Misconception on Evils and Sufferings?


Two Jehovah witnesses visited me at home, during the discussion one of them made mention of God not being the creator of Evil. I lift my eyebrows and simply asked him to tell me who exactly created Evil. Though, the question planted a misconception in his heart, he thought I believed God created Evil (something that's bad). The woman that came with the young man didn't seem to be ready for or welcome such argument. I quickly asked this young man to come another time so that we can discuss further on it. He came with another young man the following week. Believe me, the discussion was fantastic and it's what pulls me together to write on this subject. When you say God created Evil,then you are probably referring to "Evil" as a created being, which clearly means God created a living being called "Evil" or simply saying God made something evil to occurred. . God does create Evil, and those who say God does create Evil are right in some senses too. Frankly speaking, it's simple. If it's moral Evil, that's not from God, but evil like disasters or calamity which occurred as punishment in response to sin is from God.
1Th 5:22 abstain from every form of evil.
If the above verse says we should stay away from doing Evil, does it make any sense to say God does Evil. Does God do bad things? Did he create Evil? Isaiah 45:7 is speaking of Evil in a sense different from what the book of Thessalonians is saying on "Evil". If God is the creator of evil, and our Bible tells us to abstain from every form of Evil, God would be the first in our list to run from if he does that Evil. Before speaking any further, I would first like to prove Isaiah 45:7 is not an evidence or a statement that declared God as the creator of a living being which is Evil as assumed by many. God says, "all he created was good", you are going to see that in Genesis.
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
I heard one Bible student argument in one of his articles that the word "bara" is used exclusively for God. Maybe He's saying it's used for God throughout the Bible, which is wrong too, the word "bara" is not meant to be used exclusively for God in Hebrew language. It's actually unlike the word "Lord" which has two different forms in Hebrew, one used for God and the other for men (Adonai, Adonay). Even, the word lay no emphasis on God being the creator of a being called Evil, but saying God do create evil. God was literally saying I created this and created its opposite. I formed the light and create darkness... I make peace and create Evil. Evil here is an opposite of peace. If you assumed Evil to be a created being, then Peace is also another created being. On the other hand, the word *Bara" translated as "created" doesn't say its object is a created being, as it could be an event or occurrence. Two valid examples are found here;
Exodus 34:10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with them. Ezekiel 21:19 Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
The phrase "such as have not been done" is "bara" in Hebrew, it's actually used for an event that would come to pass and it's translated as "choose" two times in Ezekiel 21:19 and we have so many others being. I believe I've proved beyond doubt that "bara" is not meant exclusively for a created being. So "Evil" is not necessary a created being, it could be an occurrence. I'm going to move to the next text. "ra' raah" which is translated "Evil" could me something displeasing, harmful, calamity, wickedness, bad and so on. God can do me harm, he can do something displeasing to me, even calamity. But how are we going to explain all these? A man with three kids, one wife, all dead while he's alive. Is that a calamity? Is that Evil? What's evil? It's actually the Death of his families. Because that occurrence has negative effects on him doesn't mean God did Evil, but what happened to him is actually unpleasant, suffering, it's calamity, thus Evil to him, not to everyone. One man food is another man poison, what is good to you, could be evil to me. Evil is an unpleasing, harmful, hurtful or unpleasant experience from an occurrence. Sometimes, To know what is Evil depends on the individual. God was not the one that killed Job's families, but he permitted it. The Bible says, God doesn't tempt us with evil, as we found it in Job, Satan tempted him. The truth still remains that God allows evils and sufferings. This maybe hard to believe, but it's the truth. There are many good things in life that happened naturally without God's hands in it, but he permits it, and we praised him for it. The same things go with evil things, we make him responsible for it because he allows it. God was responsible for the flood in the days of Noah, destruction of Sodom, killing of David's son, killing of some Israelite and so on. But all these are not moral evil, but a judgement in response to moral evil. I'm going to explain everything better in the second section of this article. I'm going to move a little bit further on this, the verse says "the light, and create darkness" " make peace, and create evil" Seeing the context, I believe God is saying he creates things that are contrary to each other. Light and darkness.... But " Peace and Evil" doesn't seem to fit well. What about "Peace and Calamity" , it sounds more reasonably, and it's my preferred translation. Not necessarily saying "Evil" is a wrong translation, but "Calamity" fit the flow of the sentence and more easier to understand. The fact still remains that in Isaiah the evil mentioned is in contrast to Peace. Now, God creates calamity or evil has being resolved. I want us to know when God says " I create evil", he never meant I do wrong and unfair things. In conclusion, God doesn't do wrong or unfair things. What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah is Evil and Calamity to Sodom and Gomorrah. God didn't just allow it, but he created it. Gen 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Lot was complaining to the Angel not to let him and his family escape to the mountains in order to avoid Evil. What is the Evil he was referring to? Was he referring to a living being that could strangled him to death along his way? Nay!!! Lot was referring to what God was about to do to Sodom, that the burning flame could overthrow him before getting to the mountain ( such occurrence is Evil), so He asked for permission to goto nearer place that seems more saver to him, but not. What happened to Sodom, was it Evil? It was... and it was not. What happened to them was a calamity and at the same time a judgement they deserved. When we do something sinful, we should expect consequences. And there is law of cause and effect. God is fair here. Evils mentioned in Isaiah is simply a punishment for evils and wrongs.
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
What's the source of Evil that We do to one another? The knowledge of it. Yeah, that's exactly where it all started. I worked in a company for many years and I don't know it's possible to steal money.. I'm not having knowledge of it, thus can never steal. And this new employee came in, and explained to me how stealing works. Now, I have knowledge of it, it now depends on my judgement whether to do it or not. And that's exactly what happened in the garden of Eden, Satan used his own knowledge of evil on them. It's the knowledge that made Cain knew he can kill Abel. The first thing in there was simply the fact that he knew he can kill another person, If he didn't have knowledge of it, he would never think of it. Even though how Satan himself gained that knowledge and how everything went wrong wasn't covered, everything will be fully covered in the next section. Here comes a question, If they had no prior knowledge of evil and evil didn't exist in them before they disobeyed, Where is that knowledge of evil coming from? Is it Satan? Yes, if God created Evil. What about sin? These are good questions and they are going to lead us to the source of Evil and how sinning started, which I will address soon.

Misconception - Why does God allows evil and suffering?

If the Bible is true, in saying that God is loving, just, and all-powerful, then why do we have pain, sadness, and injustice? Many people have stumbled over this problem. Archibald MacLeish (an atheist) Said, “If God is God, He is not good. If God is good, He is not God.”
2 Corinthians 1 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Our suffering can be seen as having a purpose, but only a passing one that will end in the defeat of all evil. This is a great comfort while we are enduring suffering, and it is found only in the Bible. So many people are pointing an accusing finger at God. If he doesn't create evil and sufferings, then he allows it. He actually does, the problem is not the suffering, but the fact that you don't trust him. I've heard about the same people that are accusing God of not ending the evils in this World, calling him bloodsucker for wiping out the Amorites in the Bible. Obviously, God didn't wipe the Amorites because the Israelites needed the land, he had to make them wait till the Amorites Evil is no longer tolerable.
Gen 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
If you are already blaming God due to the evils and suffering in our environment, and at the same time judging his judgement on the Canaanite, then you are inconsistent. Probably, all the evils and sufferings around us is just one of a thousand compare to the evils among the Canaanites. And that's the truth. When God was about to Destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham questioned him and that gave us beautiful record and insight on how merciful God is.
Gen 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Gen 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. If God could be determined to leave Sodom because of merely ten people, do you think he would destroy a place that has thousands or millions of people that are not evil just like that. It was apparent that Lot and his family are the only people that abstained from evil in that land and they were eventually saved, though one lost her life due to disobedience. Abraham asked a rhetorical question which should attract our attention.
Gen 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
All we need is to trust his judgement, He knows better than us, and whether we trust him or not, he is Almighty, He doesn't need us, we need him. And in him we can find peace in this evil world. And the fact that we don't understand many things make us unintelligible to question him. This is fully portrayed in the Life of Job. Job questioned God, claimed he didn't deserve all the sufferings. Though his friends tried to defend God and judge the situation base on their standard, but God said, No, He didn't suffer because he deserved it, but He had no right to question me, simply because you don't understand many things"
Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
The book of Job is very important, and chapter 38 - 41 made it clear enough, we are not in a position to question his judgement, and our own righteousness cannot save us. Our God is a God of justice.
Job 40:8 Indeed would you annul my justice and condemn me, just so you can claim that you’re righteous? Job 41:11 Who can take me to court and be reconciled to me? All of heaven is mine.
It's just like an infant questioning his or her mother, that's breastfeeding him or her. What does he or she understand? I was in a public car and this woman, her baby was on her back. The baby was crying heavily, that I couldn't tolerate it. I expect her to pull the baby out of her back and breastfeed him or something like that but she didn't. I knew the woman is not crazy, and she probably knows what she's doing, she will care for her baby than I do. But the kid wanted to get out of her back as he was struggling to. The fact that the baby was uncomfortable on her back, deluded my judgement, as I'm thinking of telling her to pull the child out of her back and answer his call. Another two women in the car interfered. I thought they are going to support my idea, they didn't, but shed more light on what I don't understand. They said the kids needed ventilated area, and he would stop crying when the Car kicks off. Though, I wasn't willing to accept their explanations, but they were right. When the Car took off, the baby stopped crying and in few seconds, he was asleep. Did the woman know what her baby needed? She surely did, and it's in her plan. If she had pulled the baby out of her back, it will not make any difference, and he wouldn't have found a comfort zone to sleep. We are just like babies in the hands of God, the earlier we accept God to be all in all, and a loving father, full of mercy, the better our life will be. We shouldn't let our sufferings blind us. It's now time for me to go back to the main aspect of this article. These are the questions I'm going to treat squarely.

  1. What is the origin of evil? Did God create it? If so, it is His fault. If not, is it eternal and equal with God? Did God create forms, weeds, damaging insects and animals, etc.? If God forgives us, why are there consequences when we sin? Why do we feel pain?

 2 If God knew we would sin and suffer, why did He create us? Why did He put the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden? Why did He let the serpent enter the Garden to tempt them?

  3 Why doesn’t the almighty God do anything to stop evil and suffering (especially mine!)? Why doesn’t God force us all to love, trust, and obey Him?

All these questions are just like those we have discussed, they aren't questions that don't have an answer or explanation. The answers and explanations are in the second section, click here to read now.