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GOD: the source of "good"... and "evil" Note the following magnificent Biblical quotations concerning God as the source of what we humans call "evil".... as well as what we consider to be "good". These precise Biblical references came back into focus, for me, when I repeatedly heard the question, after the "9/11" attack on the World Trade Center: "Why does God allow this type of event in the USA?"; or, "Does God cause this type of tragedy?"; or "Why didn't God prevent this attack?" The Bible quotations, below, have answered these questions, to my satisfaction. What about you? I consider the messages from God, as stated in the Bible, to mean what they say. A tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" ( http://www.terrific-tabs.com ) by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)
This "tablet" interrelates closely with "Enemies of God" (link) AND with The Gold Standard of Spiritual Truth (link) AND The heaven-rescued land (link) Supplemented or "doctored".... 3/02; 4/02; 6/02; 7/02; 10/02; 3/03; 8/03; 3/04; 5/04; 8/03; 1/05; 6/05; 3/25/06 CLICK HERE to go to the "FRONT PAGE" of "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" CLICK HERE for ALPHABETICAL INDEX of this entire WEBSITE CLICK HERE to EMAIL your thoughts to the author ( jtoddiii@bellsouth.net ) The scriptures that are quoted below came back into my attention on September 12, 2001.... the day after the terrorist attack on the United States, in New York City and Washington, D. C. Read these verses out loud, so that you may "hear" God's message.... while you "see" His words. Isaiah 45: 7 (KJV) -- I form the light; and create darkness. I make PEACE -- and CREATE EVIL. I the LORD do ALL these things. Lamentations 3: 37 (NIV) Who can speak, and have it happen, if the Lord has not decreed it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that BOTH calamities AND good things come? Ecclesiastes 7: 13 Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what He has made crooked? 14 When times are good, be happy..... but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one, as well as the other. Isaiah 30: 20 (NRSV) Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction -- yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more; but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And when you turn to the right, or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 54: 16 (NIV) "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. 17 (But).... No weapon forged against you will prevail; and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD; and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD. Lamentations 3: 25 (NRSV) The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him, 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. 27 It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth.... 28 to sit alone in silence, when the Lord has imposed it; 29 to put one's mouth to the dust (there may yet be hope); 30 to give one's cheek to the smiter.... and be filled with insults. 31 For the Lord will not reject forever. 32 Although He causes grief, He will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 33 (Jerusalem Bible): It is not for His own pleasure that He GRIEVES the human race. Proverbs 16: 1 (NIV) To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. 2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him -- but motives are weighed by the LORD. 3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do.... and your plans will succeed. 4 The LORD works out everything, for HIS OWN ENDS..... even the wicked for a day of DISASTER. Deuteronomy 32: 39 (NIV) God speaking: "See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death; and I bring to life. I have wounded, and I will heal..... and NO ONE can deliver out of my hand." 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.... for you. Jeremiah 18: 1 (NRSV) The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 "Come, go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand; and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the LORD. Just like the clay in the potter's hand.... so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up, and break down, and destroy it. 8 But if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the DISASTER that I intended to bring on it. 9 And at another moment, I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will BUILD and PLANT it; 10 but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it. 11 Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the LORD: Look, I am a potter.... shaping evil against you; and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way -- and amend your ways, and your doings. Genesis 11: 6 (NRSV) And the LORD said, "Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do. Nothing they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there -- so that they will not understand one another's speech." 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth.... and they left off BUILDING THE CITY. 9 Therefore it was called BABEL, because there the LORD confused the language of ALL the earth; and from there, the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of ALL the earth. 1 Peter 5: 9 (NEB) ..... remember that your brother Christians are going through the same kinds of suffering, while they are in the world. 1 Peter 5: 10 (NRSV) And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. Romans 9: 20 (NIV) But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes -- and some for common use? 22 What if God, choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath -- PREPARED for DESTRUCTION? 2 Chronicles 7: 19 "But if you turn aside, and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20 then I will pluck you up from the land that I have given you.... and this house, which I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21 And regarding this house, now exalted.... everyone passing by will be astonished, and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land, and to this house?' To repeat.... I consider the messages from God, as quoted in the Bible, to mean what they say. 3/25/06 |