In this chapter we will look at several biblical examples where God brings good out of evil. Evil, whether moral or natural (as in calamities), has not been suffered by God for no reason. There is a divine purpose in its allowance. In fact, everything has a divine purpose. (See Eccl. 3: 1-8) We must not therefore judge or condemn God too quickly for the existence of evil.
A General Truth Proposition
“And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8: 28 KJV)
If "all things" literally means all things, then evil must be included in this statement. Some who find it disagreeable to believe will often find themselves saying "all things" does not mean all things but some things (as in the context) or will say that moral evil is not a "thing," which is ridiculous. Is moral good not a thing too? Are thoughts and actions not things? Are they all nothing? People who argue this way show that they are not able to handle the truth that affirms that God has willed that all things occur just as he has foreseen. It is a case of theological cognitive dissonance. But, there is no reason to limit "all things" in the passage. Will those who argue this way say the same thing about all the other passages that affirm that "all things are of God"? Or, deny that God "works all things after the counsel of his own will"? (Eph. 1: 11)
This does not mean that we "call evil good, and good evil." (Isa. 5: 20 kjv) No, evil is not good, although God overrules evil to bring forth good. The Psalmist affirmed a truth believed by all lovers of God: "For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You." (Psa. 5: 4 nkjv) So too did the prophet Habakkuk: "You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness." (Hab. 1: 5 kjv) God is too good to do wrong and too wise to make a mistake.
Genesis 50: 20
We refer to the case of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers along with the other attendant sins connected with that evil deed. Joseph, long after his being sold into slavery, when experiencing good in spite of it and because of it, said to his brothers:
"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (Gen. 50: 20 nkjv)
So, what was the "good" that God determined to bring about by Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt? Joseph tells his brothers that it was "in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." God foreknew that there would be a great famine lasting seven years and that it would mean the death of many people, including Israel and his children. He also foresaw the sin of Joseph's brothers and used that wicked deed to bring Joseph into Egypt and there in his providence bring him to high position in Egypt. By the dreams of the famine, Joseph advised pharaoh to store up grain in the good years so that there would be grain in the years of famine. This later brought Joseph's brothers, yea, even Jacob himself, into Egypt to buy grain and thus be saved from starvation and death.
Further, we see where the "evil" of selling Joseph into slavery was a "thing." We cannot say that it was nothing! We see how God overruled the evil deed and worked it after the counsel of his own will to bring forth salvation from starvation. We see how it was worked by God for the good of his people.
Could God have used a way to save people from the famine where an evil deed was not the means? Yes, of course. But, God did not immediately cause the evil deed, though he willingly allowed it and chose not to stop it from happening, determining that he would make use of the sin of Joseph's brothers. Further, God's use of that evil does not make the evil deed to be good in itself, for it was still evil even though God brought good out of it. It was the purpose of the brothers to do the evil deed, but it was also according to God's permissive will, or what he meant to result from it. Further, the fact that God brought good out of the evil did not excuse or justify the brothers, nor mean that they did not suffer adverse consequences as a result of it. Both evil and good came from the evil act, the good occurring because of God's providence.
This was a central teaching of the apostle Paul and is why he wrote these words:
"And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just." (Rom. 3: 8 esv)
I can see why some would accuse those of us who believe that evil serves a greater purpose in the plan of God of believing such a thing, and like the apostle we retort "their condemnation is just." Just because God brings good out of evil does not mean that we should see that as a justification for us to either do or to allow evil to occur. Yes, as regard bad things that are not ethical or moral, we do suffer evil to bring forth good. That is why we lock criminals in prison for their evil doing. We do the evil of imprisonment and punishment in order that the good of reformation might be realized. Paul says of Hymenaeus and Alexander, who rejected faith and a good conscience, that he had "delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme." (I Tim. 1: 20 nkjv)
Yes, God did suffer moral evil to occur with the intent of bringing about a greater good, and we may say that he did in fact create a world where evil would occur in order to bring about a greater good, but that does not mean that we should always do the same. Think of Paul's words in Romans chapter five where he writes: "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." (vs. 20 nkjv) Will we reason as those who are falsely accusing Paul of believing in doing evil so that good may come and say "let us commit sin so that grace may abound"? Forbid the thought.
Being spanked by a father is not a good thing in itself! But, hopefully, what comes from the bad thing is often a good thing. So Paul wrote:
"Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Heb. 12: 9-11 nkjv)
Being chastened is an evil in itself as Paul says, it being "painful," and not joyful at all. Yet, it is done in order to bring forth a good, i.e. "the peaceable fruit of righteousness." So he also wrote: "we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance." (Rom. 5: 3 nkjv) Tribulations (troubles) are not good things and yet God is able to bring forth a good thing from it, such as perseverance. Oftentimes, because of God's blessing and providence, people acknowledge how such adversities and hard life have become a means to develop good character.
The Psalmist testified: "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." (Psa. 76: 10 kjv) Is that not bringing good out of evil? The wrath of man is an evil. Restraining evil and obtaining praise by the wrath of man are good things. Many other examples are there but we move on.
Israel's Bondage In Egypt
"And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." (Genesis 15:13-16)
Why did God allow Israel to become slaves for four hundred years (an evil thing)? Was it punishment for the sins of Joseph's brothers? Probably not. No doubt it was to use that evil to bring about building the good character of the nation. I think this is seen in the oracle of God upon Israel's time in Egyptian slavery: "When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son." (Hosea 11: 1 nkjv) That time in Egypt was the means of the child becoming a mature son. That time in Egypt was a time of grievous affliction for God says to Moses when the four hundred years was nearing its end: "And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows." (Exo. 3: 7 kjv) These afflictions, slavery, and sorrows are evil things and yet God brought forth good therefrom. The Psalmist said the same thing: "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes." (Psa. 119: 71 nkjv) So Israel was educated and matured while in Egypt. So we read the historical record by Moses who said - "But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew." (Exo. 1: 12 kjv) Seventy persons went into Egypt at the first, and when the four hundred years had passed, they numbered in the millions.
Israel learned a lot while in Egyptian bondage. So later they were exhorted with these words:
"Remember that you were slaves in Egypt" (Deut. 24: 18 NIV).
"Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt." (Exo. 22: 2)
"You shall not oppress an alien, for you know the heart of an alien, seeing you were aliens in the land of Egypt." (Exo. 23: 9)
So, this is another case of good coming from evil. In the next chapter we will consider a few other examples and then move on to consider other difficulties theologians face when it comes to justifying the ways of God to men.
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