Hi Alex,
These things that you have mentioned are interesting.
We are told that ALL THINGS came through Christ from the Father, does ALL things not include also evil? Or is that something that is not includded? Not saying Christ is evil.. God forbid, just giving some food for thought out here. Much like how God created evil, was it nto THROUGH CHrist?
One thing I would like to mention, in Isa. 45:7, where God says He creates evil, this is Jehovah speaking, who is the God of the OT and later became Jesus Christ.
But I will have to say most of the understanding I have came from Ray’s articles.
So if you don’t mind I will bring some excerpts from his articles, where he has discussed these things.
This is from ‘The Myth of Free-Will Exposed,’ part B.
http://bible-truths.com/lake15-B.html -------------------------------------
GOD CREATES AND USES EVIL FOR GOOD
Evil has no moral bias. God does not sin when He uses evil for His good purposes. Men sin when they do evil to other men.
Evil [Heb. ha' = TO SMASH] is only a "sin" when it is used wrongly. God uses evil for good. The glorious culmination of God's plan will justify His use of evil a trillion times to the power of infinity! Notice how often God uses evil in the Scriptures:
"I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace [good], and create evil: I the Lord do all these things" (Isa. 45:7).
" ... I have created the waster to destroy." (Isa. 54:16).
"The LORD hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Prov. 16:4).
" ... an experience of evil hath God given to the sons of man to humble him thereby" (Ecc. 1:13).
Scripture proves that God not only created evil, but that He, Himself, is responsible for it.
How much more comforting it is to believe the Scriptures. God created evil and uses it for a good purpose. Evil's existence is only temporary (like the scaffolding on a new building). When the building is completed, the ugly scaffolding is removed-it serves no further function to the finished building. Only a knowledge of evil, not evil itself, has eternal value. How awful to think that God did not foresee the coming of evil, can't justify its existence, can't dispose of it, can't save most of humanity because of it. There is no justification for, nor redeeming value in, eternal torture. None.
God is Wise. God wants Sons who will know both "good and evil." God's "end" more than justifies His "means." As Paul said:
"For the momentary lightness of our affliction is producing for us a transcendently transcendent eonian burden of glory ... " (II Cor. 4:17). Concordant Literal New Testament.
Joseph and his brothers is a parable for the whole plan of God, to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear:
From the intentions of the heart of Joseph’s brothers, the deed to sell Joseph into slavery down in Egypt was EVIL. But from the intention of the heart of GOD, the deed was one of great benevolence and righteousness! And the Scriptures actually say so in just so many words, when Joseph’s brothers did indeed bow down to him:
"And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought EVIL AGAINST ME; but GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Gen. 50:18-20).
Joseph plainly states that "God meant it unto good." The "it" was the evil act of Joseph’s brothers. God did not change "it" unto good. No, God meant for the "it" to take place—"it" was His doing. But God’s motivation for the "it" was for good and not evil as Joseph’s brothers intended. So God brought about the "it" by the dream that He caused Joseph to have. And it was God’s intention from the very conception of the "it" (the dirty deed) to be used for good!
And this IS how God operates. Not just with Joseph and his brothers, but with all humanity in all ages. "God is no respecter of persons," and "God changes not."
SAMSON AND HIS WIFE HAD NO FREE WILL/CHOICE
"…that He sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel" (Judges 14:4).
There is the Scriptural answer to the why of this romance between Samson and this Philistine woman—it was all of God, for God’s purpose. God could best bring about His judgment on the Philistines by having Samson marry a Philistine. Simple, huh? God has a plan for every person’s life, and this IS how God operates. God planned your wedding as well. God plans everything. It just that most of humanity, "…knew NOT that it was OF THE LORD."
"O Lord, I know that the way of man is NOT IN HIMSELF [not in his will or choice] it is not in man that walks to direct his steps [he is not ‘free’ to choice where he will walk]" (Jer. 10:23).
"Man’s goings [steps] are OF THE LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?" (Prov. 20:24).
But of what value are these many Scriptures that I have cited if we don’t believe any of them? Is there even ONE Scripture that I have cited above that you believe to be an ABSOLUTE AND TRUE STATEMENT OF GOD regarding man and his ability to will and choose independently of God? Well if you can agree that even ONE of them is absolutely true, then you must admit that God and the Scriptures allow no place for any reality of man having his OWN WILL that is FREE from the sovereignty of God’s operations of all.
No, it was "the hand of the LORD" that caused Israel to first say they would obey and later decide to not obey. It was "the hand of the LORD" that caused Joseph’s brothers to hate him, sell him into slavery, and then later to bow down to him. It was "the hand of the LORD" that put Samson and the Philistine woman together, but as with these and hundreds of more dealings by "the hand of the Lord" mentioned in Scripture, they "KNEW NOT THAT IT WAS OF THE LORD."
Do you "know NOT" that all that you have said and done today, "was OF THE
LORD?"
Most of humanity is born, lives, does evil and good, then dies, and "KNEW NOT THAT IT WAS OF THE LORD."
http://bible-truths.com/lazarus.html -------------------------------------
Lazarus and the Rich Man
All of the parables have huge consequences. They depict giant events to come on this world. They deal with the future of millions and billions--not just a beggar in the street somewhere. Let’s not cheapen or demean this parable.
There is a continuity running through most of the parables. Virtually all of the parables deal with punishments and rewards on the same people at the same event. Although the meaning of His parables were hidden, on one occasion Christ did identify Himself in a parable. Correctly translated thus:
"Undoubtedly you will be declaring to me this parable: ‘Physician cure your self’" (Concordant Literal New Testament).
Parables are in some ways like fine poetry. Marvelous word pictures having giant spiritual applications and ramifications can be presented with very few words, AND, it is God’s purpose to conceal many of the truths of His Kingdom except to those to whom it is given to understand.
Through symbolism and personification, God often uses one some thing or person to represent many or even multitudes and whole nations of people:
Literally it is nothing. But what it represents in figurative and symbolic language is awesome. It has to do with the operations of God, Satan, millions of people and the very end of this age.
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I think this might answer a lot of your questions
mercy, peace, and love
Kat