When God Creates Evil

Alright, we’re going to get a bit controversial for a while and deal with some things in the Bible that most people just ignore, especially Laodiceans, since it goes against their soft grain like sandpaper against a gummy bear. I choose to NOT ignore this subject matter because (1) we’re supposed to be living by “every” word of God (Mat. 4:4), not just the ones we like, (2) I always enjoy clearing up confusion, and (3) I believe that our understanding of God is flawed, if we fail to get a good grip on what I hope to show you from the scriptures. We’ll start by looking at a couple supposed “contradictions” and then go from there . . .

“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” (I Chron. 21:1) As you can see, the verse says that SATAN provoked David to number Israel. But look at II Samuel 24:1 and notice some very different words: “And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.” Here, it is THE LORD that moves David to number Israel, and, as if that’s not enough, it is THE LORD himself who chooses to deal with David about his sin of numbering Israel (II Sam. 24:10-15)! If you’re looking for “contradictions” in the Bible, you can sure do better than Jehoiachin’s age or Solomon’s horse stalls! Look no further than II Samuel 24:1 and I Chronicles 21:1.

Let’s get another one. Here’s Titus 1:2: “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” That’s clear enough: God cannot lie. I would imagine that we can all agree on that. But can we all agree on Ezekiel 14:9? Ezekiel 14:9 says, “And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.” According to the scriptures, God, who doesn’t lie, is in the business of deceiving prophets.

Now, any attempted exegesis of these texts that doesn’t allow them to stand as worded is not a God-honoring exegesis. God knows exactly what He’s doing, exactly what He meant to say, exactly why He said it, and He doesn’t need anyone apologizing or doing any damage control for Him. These are NOT contradictions. These are CHALLENGES for the believer to stop being a careless and casual Bible reader and to start being a serious student of the word.

All true Christians know God spiritually, but very few know Him theologically. That is, you might know Him as a result of having been born into His kingdom and family through Christ, but how well do you know what He says ABOUT HIMSELF in over 700,000 words? For instance, you might know that James Melton is a Tennessee preacher who pastors a church, stands on the King James Bible, and does a lot of writing, but do you know how many children I have, what their names are, what my wife looks like, where I live, what my hobbies are, what I like to eat, where I grew up, how I learned the Bible, what kind of music I like, how many guns I have, who my parents are, the names of my pets, whether I live in town or in the country, and what is my favorite sport? You see, you can know someone generally without knowing them CLOSELY, and that’s how most Christians know God . . . generally. This message will help you to step in and get a closer look at your Creator and Heavenly Father, and you won’t have to get a new translation or anyone’s lexicon to do it. Sticking with only the King’s English, we’re going to get better acquainted with God by slowing down and taking a serious look at some passages that most people conveniently ignore.

Alright, let’s deal with the title. Why in the world would a Bible-believing preacher title a message “When God Creates Evil”? Well, either I’ve completely lost my mind or I’ve found something else of interest in the Book. Thankfully, it’s the latter. Isaiah 45:7 says, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” Okay, so I haven’t lost my mind. The Book says that God creates evil. While the critically-spirited skeptic throws his transmission in reverse with “But . . but . . . but . . . but . . .”, the humble and inquiring student of scripture will say, “Okay, you have my attention. What else you got? I’m all ears.”

I find it very instructive that God would put things like that in the Bible, knowing full well that thousands of people, perhaps millions, will stumble all over it, completely miss the truth presented, and often go out worse than they came in! Knowing that to be the case, He just goes right ahead and does it anyway. It seems that His attitude is that a man who isn’t willing to humble himself and be taught isn’t worthy of the truth anyway.

All of this will make more sense if you’ll please allow me to establish a setting, at least for sake of illustration. Imagine, if you will, that heaven has a grand courtroom with a very large and majestic bench. Behind that bench sits God Himself, and throughout the courtroom sits and stands both good and evil spirit beings, including Satan. Everything that happens in the universe must come before God’s bench and be signed by God Himself, including everything in the earth. Sometimes Satan has a plan, but he can’t execute it without God’s signature. Sometimes God Himself has a plan, and He asks those in the courtroom to make suggestions on the best way to execute His plan. It isn’t that He doesn’t already know the best plan. It’s just that, for His own reasons, He wants others to have input. In both cases, God remains firmly positioned behind the bench and there’s never any question about who is in charge. God is the Boss, He’s the “judge of all the earth” (Gen. 18:25), and He has the final word in everything. In that sense, He’s RESPONSIBLE for everything. Yes, including evil.

Having established our setting, let’s go to I Kings chapter 22. The Israeli kingdom has been divided for many years with the ten northern tribes being in gross apostasy under the wicked rule of king Ahab. The southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin haven’t yet gone into apostasy, and they are ruled by the king Jehoshaphat. Due to his many national sins, Ahab and the northern tribes were not possessing all of the land that God had given them, so Ahab decided that it was time to go and TAKE the land, with or without God’s blessings (22:1-3). So, to make the whole thing appear good, he invites the better king Jehoshaphat to come along and help in the battle, and Jehoshaphat fell for the scheme in the name of brotherhood, equality and unity (22:4). But, being more of a Bible believer than Ahab, Jehoshaphat thought it best to seek GOD’S will: “And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.” (22:5)

Now it gets crazy. Being an apostate idolater, Ahab wasn’t about to REALLY inquire of the Lord. Instead, he would act all religious and devout for a while just to appease Jehoshaphat. So he called out the ecumenical crowd with their vestments, white collars, crosses and prayer beads, and they all told him just what he wanted to hear: “Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.” (22:6) With Ahab sitting there grinning in his self-pride, Jehoshaphat felt led to throw a monkey wrench in the machinery: “And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?” (22:7) You see, Jehoshaphat was from the Bible belt down south, and that ecumenical stuff just wasn’t his cup of tea. He wanted some REAL preaching. Now, watch what happens . . .

“And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.” (22:8) LOL! That dirty devil knew full well that his own “prophets” were a bunch of liars and crooks, and that’s the way he wanted it. When Jehoshaphat requested a true prophet of the LORD, Ahab didn’t say, “Why, what do you mean? ALL of these prophets are of the LORD! You just heard the will of the LORD, brother! Let’s roll!” No, he said nothing like that. Knowing that his religious circus wasn’t worth a dime, Ahab knew EXACTLY what Jehoshaphat meant when he requested to hear “a prophet of the LORD.” In fact, he knew exactly WHO that prophet of the LORD was, WHERE to find him, and that he hated his guts due to his negative preaching!

Ahab then conceded to Jehoshaphat’s request and sent for the real prophet, a man named Micaiah. A messenger briefed Micaiah about all that had transpired and then tried to get him to go along with the smooth words of all the other false prophets who were still engaged in their ecumenical circus (22:9-13). Naturally, being a true man of God, Micaiah wasn’t about to go along with anything: “And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.” (22:14) Uh, oh! Party’s over. Actually, it’s NOT over. The warm-up band is about to leave the stage and the “main attraction” is ready for his grandest “performance” ever.

So Micaiah is brought in before the two kings, and wicked Ahab says, “Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear?” (22:15) Micaiah knows what he’s “supposed” to say, thanks to the sissy messenger who tried to intimidate him, so since the whole thing is a circus anyway, he decides to have a bit of fun. Giving most of his energy to avoid cracking a smile, the sarcastic Micaiah took a deep breath and stretched forth his arm and said, “Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.” (22:15) LOL! Disgust is written on Ahab’s face and on the faces of most of the false prophets for they know without a doubt that ole’ Mike is mocking and poking fun at their ridiculous “preaching,” just as Elijah had mocked the Baal worshipers at Mt. Carmel (I Kgs. 18).

Then Ahab, realizing that he had “been had” again, placed Micaiah under an oath so that he would have to stop clowning around and speak the truth: “And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?” (22:16) The “how many times” seems to be a clear indication that ole’ Mike had jabbed Ahab a few times before with his jesting sarcasm, and the dull-minded king had fallen for yet another one. No doubt, “Ha, ha! Gotcha again, Ahab!” was Micaiah’s inner joy as he prepared to DROP THE BOMBS. Now that he’s been “adjured” (placed under oath), there’s only one thing left to do: “And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.” (22:17) The biggest one is yet to come, but that’s the first bomb. Ahab is going to die. He has to because of the prophecy of Elijah in the previous chapter.

Ahab utters to Jehoshaphat some “I told you so” words, and then Micaiah heads into the unexpected and unwelcomed point number two: “And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.” (22:19-23) BOOM!

We won’t deal with the rest of Micaiah’s message, since the above words well reinforce the main point of what I’m trying to get across, but rest assured that his words did come to pass. Ahab is dead before dark (22:34-40), the false prophets end up looking like fools, and God’s true prophets hit the bulls eye as usual.

Now, about Micaiah’s peculiar vision. He said that he saw the LORD on His throne and the host of heaven gathered around on His right and left. Then he heard the LORD put forth an order of business to be carried out: THE DEATH OF AHAB. God wanted to know who had the best execution plan for wicked Ahab. After several plans were presented, one spirit stepped up with the winning plan: “I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” (22:22) God basically said, “I like it! Where do I sign?” The plan was carried out, Ahab believed the lying prophets that God sent, and he was dead before dark. To double down on the unpopular truth, Micaiah rubbed it in further by saying, “Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.” (22:23) Did the LORD actually TELL the lie? Of course not, but He did AUTHORIZE the lie. In that sense, it can said that “the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets.” He’s the Judge behind the bench that signed the paper.

For more of the same, please consider Ezekiel 14:9: “And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.” There it is, plain as the nose on your face: GOD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DECEPTION. No, He doesn’t personally deceive anyone or lie, but He does authorize it when someone is unworthy of further truth. The context here in Ezekiel is people loving their idols more than God and His truth (14:1-8), so He sends them LIES.

Get II Thessalonians 2:11-12: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” The context here is the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist and his blind followers. God sends a “strong delusion” for the distinct purpose of deceiving and damning those who REJECTED truth. He doesn’t personally engage in the deceit, but He does authorize it from His heavenly bench after assessing the whole situation and considering all the facts. It is in that sense that all “the powers that be are ordained of God” (Rom. 13:1), not just the “good” powers, and it’s in that sense that the heathen Nebuchadnezzar was God’s “servant” (Jer. 25:9). God is the supreme Judge and Commander. NOTHING happens off of His watch, not even a falling sparrow or a hair falling from your head (Mat. 10:29-30). That makes God the BOSS, the CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, the CEO, the JUDGE and KING. Everything is under His command, His control and His authorization, including “the deceived and the deceiver” (Job 12:16), and both “good” and “evil” (Job 2:10; Lam. 3:38).

So! Who was it that moved David to number Israel? God or Satan? God signed the order, and Satan did the dirty work. Who is it that lies and deceives people? God signs the order, and Satan does the dirty work. If you still doubt this, just read Job chapters one and two where God AUTHORIZES Satan to attack Job and his family, and read Revelation 12:10 where “the accuser of our brethren” is finally cast down. God is the Supreme Judge. He only is omniscient and omnipotent, so He only can sit qualified to measure out court orders from His heavenly bench. He knows exactly what He’s doing, when to do it, how much of it to do, who to do it to and who can get it done. Why did so many Jews perish in the holocaust? Because God knows what He’s doing. Why have sixty million babies been aborted in America? Because God knows what He’s doing. Why do so many people suffer and face hardships and tragic deaths? Because God knows what He’s doing. Why did the sinless Son of God have to hang on the cross and suffer and die for OUR sins? Because God knows what He’s doing, even if the devil doesn't (I Cor. 2:8)! Relax, my friend, God has EVERYTHING under control. You might want to join His ranks while you still can. 

“Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?” (Ecc. 8:4)

- James L. Melton 

www.biblebaptistpublications.org

Never a Time (song)

Feelings (poem)

Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God--
Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
His Word shall stand forever!

-Martin Luther

Beef Bourginon recipe

 3 lbs stew meat chopped up into smaller bites

1/2 lb bacon

1 diced onion

2 cloves minced garlic

3 TBS flour

3 TBS butter

2 cups Cabernet Sauvignon red wine

Baby carrots

Beef stock

Bouquet of parsley and thyme

Bay leaves

2 TBS Worcestershire sauce

1 TBS Dale's Sauce

1 TBS beef base

Brown the meat in a large pot and put into a crock pot (do not cook fully).

Cut the bacon into bite sized pieces and cook in same pot until well done. Put into the crockpot with the beef.

Using the bacon grease, sauté the onion until translucent.

Add the garlic to the onion and cook for about 2 minutes longer.

Move onion and garlic to the crockpot.

Pour the red wine into the pot with the remaining bacon grease and bring to a boil. Turn down a little and allow to bubble for at least 10 minutes.

Melt the butter and add the flour stirring until well mixed (stir constantly).

Now, add some beef stock and stir in the Worcestershire, Dale's, and beef  base.

Once all ingredients are well blended, pour into the crockpot over the other ingredients.

Add baby carrots to the crockpot.

Put your bouquet of thyme and parsley in on top and then pour more beef stock in until all ingredients are covered.

Add a few Bay leaves and turn crock pot on low.

Allow this to cook for a few hours.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Eat over mashed potatoes.

God Is Not Mocked (video sermon)

God's Voice

 An old wives tale says that when it is thundering that God is speaking. Have you ever wondered where that saying came from? Did you ever question what God's voice sounded like?

There are a few people in the Bible that actually heard God's voice. Their responses are all quite similar.

Deuteronomy 5:22-28- These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it. And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.

The Israelites in the wilderness heard God's voice and begged Moses to talk with God alone. Moses had heard God's voice once before going to Egypt while he was a shepherd in the wilderness of Ethiopia. It was over time that Moses had learned to listen and not just quake at the sound of it.

The Prophet Daniel and the Apostle John both heard God's voice and saw an appearance of Him and both had a similar reaction to it.

Daniel 10:5-6, 9- Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

Revelation 1:10-18- I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Both men fell down to the ground almost paralyzed with fear! They described the sound as best they could with what they knew- a voice of a multitude, a great voice as of a trumpet, a voice as the sound of many waters.

Have you ever been near a waterfall? It's powerful rushing force is not only loud, but it creates vibrations that can be felt through your body!

I think my favorite description is from the book of Job.

Job 40:9- Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

I can understand that one. I've been in some loud thunderstorms that shook my house and made me feel deaf for a moment from the intensity of the sound!

God's voice was not always a mystery to mankind. There was once a time when His voice was heard often.

Genesis 3:8- And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Isn't it interesting the way that is worded? They heard the voice walking. Do you know why that is a good translation? Because they were speaking to a pre-incarnate version of the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1:1-5, 14- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Christ was always around. He is not a created God. He has always been and will always be. He just changed forms. Before, with Adam and Eve, He was more spirit. But a spirit cannot die for the sins of man! So He took on a new form, a human form.

As a man Christ used His voice to cast out devils, raise the dead, heal the sick, and so much more. He will always have a body, but when He comes back the second time, His appearance will have changed. And His voice will be even more powerful!

Song of Solomon 2:8- The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

What happens when His voice skips on the hills and leaps upon the mountains? They melt!

Nahum 1:5- The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

Revelation 11:11-13- And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The dead will still raise.

Revelation 16:1, 17- And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

Judgement will fall.

Revelation 21:3-6- And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Time and eternity will change.

But back to our original question- why did those old women have the tale that thunder was God speaking?

John 12:28-29- Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

Because when God speaks not everyone will hear Him. Those who submitted to John's baptism were able to hear God speak; those who would not repent and humble themselves only heard a roll of thunder.

The same thing will happen during the rapture. 

1Corinthians 15:52- In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:52- In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

An unbelievably loud thunder will shake the earth and disrupt their lives as they know it. But Christians will hear their name like as if it were called by a trumpet. And in a split second they will feel that voice reverberate throughout their body as it changes them into immortal, sinless beings who, like John in Revelation, will come up hither.