I Make Peace, and Create Evil (Isaiah 45:7)

2023-12-10

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7)

Some have used this verse to say that the Lord brought evil into existence. The whole ploy is to undermine God’s character. If God brought evil into existence, He must be evil Himself, right?

However, follow what the verse says. The first part says, “I form the light, and create darkness.” These are opposites, contrasting one with another. The next part is the same thing. “I make peace, and create evil.” Here, the opposite of peace is evil. This is how “evil” is being used in this context.

Consider how “evil” is used in the following similar context: “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not” (Jonah 3:10). The people of Nineveh were doing horrific things. God sent Jonah the prophet to them to tell them of impending destruction. “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). The people believed the message and mourned for their sin. They turned from their evil way, so God did not do the evil that was pronounced against them.

Therefore, we see that many times the word “evil” is used for causing harm and disturbing peace. God certainly does these things as acts of judgment. This does not mean God is “evil” like Satan is evil.