Image shows Jesus Christ is sitting like a king with a crown on his head and the devil is on one knee in front of him begging for forgiveness. | Pinterest
Even Evil Bows Before God’s Sovereignty
In the vast tapestry of life, where light and shadow often seem to war, Scripture assures us of a powerful truth: God is sovereign over all — even over what seems dark or evil. When the Assyrian king claimed in Isaiah 36:10 that the Lord had sent him to destroy the land, it reminds us that nothing happens without God's knowledge or allowance. He can even use the plans of the wicked to fulfill His greater purpose. Just as He used Pharaoh’s hardened heart (Exodus 14:17–18) to display His might and bring His people into freedom, so too can He turn every trial we face into a testimony of His glory.
“Without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:25).
Every breath, every joy, and even every struggle has meaning when we realize God is present in all of it. And when Satan sought to harm Job, he had to come before the throne of God first (Job 1:9–12; 2:6). This reveals a profound truth: evil cannot move unless God allows it — and even then, He sets the limits. Our trials are not signs of abandonment, but rather stages for God's strength, faithfulness, and ultimate victory to be revealed. So take heart, dear believer. You are not at the mercy of chaos. You are under the watchful eye of a sovereign, loving God. What the enemy means for harm, God transforms for good. Trust His wisdom, rest in His power, and walk in the unshakable assurance that nothing touches your life unless it first passes through His hands.
Did the evil should get permission from God
1. Isaiah 36:10
“Have I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, 'Go up against this land, and destroy it.”
This is spoken by the Assyrian king’s representative, claiming that God sent them to attack Judah. While this may reflect Assyrian propaganda or a misunderstanding, it also suggests that God uses even foreign or evil nations as instruments of judgment. In the prophetic books, this theme appears often: God raises up pagan nations to punish Israel, yet later holds them accountable for their cruelty (e.g., Habakkuk, Isaiah 10).
2. Exodus 14:17–18
“And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians... and I will get glory over Pharaoh…”
This shows that God actively directs even the decisions of evil rulers (like Pharaoh) to fulfill His purposes. It's not that evil originates from God, but that He sovereignly governs all things — even evil actions — for a greater divine plan (in this case, His glory and Israel's deliverance).
3. Ecclesiastes 2:25
“for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”
This verse emphasizes God as the source of all good, suggesting that no action or pleasure exists independently of God's allowance. It implies a worldview where everything flows from God's hand, even if filtered through human choice or sin.
4. Job 1:9–12 & 2:6
Satan must ask God for permission before afflicting Job. God grants permission but sets limits:
“Everything he has is in your power…”
“He is in your power, but do not kill him.”
These passages are perhaps the clearest examples of evil requiring God's permission. Satan cannot act freely; he is subject to divine boundaries.
Yes, according to the Bible, evil (or those who commit it) often must operate within the limits set by God. This doesn’t mean God approves of evil, but that He remains sovereign, even over evil forces. Evil is never outside of God's control, even if it is contrary.
“Why would a good God allow evil or suffering in our lives?”
Scripture doesn’t offer one simple answer, but it does give us a powerful, layered understanding of God's purposes and love — even through pain.
Here are some biblical truths to hold onto:
1. God allows evil, but He does not cause it
God is holy and pure (Habakkuk 1:13) — He does not create or delight in evil. But in His sovereignty, He allows evil for a season, not because He’s cruel, but because He sees the end from the beginning. He permits it, not to break us, but to shape us. Just as with Job, God allowed suffering, but with boundaries. Why? To prove Job’s faith, to silence the accuser, and ultimately to bless Job even more in the end (Job 42:10). The pain had a purpose.
2. Suffering draws us closer to God
Sometimes, hardship makes us reach for God like never before. In seasons of pain, we cry out, pray deeper, and lean harder into His Word. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
The Apostle Paul said, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3–4). God uses suffering to build eternal strength in us.
3. Evil shows us our need for a Savior
Evil in the world points us to the brokenness of sin — and our need for rescue. Through the cross, God took the greatest evil ever committed — the crucifixion of His innocent Son — and turned it into the greatest good, our salvation (Romans 8:28).
4. This world is not the end of the story
God has promised a day when evil and suffering will be no more (Revelation 21:4). We live in a fallen world, but it’s not our final home. Evil will not have the last word — Jesus will.
God allows evil not because He is absent or indifferent, but because He can bring greater good through it, refine our faith, deepen our dependence, and prepare us for eternal glory. He promises to be with us in the fire, just like He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — and to bring us through it stronger.
Super akka
ReplyDelete