“The LORD hath made all things for himself: Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”
Proverbs 16:4 KJV
Immediately this verse in today’s reading arrested my heart. So often I’ve wondered why G-d would allow such evil in the world. Surely a good G-d wouldn’t create or allow evil! Does evil even serve a purpose??
The answer is yes.
G-d created all things. Good and evil things. While G-d does not MAKE a man evil, He did foresee that some would be and would act evil and He still created them. (Genesis 6:6, Romans 9:22, Psalms 17:13,14)
Evil serves a purpose.
Personally this verse – and this thought – is a hard one for me to fathom – that ALL things were made by Him, for His purposes.
The Matthew Henry Commentary says this: “All is of him and from him, and therefore all is to him and for him. He made all according to his will and for his praise; he designed to serve his own purposes by all his creatures, and he will not fail of his designs; all are his servants. The wicked he is not glorified by, but he will be glorified upon.”
Maybe He’s like a great story teller – an author who develops the characters in your favorite books. The villain we love to hate. The hero or heroine we want to be or to know. Each person serving a purpose, leading to the great plot twist and eventually the ending – be it a predictable one or a surprise one.
I’ve watched a few author interviews and heard them admit they were often surprised by the character twists or even the ending. Many have said they didn’t start with the end in mind – rather they arrived there along with the character.
But -G-d, the top Author, is not that way. He has it all figured out. He has a grand design. He knows the ending. And all of us are a part of His story. He created both good and evil in His story for one purpose: that He would be glorified for when He is exalted, all men are drawn to Him. He wants us to turn to Him and look to Him alone in both the days of evil and the days of good. He wants us to praise Him in and through all things.
Evil, when it comes, surrounding and overwhelming us, is an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to draw close and grow deep. Do I believe in, cling to, and trust the sovereignty of G-d or not? I want to. Is He still G-d when evil prevails? Yes. He is G-d over acts of righteousness and acts of evil. Righteousness and evil are both part of His plan. Like it or not. Good and evil – both crafted lovingly by His hand, for His purposes. It’s a hard truth but then again, no one ever said following Him was easy.
Father- I’m wrestling with this one. Help me trust You more in all things. Help me trust Your sovereignty and to stop questioning or doubting. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Proverbs 16-18
June 8, 2022