Lie #4: God Allowed It [Evil] to Happen

Lie #4 is a misconception many people believe when faced with tragedy or hardship. Situations like losing a loved one, enduring debilitating sickness, losing a job, or experiencing abuse, war, famine, or other calamities often leave people searching for meaning. In trying to make sense of such pain, they might say, “God allowed it to happen.” Even worse, this phrase is sometimes used to comfort someone grieving, encouraging them to accept their loss as part of God’s will, even when God had nothing to do with it.

This belief stems from the misunderstanding that God is behind every event on earth. However, this is not true. God is not the mastermind behind every occurrence. Scripture reveals that Satan is the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and the source of much of the evil we see. While Satan’s influence is significant, he is not in control of everything. God’s sovereignty is evident in the lives of those who submit to Him and live under His kingship and authority. For those who allow Him, God directs and governs their circumstances. However, He does not control or orchestrate every evil occurrence. While God is ultimately in charge of His people’s lives, He is not the author of all the suffering or misfortune that happens in the world.

What About Isaiah 45:7? Isaiah 45:7 is often cited by some to claim that God is the author of evil. The verse in the KJV states, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.”

However, it is crucial to interpret Scripture carefully, considering both its literary and historical-cultural context. A single verse should not be isolated and explained without regard for the broader message of the Bible. Any principle drawn from a passage must align with the overarching truths of Scripture.

To understand Isaiah 45:7, we must compare its message with other parts of Scripture to see if it aligns with God’s character as revealed in the Bible:

• 1 John 1:5: “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”

• John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

• John 1:4-5: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

• James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

• John 9:5: [Jesus said,] “I am the light of the world.”
  

From these verses, it is evident that God is consistently described as light, goodness, and the giver of perfect gifts. There is no darkness or evil in Him. This context challenges the interpretation that Isaiah 45:7 implies God creates moral evil. Instead, understanding the verse requires a deeper look into its meaning within its context.

Understanding Isaiah 45:7 in Context

Isaiah 45:1-25 is a prophecy showcasing God’s sovereignty in selecting Cyrus, a Persian king, to fulfill His purposes long before Cyrus was even born. Though Cyrus was not an Israelite, God anointed and set him apart to bless and deliver His people. While God could have chosen an Israelite king, His sovereign will demonstrated that He can use anyone to accomplish His plans.

God declared His reason for choosing Cyrus, going against expectations: “So that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things” (Isaiah 45:6-7, ESV).

This passage underscores God’s ultimate authority and power to orchestrate events for His purposes, emphasizing that He alone is God.

The word translated as “evil” in the KJV is rendered “calamity” in the ESV. This comes from the Hebrew word ra, which can mean bad, evil, adversity, calamity, or affliction, depending on the context. In Isaiah 45:7, God is emphasizing His sovereignty—He is the only God, and there is no other. He can use light or darkness, good or calamity to fulfill His purposes.

It’s important to understand that darkness is not something created; it is simply the absence of light. Similarly, evil is not something created but rather the absence of good. Through this scripture, God is essentially saying, “I can send my light, peace, and goodness to accomplish my purposes, or I can withhold them to achieve the same end.”

When God withholds His light, darkness emerges. When He withholds His goodness, evil becomes evident. However, this does not mean that God is the source of darkness or calamity; rather, these are consequences of the absence of His active presence or blessings.

Can God use calamity to fulfill His purposes? Absolutely—this is evident even when dealing with His own disobedient people (Proverbs 16:4).

In Egypt, when Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites, God withheld His goodness, and Egypt experienced calamity. Similarly, when Israel and Judah repeatedly disobeyed and refused to repent, God withdrew His protection, allowing Assyria and Babylon to conquer them. These events serve as reminders that rejecting God and walking in disobedience have consequences.

Many of the hardships we face are self-inflicted, stemming from choices that go against God’s will. While God can use evil or calamity to accomplish His purposes, this does not mean He allows or orchestrates all evil. God’s nature is to give good gifts, not evil.

Satan, not God, is the author of evil. He is the one who brings evil into people’s lives, often using deception to shift attention away from himself. To counter his lies, we must stand firm in God’s Word and resist him.

Yes, believers may experience evil or suffering that seems inexplicable, and it’s important to acknowledge that not everything will make sense. Instead of concluding that "God allowed it to happen," it may be more accurate to say, "God did not prevent it from happening."

What’s the difference?

• “God allowed it to happen” implies that God actively orchestrated the situation, choosing to withhold His goodness or blessings so that you could experience evil. This perspective places God in an active role in causing the unpleasant event, even when that may not be the case. This view can be harmful, as it challenges God’s goodness, justice, and consistency.

• “God did not prevent it from happening” presents God in a passive role, which is often closer to the truth. Many times, we fail to involve God in our lives until we are faced with desperate circumstances. In such cases, the lack of divine intervention often stems from our own lack of prayer, dependence, or spiritual preparation.

This distinction helps preserve the understanding of God’s character as consistently good while recognizing the complex dynamics of human free will, spiritual warfare, and the consequences of living in a fallen world.

There are several reasons why believers may experience evil:

1. Lack of Prayer or Seeking God’s Help
   Sometimes, we fail to ask for God’s help or anticipate the evil, so we don’t pray about it. As believers, when we are spiritually sensitive, we may sense warnings of looming danger. It is our responsibility to pray and release the power of heaven to counteract the works of darkness. Even without specific warnings, we are called to be proactive, standing against the enemy continuously. Some may wonder, “If God knew it would happen, why didn’t He intervene?” While God often protects us from unseen dangers, there are times He requires us to exercise our spiritual authority against the works of the devil. When we neglect prayer, we leave room for Satan to execute his plans. Ephesians 6:10-18 urges believers to take a stand against the enemy, while Matthew 18:18-19 reminds us of our authority to bind and loose on earth. Failing to pray effectively is, in essence, telling God we don’t need His intervention, and this can result in unfavorable outcomes.

2. Opening Doors to the Enemy
   Sometimes, knowingly or unknowingly, we open the door for the enemy to act in our lives. God respects our free will and will not act against it, especially when we are aware of His principles but choose to ignore them. In rare cases, God may override a person’s will to prevent evil for a greater purpose, but this is not the norm. God created us with free will and allows us to exercise it, even when it leads to consequences.

3. Insufficient or Ineffective Prayer
   Kenneth Hagin described the concept of "praying through"—praying persistently until there’s a sense of victory in your spirit. Often, believers may receive a prompting to pray but fail to engage deeply, offering shallow or incomplete prayers instead of pressing through until the spiritual battle is won. This failure to fully confront the enemy in prayer can allow evil to occur. Our prayers need to be fervent and effective. James 5:16b (AMPC) states, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” To overcome evil, we must persist in prayer until the breakthrough is realized.

4. God’s Sovereign Permission
   In some cases, God may sovereignly permit evil, such as by withholding His protection or blessings, allowing Satan to act. This typically occurs when individuals reject God or persist in rebellion and disobedience. However, this is not the norm but rather the exception.
   

The consistent truth is that God is good, and His plans for us are for peace, not for evil (Jeremiah 29:11). Satan remains the primary source of evil, and as believers, we must actively resist him (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11-12). Our responsibility is to stand firm in faith, fervent in prayer, and aligned with God’s will to overcome the works of the enemy.

Nourish Your Spirit