Part 2: Is God Willing to Prevent Evil?
In about 300 B.C., Epicurus questioned the “why” of evil in The Riddle of Epicurus: If God is willing to prevent evil, but not able, He is not omnipotent. If He is able, but not willing, He is malevolent. If He is both able and willing, then whence comes evil? If He is neither able nor willing, why call Him God?
Is God willing to prevent evil? This important question can only be accurately answered in light of the true character of God.
From an earthly perspective, Habakkuk posed the question centuries ago: does God actively oppose evil, or does He simply ignore it because He can’t eliminate it? (Habakkuk 1:13 HCSB) “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are You silent while the wicked swallows up someonemore righteous than himself?”
From the apocalyptic Throne Room, martyred saints with an eternal understanding of God’s holiness, do not ask the suspicious “ if” or “ why”; but a trusting “ when?”: “They cried…”Lord, holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those…on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10-11 HCSB) If our questions are not rooted in the confidence of God’s absolute hatred of evil, the compost of our confusion becomes fertile ground for the doubtful, suspicious “ if” and “ why”. Accepting God’s pure, perfect love toward humankind by faith enables us to trust God’s immutable, righteous hatred of evil, even while waiting through times when injustice seems to prevail.
God’s declaration of His hatred of evil is a revelation of His willingness and intent to destroy it: “… The Lord knows those who are His, and everyone who names the Name of the Lord must turn away from unrighteousness (evil)…the reverent, worshipful awe of the Lord includes the hatred of evil, pride, arrogance…perverted and twisted speech He hates…” (2 Timothy 2:19; Proverbs 8:13 HCSB) It is God’s nature to hate evil. We are instructed: “…do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God…be imitators of God, as dearly loved children…walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us. Sexual immorality, impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you…coarse talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks….no sexually immoral… or greedy, idolatrous person, has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God. (3 John 11; Ephesians 5:1-5 HCSB) Evil presently continues, not because God is uncaring; not because He is powerless; but because the eternal process of totally eradicating evil requires time and patience. We’re limited in our ability to grasp God’s infinitely righteous purposes, which will not be satisfied with anything less than complete elimination of evil, and unequivocal acceptance of God’s perfect holiness and justice. Knowing His character enables us to accept by faith that God knows exactly what He is doing, and that He is never in error.
(Psalm 37:12-15) The wicked scheme against the righteous, and gnashes his teeth at him. The Lord laughs at him because He sees that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow to bring down the afflicted and needy and to slaughter those whose way is upright. Their swords will enter their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
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