Who or what causes physical evil in the world?

[atpollard]

atp,

So, do you consider the 2004 tsunami in the Indian ocean was caused by the Lord?

Is the current Australian drought all the Lord's doing and not to do with climate change?

Should all tornadoes, earthquakes, cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes be blamed on the Lord?

Oz

All interesting questions, but a bit of a trap in how they are worded. Ultimately the answer is YES. Is it reasonable to say that God is Omnipotent (all powerful) and Soverign (rules over everything) but the 2004 Tsunami just somehow slipped past Him by accident? That some force acting outside of God caused it to happen and the God that controls the movement of the stars was not in control of that outside force?

However, let me ask you why did Babylon come and destroy Jerusalem? God sent them. God warned through his prophets that he was going to send them. Did God send them for “no reason”?

It is far above my pay grade to know why God sent the Tunami or the Fires. That is why I presented a variety of verses that hint at why God MIGHT do something. Some disasters are punishment (are any people not guilty before God) and some disasters serve to drive the people back to God.

The question for me is not “Why did a Tsunami harm so many in 2004?”; rather, the question is “Why has God been so merciful and not sent more Tsunamis to more areas that are just as sinful?”

Who does not deserve to suffer misfortune?
Job 1:21

 

[OzSpen]

Good questions. On the plus side, God can heal a sick person.....in another instance a doctor can heal.......was God responsible for both?
On the down side, lightning can cause a forest fire.....did God do that...in another instance a person can cause a forest fire. Did God cause them to do that? An earthquake can be caused by a plate shift ,but then again an earthquake can be caused by too much oil drilling and fracking. ..........??????

dan,

I have further questions:

• Does a doctor 'heal'?
• Who causes the lightning to strike?
• If God causes people to light forest fires, does that make God the cause of the evil of bush fires?
• Who or what causes the plate shift for an earthquake?

Oz

 

[GodsGrace]

?

I don’t believe I said that.




The bride “made herself ready”.


She chose to make herself ready.







JLB

I was referring, in post no. 17, to this which is in paragraph 9:

You said:
Then to see what it is that caused her to make herself ready, without forcing her to make herself ready as a bride who willingly wants to be prepared for her Husband,

That just sounds to me like compatible free will...
God makes the person want what HE wants , actually forcing them to do HIS will.

I doubt that's what you meant...

 

[JLB]

I was referring, in post no. 17, to this which is in paragraph 9:

You said:
Then to see what it is that caused her to make herself ready, without forcing her to make herself ready as a bride who willingly wants to be prepared for her Husband,

That just sounds to me like compatible free will...
God makes the person want what HE wants , actually forcing them to do HIS will.

I doubt that's what you meant...

What caused her to make herself ready, are the circumstances brought about in the world that God both allowed and caused to work together for her good, which directly correlates to your reference to Romans 8, which says...


And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28





IOW, I agree with you.




JLB

 

[GodsGrace]

What caused her to make herself ready, are the circumstances brought about in the world that God both allowed and caused to work together for her good, which directly correlates to your reference to Romans 8, which says...


And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28





IOW, I agree with you.




JLB

I knew you didn't mean that God forces His will on anyone.
I agree, of course, that God ALLOWS what we do because we use our free will (libertarian) and that He is Sovereign and will use any decision we make to work out the way HE desires it too.
All things will work together for good.....

Thanks for the response.

 

[Prycejosh1987]

The One who is omnipotent is all-powerful. Therefore, the sovereign God who is all-wise is the One who has omnisapience.

God does know everything. I would say the devil causes all suffering and sin cause physical illnesses.