Does God Do Evil? - One Year of Dinner Table Devotions and Discussion Starters

Does God Do Evil?

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

Genesis 50:20

Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

Job 2:10

God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.

Acts 2:23

Lots of television shows fall into the genre of whodunits. These are usually crime stories or mysteries, which unfold over the course of an hour to reveal who committed the crime.

When we are trying to figure out who is responsible for the evil in the world, it can be confusing, because the Bible indicates that God himself allows evil events and evil deeds: Joseph’s being sold into slavery, Job’s losing his family, even Jesus’ being crucified—the Bible tells us that God knew about these evil deeds in advance. But at the same time, it is clear that nowhere in Scripture do we see God directly doing anything evil.

While God has ordained history to include evil events, he doesn’t do anything evil. If we were to say that God himself does evil, we would have to conclude that he is not a good and righteous God, and therefore that he is not really God at all. On the other hand, if we believe that God does not use evil to fulfill his purposes, then we would have to admit that there is evil in the universe that is not under God’s control and might not fulfill his purposes. Neither of these conclusions is true. When we’re faced with evil, we can trust that God is good and powerful and that he uses all things to fulfill his good purposes—even evil.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

Have you ever gotten a shot that hurt or put medicine on a sore that made it sting? How is this painful experience actually something good?

The Bible doesn’t explain to us exactly what role God plays in the evil that happens in the world. How can we trust God with this mystery?

What evil circumstance has God used for good in your life or in the life of someone you know?

From the Book: