Why There Isn’t More Evil (2)

And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”  Job 1.12

The devil’s in the (good) details?
In a recent discussion on the subject of sin and evil, I made the passing comment that the devil was the servant of Christ. I was intending no more than what Augustine said when he wrote that God has the devil and his minions on a leash, so that they may only go as far and do as much as He approves. He allows spiritual forces of wickedness to continue to influence and affect matters in the field of the world, because He makes use of them for the purposes of His economy and glory.

That immediately raised a question in one person, who was upset by the thought that he and the devil might somehow be on the same side.

I reassured him by explaining that the devil does not serve Christ willingly and gladly, but inevitably and begrudgingly. Indeed, he could not continue to exist apart from the good pleasure of Jesus Christ, Who upholds the world and everything in it by His Word of power, and according to His purposes and glory.

And so, since Jesus allows the devil to exist, even he must have some place and purpose in the divine scheme whereby God is working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8.28).

The devil cannot go anywhere or do anything to sow the world with evil tares, apart from the sovereign consent and irresistible will of King Jesus. Even the devil himself, the very embodiment of evil, though he invades all the details of life, is restrained by the good pleasure of God.

Joseph understood
Joseph understood that God can use even wicked intentions and deeds to accomplish His good purposes. He was treated cruelly by his brothers, then by his Egyptian master. Jealousy, anger, cruelty, injustice, reckless endangerment, lies and deception – these are all patently evil works, inspired by the prince of evil himself.

Yet God was using all this evil for His own good purposes, as Joseph understood, if only in retrospect. As his brothers contrived a lie to cover their bases and ensure their own wellbeing, yet Joseph rebuked them lovingly: “Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive’” (Gen. 50.19, 20).

Certainly this does not exculpate the devil, nor anyone who commits evil, simply because God is able to use their evil for good. Paul strictly warned us not to do evil, excusing our doing so since it all works out for good anyway (Rom. 6.1, 2). The devil, we know is capable of a great deal of evil. Not just the gory, head-spinning, projectile vomiting evil that Hollywood delights to portray, but the more garden variety evil: deception, lies, gossip, malicious injury, indifference to suffering, adultery in all its forms – indeed, all the many ways that people break the Law of God and subject themselves to the ravages of disobedience and sin. And while God can use any and all such wickedness to accomplish His holy and good ends, those who knowingly engage in such evil cannot expect to know the fullness of His favor.

The devil’s resources, the Lord’s tools
In addition, the devil has a wide range of resources at his disposal in a world fallen in sin and subject to corruption in all its forms, to make life miserable for a good many people. And he delights to use those resources liberally, as witness the story of Job.

The devil brought every available resource to bear on breaking Job and leading him to curse God – weather, thieves, even his wife and friends. The devil could not be satisfied to strike this holy man; he wanted Job to be more miserable, and more miserable still. But God restrained him, and used his wickedness and resources as tools to bring Job through to a deeper and more joyous relationship with Himself (Job 42.1-5).

As surely as God restrained and used the devil in the days of Joseph and Job, the Lord Jesus restrains him even more tightly today. For as we read in Matthew 12.22-29, Jesus has bound the devil, limiting his power to roam and devour, and making him subject to whatever the pleasure of King Jesus is willing to allow. He may delight to persecute and torture the followers of Jesus, but Jesus allows him to do so to strengthen our faith and increase our joy, hope, and witness (1 Pt. 4.12-19; 1 Pet. 3.15). The devil rejoices in tragedy and violence, but Christ can use even such horrors to advance His Kingdom and its economy of love (Lk. 13.1-5).

If Jesus did not restrain the devil, and make him serve only God’s Kingdom purposes, count on it, there would be much, much more evil in the world than is presently the case. If we understand this about our times, then we will never allow the presence or experience of evil to discourage or defeat us. Instead, every manifestation of evil, and every trial to which we are subjected, will merely prompt us to wonder in our souls about what marvelous good thing God is preparing to do.

For reflection
1.  How have you experienced bad circumstances ultimately working out for good in your life?

2.  God allows evil, but He is not the author of it. Who is? What is our role either in allowing evil’s advance or restraining its progress?

3.  We tend to think of the devil as shrewd and clever and devious, always one step ahead of his victims. But the devil is in fact the stupidest creature in all the vast creation. Why? How should knowing this affect our work in God’s field?

Next steps – Transformation: Make a list of evil things happening in the world. Commit these things to God in prayer, telling Him that you know He is working all things together for good for those who love Him, and giving Him thanks for the evil He allows to come into your path.

The devil really is stupid. Order a copy of Satan Bound, and let him tell you in his own words just how stupid he is (click here).

Jesus Christ rules the world in truth and grace – the world, and everything in it. From His throne in heaven, He is advancing His Kingdom and God’s economy of love. You can read about this – and your calling in this great plan – by ordering a copy of our book, The Kingship of Jesus (click here).

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.