Providence and Evil
Limiting and Directing Evil
Providence · 6 verses
God's providence exercises sovereign control over evil, setting boundaries to its operation and directing it toward purposes that ultimately manifest His glory and accomplish good. Evil never operates beyond divinely appointed limits, and Satan himself remains on a leash held by the Almighty.
Scripture References
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.”
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”
“Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.”
“For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”
“Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.”
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”