Human nature holds a certain fascination with evil. Strangely, sometimes people actually hope that a particular struggle is demonic. If it is, perhaps spiritual surgery will take care of the problem, relieving one of responsibility for finding solutions to basic life problems. But this view is overly simplistic and reductionistic. Answers often do not come easy to complex problems. Because of the consequences of the Fall, life is generally “uphillish.” Through genetics, environment and life circumstances, navigating life comes with many challenges. But when the devil takes advantage of our weaknesses and does a “pile on,” life’s normal hassles can become miserably oppressive. Only discernment and spiritual authority can reveal whether demonic activity is the only contributing factor in any given aspect of human suffering.
The book of Job unveils a rather formal, defined type of interaction between Satan and God. As an adversary, an opponent of righteousness, God allows the devil a sanctioned latitude to do his dirty work of deceiving men and wreaking havoc on earth. However, he is held on a sovereign string, serving as a tempter and moral tester of men.
In the book of Isaiah, Yahweh gives a most enlightening word to His people exiled in Babylon, a kind of mini-theology of evil. His aim is to bring them comfort: “If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing” (Isa. 54: 15). In short, “I don’t want or intend to hurt you. But you will be attacked; you will suffer.” Now listen to this amazing statement:
See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail (Isa. 54: 16-17).
Almighty God creates the one who creates weapons. He creates the “destroyer” (immediate reference to an earthly oppressor, but could also apply to a supernatural adversary) who releases destructive power on godly people. So, is God the author and originator of evil? Absolutely not. But He is the creator of beings, angels and men, who exercise the capacity to initiate and implement evil actions. God has fashioned a universe with high risk but a higher reward when created beings choose to love, honor and obey Him.
