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“The Manifold Wisdom of God”

The Wisdom of God in Using Evil

Isaiah 45:5-7

In discussions of religious philosophy the problem of evil is probably debated more than any other. — “If God is so good, why is his world so bad? If a good, all-wise, just, loving, and all-powerful God is running the show, why does he seem to be doing such a miserable job of it? Why do bad things happen to good people?” That is the problem, as men see it.

While I have absolutely no interest in indulging the vain curiosities of depraved hearts about sacred things, I do realize that this is a matter of confusion to many of God’s saints. This is a subject about which clear instruction is given from the Word of God. And the instruction given in Holy Scripture is both clear and full of comfort for believing hearts. Our great and gracious, all-wise and ever-good God, with great wisdom and prudence, uses evil to accomplish his eternal purpose of grace in the redemption of our souls by Christ Jesus (Isaiah 45:5-7; Proverbs 16:4; Psalm 76:10).

A Question

The question is often raised, “How did sin and evil arise in God’s creation?” If God is absolutely sovereign, absolutely holy, and absolutely good, if he created all things good, how is it that pride was found in Lucifer’s heart? How were the fallen angels led to rebel against his throne? How was Adam seduced to sin? Augustus Toplady wrote…

“The origin of evil is the most difficult question, perhaps, and the most mysterious part of the divine conduct that ever presented itself to human investigation. Clouds and darkness are the seat of its residence; though wisdom, goodness, and justice, were certainly (in a manner unknown to us) the motives.”

Yet, the existence of evil is a problem which vexes our minds continually. We must, whenever considering such a subject, at once, as Toplady put it, “clip the wings of curiosity.” — Knowing that God is not the author of sin, and that he never tempts any to evil (James 1:13-17), knowing that nothing comes to pass without his all-wise decree, the matter cannot be resolved in a more God honoring way than to use the words of our Lord as the expression of submissive faith, — “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.”

We bow before God in reverent submission, and confess, “Lord, we are darkness. You are light. We are ignorance. You are Wisdom. We are but creatures. You are our Creator. We see nothing, know nothing, and understand nothing clearly. You see all things, know all things, and understand all things perfectly.” Before him of whom are all things, we acknowledge our utter ignorance. We are, ought to be, and must be content to wait until our souls are freed from the influence of evil in the world above to know the mind and purpose of God concerning the evil which here perplexes our minds.

Two Things

Still, two things we know by divine revelation. First, we know that “all things are of God!” That is Bible language (2 Corinthians 5:18). Everything that is, has been, and shall hereafter be was ordained and is brought to pass by our God to show forth the greatness of his glory (Romans 11:33-36; Ephesians 1:11-12; Revelation 5:13).

It appears, then, that the perfections of God could not have been so gloriously revealed, as they are now revealed in Christ, had evil never entered the universe. God all-wise overrules and uses evil to his own praise (Psalm 76:10). Had sin never been, how could the justice of God be known in punishing it? Had evil never existed, how could the wisdom of God be seen overruling it? Had sin never entered the world, how could the goodness of God be made manifest in pardoning and forgiving it? Had there never been any wickedness in God’s creation, how could the power of God be revealed in subduing it?

Second, the Word of God tells us that “all things work together for” the spiritual and eternal good of God’s elect. Without question, all evil in the world is included in the “all things” which work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28-30).

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s