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A Struggle with God Being Sovereign Over Evil

Posted August 24, 2011

Hi S____,

I am sorry that you cannot see that God "makes... even the wicked for the day of evil". The scriptures are comforting to those who accept them. But if it is not granted a person to believe that God is sovereign over even the wicked, then it is easy enough for that same person to be convinced by the adversary that God is not love.

Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

But God is love, and He certainly loves the wicked man in each of us who He created for "the day of evil" within each of us.

I understand why you contend with God over your sister's molestation at the hands of your father. Job contended with God over what he essentially considered to be his own molestation at the hands of God.

Job 2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
Job 2:5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
Job 2:8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

"Job ... did not sin with his lips". Job knew who was ultimately responsible for all things, and he placed that responsibility upon "the hand of God", whose 'hand' we are shown is Satan.

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: (ASV)

So it is no sin to acknowledge God's sovereignty over evil, but when Job questioned God's right to be sovereign and condemned God for His sovereign actions in his life, then Job, just like you and me, discovered that he too, was a sinner in need of a Savior.

Job 27:2 As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

Job 27:5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
Job 27:6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

Job 40:1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Job 40:3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Job 40:5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
Job 40:6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Do not think I am condemning you. I am not. As the Old Testament type of those God will use to save all of mankind, Job in each of us must be brought "to his wits' end" before he can be qualified to work with all the rest of mankind who must come to know the very same experience:

Psa 107:25 For he [God] commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

"He commands the stormy wind... Then they cry to the Lord... Then are they glad because they be quiet". That is God's order of things, and that is the experience of one and all who will overcome sin in their lives through these trials which God, through Satan, brings upon all of His elect to qualify them for the service to Him and His body which He has for His elect.

It is only through the sovereignty of God that we do either the evil or the 'good' we accomplish. As Joseph's brothers discovered, what they thought they were doing to Joseph was in actuality set into motion and carried out through them by God.

Gen 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gen 45:6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
Gen 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Gen 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

I pray God will open your eyes to His great truths on the matter of His sovereignty.

God bless you,

Mike