Bible Question:
The verse was 1 Samuel 18:10 and 19:9. I see what you're saying about the Lord discipling and would have to agree that the Lord both causes and allows. For instance...the murders that took place at Columbine in Colorado...9/11 at the World Trade Center...drunk driver killing an innocent person...etc... this would be stuff that the Lord allows by our free will...He doesn't cause such stuff, right? I know there's nothing that happens that the Lord isn't aware of and is very capable of stopping if He chose to... The opinion that God causes things to happen to me sounded like God tempts people and the Bible doesn't teach that and it takes satan completely out of the picture as to what his purpose is. Thank you for your response. Mark |
Bible Answer: Hello Mark, If I may jump in... This is a difficult subject. As has been pointed out, God does cause "evil" to befall man. Another example: Amos 3:6 (ESV) Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it? Isaiah 45:7 (ESV) I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things. You say questioningly, "For instance...the murders that took place at Columbine in Colorado...9/11 at the World Trade Center...drunk driver killing an innocent person...etc... this would be stuff that the Lord allows by our free will...He doesn't cause such stuff, right?" What we know for certain is that God will cause things to happen because they need to be accomplished in order to complete what God has in His overall plan. Look at this: Proverbs 16:4 (ESV) The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. God made the wicked man (although He didn't make the man wicked). It's in His plan, and I don't pretend to know how it all works out. Steve |