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The Sovereignty Of God
Does God ever do bad things?
by Matt Slick
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God does not do
bad things. That is, He never does anything that is morally wrong.
However, He can do
things that people might consider bad, such as sending a plague or a famine to
discipline His people (Ezekiel
14:21).
Though we might
consider such things to be bad, they are not morally wrong. Not liking it does
not make it right or wrong.
The consequences of
sin in the world and its effect upon the world are going to run their
course.
For reasons that are
known only to God Himself, He allows the effects of sin to manifest all around
us. This includes allowing famine, plagues, and earthquakes.
But God is
sovereign and works through them to bring about the purposes that He has
ordained to occur (Ephesians 1:11).
Furthermore, when we
ask what is “bad,” we are talking about opinions. What is bad to one person may
not be bad to another.
In addition, some
“bad” things are moral, and others are not.
For example, when
someone murders another person, that is morally bad, but falling down some
stairs and breaking a leg is not - though it is also bad and causes suffering.
When we think about
it, we realize that God allows both murder and tripping down stairs. Is God
obligated to prevent both?
If so, at what point
do we say He has to stop bad things from happening in other areas? At stubbing
a toe? At a tsunami that wipes out 100,000 people? Somewhere in between?
Who are we then to judge where the line
should be drawn and what constitutes bad from good?
Trying to answer the question means that
we are trying to speak for God.
It is best to accept the fact that God
has reasons for allowing what He does in the world.
Consider these verses:
“And
the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf,
or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11)
“The
One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating
calamity; I am the Lord who does all these. (Isaiah 45:7)
As you can see, God does things we might
consider “bad,” but they are not morally wrong and that is a very important
point.
God cannot violate His holy nature, but
He does have purposes for allowing different kinds of bad things to happen to
people.
After all, He even disciplines those
whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6).
And sometimes such discipline can
mean difficulties that we might consider to be bad. He does this because He is
the sovereign Lord who works all things after the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11).
So, whatever God does
is good and whatever He allows to happen has a purpose. As Christians, we need
to trust Him.
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life to You. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Matt Slick is the President and Founder of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.
Matt Slick is the President and Founder of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.
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