Evil is not something that has an existence of its own; rather it is a corruption of that which already exists. EVIL IS THE ABSENCE OR PRIVATION OF SOMETHING GOOD. Rot, for example, can only exist as long as the tree exists. Tooth decay can only exist as long as the tooth exists. Rust on a car and a decaying carcass illustrate the same point. Evil exists as a corruption of something good; it is a privation and does not have essence by itself. Norman Geisler tells us, "Evil is like a wound in an arm or moth-holes in a garment. It exists only in another but not in itself.
What do you call then that which caused the rot, tooth decay, rust and decaying carcass? Something happened before these states to cause these states. Not every tree rots and not every tooth decays.
Evil: Hebrew word "Ra"
BDB Definition:
1) bad, evil (adjective)
1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
1c) evil, displeasing
1d) bad (of its kind - land, water, etc)
1e) bad (of value)
1f) worse than, worst (comparison)
1g) sad, unhappy
1h) evil (hurtful)
1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts
1j2) deeds, actions
2) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity (noun masculine)
2a) evil, distress, adversity
2b) evil, injury, wrong
2c) evil (ethical)
3) evil, misery, distress, injury (noun feminine)
3a) evil, misery, distress
3b) evil, injury, wrong
3c) evil (ethical)
It seems to me, since God himself is not evil, and therefore does not directly do evil, he creates a being (Satan) and uses him as an instrument to perform the necessary evil (which God does not take pleasure in but knows it is necessary).
Job 26:13
13
By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
I can't find right now where Ray talks about this, but he points out that it is God's spirit which garnished the heavens, suggesting intimacy. But it is his hand which forms the serpent, suggesting he forms it at arms length, away from his heart. I thought this was cool.
Peace,
Diana