🕯️ Did God Create Evil? The Mystery of Isaiah 45:7
“I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create evil (calamity); I, the LORD, do all these things.”
— Isaiah 45:7 (KJV)
This single verse has raised eyebrows, challenged theologians, and stirred countless spiritual debates for generations. How can a loving, holy God claim responsibility for creating evil? Did God really create wickedness?
Let us walk deeper, beyond shallow reading—into the heart of Scripture, history, and revelation.
🔍 The Hebrew Word: “Ra”
The Hebrew word translated here as “evil” is רָע (ra). This word can mean moral evil—but more often, it simply means calamity, disaster, hardship, or sorrow.
In Isaiah 45, God is speaking through the prophet to Cyrus, a Persian king, whom He would use to fulfill His purposes. Here, “evil” is best understood as judgment or disaster—not sin. God is saying He has full control over both blessing and hardship, and that nothing happens outside His sovereignty.
🧠 Did God Create Moral Evil?
Let’s be clear: God is not the author of sin.
James 1:13 says:
“God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.”
But here’s the key: God created free beings—with real moral agency. That gift of free will carries the potential for rebellion. Lucifer chose pride. Adam chose disobedience. Humanity opened the door.
So while God created the capacity for choice, it is creatures who brought forth evil through misuse of freedom.
This preserves both God’s holiness and our responsibility.
🛡️ Why Then Does God Allow Evil?
- To reveal His justice – Judgment must exist for true righteousness to be seen.
- To display His grace – Without sin, there would be no cross, no mercy, no redemption story.
- To purify His children – Trials and calamities refine the faithful like gold in fire.
- To allow genuine love – Without freedom, love becomes robotic. But with freedom comes the risk of evil—and the beauty of chosen devotion.
🔄 Spiritual Warfare and Divine Sovereignty
There are two extremes we must avoid:
❌ Saying God has no control over suffering and evil (making Him weak).
❌ Saying God directly causes all evil (making Him cruel).
Instead, the truth lies in tension:
God permits evil within boundaries for His purposes, but He is never the source of sin or injustice.
Think of Job: Satan asked for permission, but God set the limit.
Think of Joseph: “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)
💡 Final Thought
Isaiah 45:7 doesn’t mean God loves evil or creates wickedness. It means He is sovereign, even over the storms.
He allows darkness to reveal the light, and suffering to produce eternal glory.
As Paul said:
“All things work together for good to those who love God…” (Romans 8:28)
So, no—God did not create evil.
But yes—He is still God when it strikes.
He is Judge, Redeemer, and King over all.