Isaiah 45:7, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."
These verses from verse 1 to 7, is a discourse to Cyrus, the Persian King, revealing Who this God is, Who will use the king as His instrument. So verse 7 comes as a further reminder to Cyrus that this God is unlike anyone else: He creates Light & He has the power to remove it (once Light from a source is removed, darkness prevails - it's the default with light's absence). He can bring about peace (or, happiness, prosperity) & also can remove that (thereby evil will become present & rampant, as a default state, with Satan's affectation upon man & the world). The Lord has the power to do all things, which the Persian gods could never do.
To be able to correctly understand the 'behaviour' of a Holy God Who can do no evil, for evil is never present within Him, the only way that I can read this verse, is to know that the God Who creates, can also remove (i.e. the opposite is 'created') & not that God has any unjustified evil planned that He wants to create. However, it is true, God does bring on 'evil', as in consigning men to hell, but that comes as a justified punishment for man's disobedience & rejection of Him.
I remember reading that the first time and thinking the same thing.
The first thing I'd say is not to use NIV, instead use KJV. Modern translations are less accurate.
God created people, and is therefore responsible for His creations. As an example, if someone chooses to do someone else harm for an unholy reason, that person must reap what they've sown. It's up to God to give that person a perfect punishment(assuming they are unrepenting nonbelievers), and in order to do that God must create a situation in which there's a fitting disaster for them. Only then is "balance" restored, and do people get what they deserve.
Loving doesn't mean God won't uphold morality and justice, but it does mean He is merciful.
Disaster exists because of sin. God doesn't enjoy causing disaster, but it is necessary.
Light = good = understanding and knowledge Christians gained from the written word of God
Darkness = evil = trials, tribulations and all sorts of problems encountered by Christians = use by God to test our faith in God
If & when Christians chose not to rely on own understanding, seek God's wisdom, able to go through trials/problems, by faith able to solve problems. During the process - made mistakes but learned new things - what works, what doesn't work gained wisdom, leads to success
Prosperity - successful life on earth while having intimate fellowship with God.
Disaster - however, if and when Christians because of prideful desires, chose not to seek God's guidance, continue to struggle, makes mistakes after mistakes, discouraged, get addicted into something - bring disaster to self - broken relationships.
God created all these things for our common good. God loves us, gave us freedom to see the light, darkness, prosperity and disaster to teach us lessons, to purge and cleanse us from our self-centered free will walking in the flesh versus walking in the spirit.
7 I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the Lord, do all these things. (NIV)
These verses from verse 1 to 7, is a discourse to Cyrus, the Persian King, revealing Who this God is, Who will use the king as His instrument. So verse 7 comes as a further reminder to Cyrus that this God is unlike anyone else: He creates Light & He has the power to remove it (once Light from a source is removed, darkness prevails - it's the default with light's absence). He can bring about peace (or, happiness, prosperity) & also can remove that (thereby evil will become present & rampant, as a default state, with Satan's affectation upon man & the world). The Lord has the power to do all things, which the Persian gods could never do.
To be able to correctly understand the 'behaviour' of a Holy God Who can do no evil, for evil is never present within Him, the only way that I can read this verse, is to know that the God Who creates, can also remove (i.e. the opposite is 'created') & not that God has any unjustified evil planned that He wants to create. However, it is true, God does bring on 'evil', as in consigning men to hell, but that comes as a justified punishment for man's disobedience & rejection of Him.
The first thing I'd say is not to use NIV, instead use KJV. Modern translations are less accurate.
God created people, and is therefore responsible for His creations. As an example, if someone chooses to do someone else harm for an unholy reason, that person must reap what they've sown. It's up to God to give that person a perfect punishment(assuming they are unrepenting nonbelievers), and in order to do that God must create a situation in which there's a fitting disaster for them. Only then is "balance" restored, and do people get what they deserve.
Loving doesn't mean God won't uphold morality and justice, but it does mean He is merciful.
Disaster exists because of sin. God doesn't enjoy causing disaster, but it is necessary.
Darkness = evil = trials, tribulations and all sorts of problems encountered by Christians = use by God to test our faith in God
If & when Christians chose not to rely on own understanding, seek God's wisdom, able to go through trials/problems, by faith able to solve problems. During the process - made mistakes but learned new things - what works, what doesn't work gained wisdom, leads to success
Prosperity - successful life on earth while having intimate fellowship with God.
Disaster - however, if and when Christians because of prideful desires, chose not to seek God's guidance, continue to struggle, makes mistakes after mistakes, discouraged, get addicted into something - bring disaster to self - broken relationships.
God created all these things for our common good. God loves us, gave us freedom to see the light, darkness, prosperity and disaster to teach us lessons, to purge and cleanse us from our self-centered free will walking in the flesh versus walking in the spirit.
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