Grace to you & peace from God our Father & the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Good Out Of Evil” is July 11th’s entry from Dr. David Jeremiah’s ‘Turning Points with God: 365 Daily Devotions’.
The Apostle Paul states, "The Scripture says to the pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up. that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.'" Romans 9:17
Critics of God say the existence of evil proves His imperfection: “If God were all-powerful, He would stamp out evil in the world. If He were all-loving. He would rescue those who suffer as the result of evil deeds. Either God is not all-powerful or He’s not all-loving. Either way, He is an imperfect God.”
A righteous God and the existence of evil in His world do raise questions. But the Bible answers them: evil is a manifestation of sin, and because “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5), He is not the cause of evil. But God uses evil to demonstrate His power and accomplish His purposes.
When Samson chose in disobedience to marry a Philistine woman, God used it as a means to bring judgment upon that evil nation.
When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, God used that betrayal to provide a safe haven for Joseph’s family in a time of famine.
With God, evil never has the upper hand. If you are feeling the effects of an evil action, know that God is able to cause good to come from it. The ultimate goal of all creation is God’s glory-and that includes the evil that temporarily lurks within it.
To end, a quote from St. Thomas Aquinas, “God is so powerful that He can direct any evil to a good end.”
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
