The purpose of this thread is discuss God's relationship to first causes when it comes to evil. Put another way, to discuss whether God is personally responsible for evil. Let me compare two passages to spur discussion.
In 1 Samuel 19 we read that there was an evil spirit from the Lord on Saul. On first read it looks as though God sent an evil spirit (a demon) to torment Saul. But in Job 1 (and then again in Job 2) there is more nuance to God's relationship with evil. In Job, God allows Satan to exercise evil on Job and his family through calamity and illness. We know how both stories end. Saul's reign came to an end and David ascended to the throne. Job eventually was restored to health and his possessions restored and multiplied. The psalmist writes:
It is my contention that if there is no unrighteousness in God, then God cannot be the first cause of evil. He allows evil for purposes that may allude our understanding, but God does not create evil. He is not culpable for evil.
Wow, 100% agreement, this could get boring without some debate happening.
Gen 50:20 is the type, Acts 5:26-28 is the antitype. Keeping true to form, even these passages reinforce the concept of 'predestination' only as it applies to God calling out a people for His own possession:
Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against , but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."
:thumbsup: Only those who do not know God could make the grave error of blaming Him for the evil man himself, in his rebellion against and rejection of God, has brought into the world.
5 And this is the message that we have heard from Him, and announce to you, that God is light, and darkness in Him is not at all;
13 Purer of eyes than to behold evil, To look on perverseness Thou art not able, Why dost Thou behold the treacherous? Thou keepest silent when the wicked Doth swallow the more righteous than he,
God did not decree that both satan and Adam would sin against Him, but he did ordain what the results and His action would be based upon those falls, correct?