Does God create both good and evil? I. Introduction to the Question Does the Almighty, who is described in Scripture as infinitely holy, create both good and evil? At first glance, portions of Scripture—especially verses like Isaiah 45:7—might appear to suggest God might indeed create evil in a moral sense. A closer reading, however, clarifies various nuances, including the differentiation between moral evil and calamity or judgment. What follows is a comprehensive exploration of this question, bringing in relevant biblical passages from the Berean Standard Bible and examining the broader context within Scripture’s testimony. II. Clarifying Key Terms 1. Good: In Scripture, “good” refers to God’s moral purity, His will, and His creation as originally fashioned. Genesis 1:31 records, “God saw all that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” 2. Evil (Hebrew ra‘): This Hebrew word can bear multiple nuances, from moral wrongdoing to adversity, calamity, or disaster. In certain passages, it is best understood as “disaster” or “calamity” that God either brings or allows as a form of judgment. III. Scriptural Foundations 1. Isaiah 45:7 – “Creating Darkness and Calamity” “I form light and create darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7). • Context: Written to Israel in exile, this verse highlights God’s sovereignty over the well-being of His people (prosperity) and the realities of judgment on nations (calamity). • Terminology: The Hebrew word often translated “evil” can also be rendered “disaster” or “calamity.” 2. James 1:13 – God’s Moral Holiness “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone” (James 1:13). • Implication: God neither commits moral evil nor is He tempted by it. He does not entice people to sin. 3. Genesis 1:31 – Original State of Goodness “God saw all that He had made, and indeed it was very good”. • Implication: Creation initially reflected the moral perfection and goodness of its Creator. 4. Job 2:10 – Understanding Adversity “...Shall we accept good from God and not calamity?”. • Note: Here, Job acknowledges God’s sovereign prerogative to permit hardship without accusing Him of moral wrongdoing. IV. Distinguishing Moral Evil and Calamity 1. Moral Evil • Originates in the free actions of moral agents (e.g., humans and fallen angels). • Introduced into the world through the fall of Adam and Eve (see Romans 5:12). • Characterized by sin, including acts contrary to God’s law (lying, stealing, murder, etc.). 2. Calamity or Disaster • Examples include meteors, earthquakes, plagues, or military invasions used as instruments of divine judgment or discipline in Scripture. • Often described in prophetic literature, where God speaks of “bringing disaster” upon a rebellious nation to correct or judge them (see Jeremiah 18:7–10). • Reflects God’s righteous governance over the moral universe, not a blot on His character. V. Contextual Exploration of Isaiah 45:7 1. Historical Context • Isaiah was addressing the Babylonian exile. God foretold the rise of Cyrus, king of Persia, who would liberate the Israelites. • “Darkness” and “calamity” in Isaiah’s day pointed to the downfall of nations opposing God’s plans, not moral corruption coming from God. 2. Hebrew Word Study • The Hebrew word behind “evil” (ra‘) has a broad semantic range. In Isaiah 45:7, it appears best rendered “calamity” or “disaster” in context, since the focus is on national events rather than personal sin produced by God. • This usage aligns with how “ra‘” can denote physical harm or judgment, rather than moral wrongdoing attributable to God. VI. God’s Sovereignty and Goodness 1. Holy Nature of God • 1 John 1:5 states, “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” This affirms God’s essence is infinitely good and free from moral evil. • Scripture consistently portrays God’s character as just, pure, and holy. 2. Allowing or Orchestrating Events • Throughout the Bible, God uses events—sometimes devastating ones—to accomplish His redemptive purposes. • Nonetheless, this does not make Him morally evil. Rather, calamities are instruments in His just governance of creation. 3. Purpose of Judgment • Divine judgments, whether in the form of natural disasters or the rise and fall of empires, often serve as corrective mechanisms or fulfill prophecies that lead to eventual restoration (e.g., the Babylonian captivity leading to Israel’s renewed covenant faithfulness). VII. The Role of Human Freedom 1. The Fall and Entrance of Sin • Genesis 3 depicts how humanity, exercising free choice, rebelled against God. This brought death, suffering, and moral evil into the world. • Romans 5:12 describes this entry point: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man...” 2. Consequences of Moral Evil • Human evil, committed individually or corporately, stems from the distorted will of mankind. • Scripture shows repeated cycles of sin, judgment, and restoration, illustrating the interplay between human action and God’s justice and mercy. VIII. Archaeological and Historical Insights 1. Ancient Near Eastern Context • Other cultures in the region often attributed both good and evil to capricious deities. The biblical accounts stand out in portraying one sovereign God of moral righteousness, who oversees both blessing and judgment. • The Dead Sea Scrolls (including a nearly complete Isaiah Scroll) uphold the wording of Isaiah 45:7 with remarkable consistency, underscoring that God is speaking of permitted judgments and blessings, not moral darkness within Himself. 2. Confirmations of Judgments in the Biblical Record • Archaeological findings, such as the evidence of the destruction layers in places like Lachish (southern Judah) or the Babylonian records referencing the fall of Jerusalem, align with biblical accounts of divine judgment. • These accounts provide historical grounding, illustrating how Scripture’s narrative that God brings (or allows) calamity on rebellious nations is consistent with discovered historical events. IX. Philosophical and Theological Considerations 1. God as the Highest Good • Philosophers and theologians emphasize that ultimate goodness must have a source beyond change or corruption, namely the eternal character of God. • Evil, within the biblical worldview, is often described as a privation or distortion of what is created good. 2. Why Judgment, Not Moral Evil? • The biblical narrative consistently presents God as righteous. He is the Judge who may use harsh measures to correct or bring about ultimate good, but He never originates moral evil. • Judgment is the outworking of justice, allowing for repentance or establishing a more profound lesson of the seriousness of sin. X. Conclusion From a thorough reading of Scripture through the lens of passages like Isaiah 45:7, the consistent teaching is that God superintends both prosperity and calamity in His creation. Yet, He does not author moral evil or sin. When the Bible references God “creating” evil (ra‘), it most accurately describes calamities or judgments meant to bring about correction, fulfill prophecy, or demonstrate His holiness. Ultimately, God is perpetually good, holy, and righteous. While He allows (and orchestrates) crises, tribulations, and judgments, these serve a just and redemptive purpose. The entry of moral evil arose through human (and angelic) rebellion, not God’s creative act. In this way, the broader scriptural witness affirms that the One who made the heavens and the earth remains forever righteous and pure, even as He remains sovereign over both blessings and disasters in His world. In answer to the question, “Does God create both good and evil?”—the biblical perspective is that God creates only what is good in essence, yet He also justly brings or permits calamity as part of His perfect governance. Moral evil, by contrast, emerges from the misuse of creaturely freedom. This deeply layered understanding of God’s character reconciles the scriptural declarations about both His holiness and His sovereignty. |
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