far.

Thus, the evidence in one form or another must establish the truth or falsity of the accusation.

If God were to be good by only creating good, then accusation would obviously be that he was unable to create evil, thus not all-powerful like he says he is. That accusation is defeated by what he has done.

If God were to be good by creating only good people who automatically choose good then the accusation would be that people had no choice and any person choosing God was forced into making the choice.

Thus, creating people with free will, and presenting them with all possible choices of good and evil and advising them in advance of both the choice and the consequences of their choice as well as providing a handbook to follow, as well as advising people of the assistance available at every step of the way, establishes that God is, in fact, good and not evil.

In addition to the actions mentioned above, he also provides examples in nature, and statements whose truth can observed. He also gives warnings that making certain types of choices will lead to certain types of misfortunes so that an onlooker can even observe from the misfortunes what led to them and learn from a form of reverse social engineering.

In addition, he is willing to reason with us...

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 AV)

Consequences to Us

If we heed God's instructions and actually take them as promises, the consequences are only good.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.” (Romans 8:28 AV)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11 AV)

“2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3 Blessed [shalt] thou [be] in the city, and blessed [shalt] thou [be] in the field. 4 Blessed [shall be] the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5 Blessed [shall be] thy basket and thy store. 6 Blessed [shalt] thou [be] when thou comest in, and blessed [shalt] thou [be] when thou goest out. 7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Deuteronomy 28:2-8 AV)

All good stuff, but if we despise God's word, the consequences are difficult to say the least...

“16 Cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the city, and cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the field. 17 Cursed [shall be] thy basket and thy store. 18 Cursed [shall be] the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 19 Cursed [shalt] thou [be] when thou comest in, and cursed [shalt] thou [be] when thou goest out. 20 The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. 21 The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. 22 The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish. 23 And thy heaven that [is] over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee [shall be] iron.” (Deuteronomy 28:16-23 AV)

Sounds rough. The solution?

“Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:27 AV)

You may be presented with every possible error. That is why there are so many churches, denominations and even entire religions, philosophies and theories.

“14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15 AV)

“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane [and] vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:” (1 Timothy 6:20 AV)

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 AV)

No worries...

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 AV)