If God is good, why is there so much evil‪?‬ Bikers Church Cape Town

IF GOD IS GOOD, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH EVIL
Pastor George Lehman
Genesis 6:5-7 – 5The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually. 6And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at heart. 7So the Lord said, “I will destroy, blot out, and wipe away mankind, whom I have created from the face of the ground – not only man, [but] the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air- for it grieves Me and makes Me regretful that I have made them.”
God did deal with evil once before.

In heaven God will reveal what on earth He chose to conceal.


Deuteronomy 29:29 (Amp) – The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all of the words of this law.

Psalm 34:8 (Amp) - “O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.

There is no question that evil exists, and it is getting worse.

Anyone who denies this is living in a cave or on another planet.



The word evil used is: - “Ponéros” = Hurtful, calamity (ramp), bad, harm, to degenerate from the original virtue.



As Christians we say God is Good and He is all-powerful.  So, why doesn’t He do something about it?  (You need to bear with me on this one).

Could it be that God is not that good after all – or maybe He is not all powerful as we believe He is?

So, what is the answer?  Is God capable of destroying evil?  If so, then why doesn’t He do it.



I’ve heard so many say: -

How can I believe in a God who allows children and women to be molested and raped?
Innocent people suffer from famine and drought.
Why does God allow terrorists to strap bombs to themselves and kill innocent people?
Senseless murders, and on and on evil soars

Why does God allow this?  These are tough questions.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers, or even understand everything, but I hope to give some answers that will begin to untie this deep mystery.



Firstly, I would suggest to understand why there is evil in the world, is to: -

Realise that God is Good and He is all-powerful.

When people see or even experience evil, they think God can’t be in control, He can’t be good or all-powerful.

On the surface it sounds good and logical but, until we realize the standards we use to measure the ability and will of God is faulty, and mostly it is just about everyone’s opinion.

People get so focused on the hurts, the bad, the calamities, and the horrors of what’s happening that they begin to wonder if God cares at all – some believe there is a cosmic plot against them.

Psalm 34:8 - “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

The bible is full of verses telling us about the Goodness of God in dealing with man – even though we don’t deserve it.

 

Psalm 145:8 - “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving kindness.”

After all, why would God bother giving us scriptures and promises if He wasn’t Good and all-powerful.



Isaiah 40:25-26 -  “25To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength not one of them is missing.” (God is Majestic comes to mind)
I’d say the Creator of the universe is plenty powerful …



Did you know there are some things God cannot do?

God cannot lie
Numbers 23:19: - “God is not a man that He should tell a lie.”
God cannot change
Hebrews 13:8 – He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
God cannot recall our sins after we have asked for forgiveness.
God cannot be the