Does God Create Evil?

Some Bible verses refer to God creating evil, so is this true or what does it mean?

Creating Evil?

Some Bible verses refer to God creating evil, so is this true or what does it mean? One such Bible verse is found in Isaiah 45:7 which says God is “The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating disaster; I am the LORD who does all these things.” Some translations have evil for disaster, but if we go back to the beginning, it was man who created evil in the Garden and not God (Gen 3). Before that, Satan created evil in heaven and was cast down to the earth as part of his judgment by God. There is also reference to Lucifer’s fall in Ezekiel 28:12–15. While addressed to the king of Tyre, is understood by many scholars to also contain a reference to Satan himself and his fall from heaven (or being thrown out!).

Pride, then the Fall

Isaiah 14:13–14 describes perhaps the first sin in recorded history as Satan declares, “I will ascend to heaven…. I will make myself like the Most High.” Even though the passage is directed to the king of Babylon, once more, many scholars see this as a dual reference that extends far beyond the earthly king. In fact, it describes the spiritual rebellion of Satan himself. Pride can be our downfall too if we’re not careful (Prov 16:18), but it was pride that caused the Devil to fall. When he sinned, God cast him out of Heaven, so Satan may have sinned in “Heaven,” but his sin was met with judgment and immediate expulsion. This is why there appears to be some angelic freedom after the angels were created. There must have been a time that allowed angels to decide whether they would obey God and thus become holy angels, or join Satan’s rebelling and become demons. God would never have created an evil angel to begin with. There apparently was a time of free will for the angels, but even with all the evil in the world, we must remember that God allows evil for much good; from the saving of human lives (Gen 50:20) to the saving of human souls (John 3:16).

God is Good

God speaks to us through human authors by the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God, but it is still impossible to know all about God since He is infinite and we are finite. Some language or apparent contradictions in Scripture are just our failure to understand them. The Bible uses anthropomorphic terms so we humans can understand at least some things about an infinite God. The word anthropomorphic means “the attribution of human form, character, or attributes to non-human entities,” like God in the Bible’s case. God has to use human language to explain things about God and sometimes, we just don’t get it. But that’s okay. God tells us the plain things which are the main things, and these main things (John 3:16) are the plain things. We might think we see a contradiction in Scripture like where God says He is not the author or originator of evil, but then verse like Isaiah 45:7 make it appear that God creates evil, but clearly, God does not contradict Himself in the Word and He is not the author of confusion.

God’s Sovereignty

If evil happens, and it does, God has allowed it for His purposes. He could have stopped the evil, but then His purposes for that evil would be lost. And that would interfere with humanity’s free will. Importantly, God uses evil as a means to reach His ends, although God didn’t create the evil in itself. God is both omnipotent (all-powerful) and good, so we must conclude that in His omnipotence and goodness leaves place for the existence of evil. We know that God Himself never does that which is evil, nevertheless, He also ordains whatsoever comes to pass. Though He does not do evil and does not create evil, He does ordain that evil exists (which is what Isaiah is writing about). If evil does exist (it does), and God is sovereign (He is), then obviously He was able to prevent it from happening but didn’t. If He allowed evil to enter into this universe, it could only be by His sovereign decision or it would never have happened in the first place. Since His sovereign decisions always follow the perfection of His being, we must conclude that His decision to allow evil to exist is a good decision and will bring about much good (Gen 50:20; John 3:16; Rom 8:28).

The Potential for Evil

There must actually be a potential for evil because that comes with free will. We are free to obey or free to do evil, so our evil was not God’s doing; it was ours! When we lie, we cannot blame God because God cannot lie (Num 23:19; Titus 1:2) and never tempts anyone to sin (James 1:13-15). Our sins are on us, not God. Isaiah 46:7 says “The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating disaster; I am the LORD who does all these things.” What God allows is created in that sense…that is, He creates the opportunity or potential for evil. God allowed or by His sovereign plan and decree, to create the universe and He created this world with the potential for evil.

If no evil ever existed then mankind would not have free will and if God had stopped it all, then Jesus wouldn’t have died, but we would still be in our sins and die in our sins! Even though God allowed Calvary, it was mankind, not God, which created the evil done to Jesus at the cross. Even Judas’ betrayal worked into Calvary’s coming. But remember, God allowed it or it would never have happened, so if any evil is done, it was not God’s own doing per say, but rather, He decreed that situation to occur but for His own good purposes. Jesus being sent to Calvary, and by the hands of the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities, was allowed by God for our redemptive purposes for those who would trust in Christ. Even though this was the worst evil ever done (Jesus was sinless), it brought about much good, or God would never have created the potential for that travesty of justice to occur to Christ.

God in Control

Saint Peter by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682). Public Domain.

The Apostle Peter said that Jesus was “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:22a), but they were still responsible, because Peter said, “you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (Acts 2:22b). Jesus reminds us that God has been and always will be in total control. Jesus was not a helpless victim of circumstances, but as our Lord said, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18). Clearly, God does not create evil. In fact, evil is not a created substance but a corruption or absence of good, a deviation from God’s commands. While God does not do evil, He does ordain that it exist to accomplish His greater and good purposes, such as the redemption of humanity through the crucifixion of Jesus.

Allowing Evil

Evil is contrary to God’s nature, and He never does evil, but rather, God ordains evil’s existence for His good purposes and in His infinite wisdom and sovereignty because He always ordains whatsoever comes to pass. This means He permits evil for purposes that ultimately serve His good plan and Him glory. In the same way, God doesn’t create sin, but allows free will, but still holding mankind responsible for their actions of evil and for crucifying Christ, just as we were responsible for violating God’s Law and deserved His wrath. Just because we don’t understand something in God’s Word doesn’t mean it’s not true.

The Secret Things

I don’t know exactly how electricity works, but I don’t sit around in the dark. I trust God with those things I don’t know. There are no contradictions in the Bible; it’s just our inability to understand it. If we can’t figure out a Bible verse, then we just have to accept that we can’t figure it out, but that’s okay. By the way, God tells us all that is necessary. Beyond that, it’s none of our business. Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us that “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, so that we may follow all the words of this Law.” The main things are the plain things and the plain things, the main things (John 3:16).

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Does God Use Evil Governments as Judgments Against Nations?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Creation, God the Creator, God's Sovereignty, Good and Evil