This is a difficult question that many believers grapple with. At first glance, it may seem unacceptable that God would use evil to accomplish His good purposes. However, a careful examination of Scripture reveals that God is sovereign over all things, including evil, and often uses the sinful free choices of human beings to fulfill His plans. The book of Habakkuk provides an example of this.
Overview of Habakkuk
Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah who likely ministered sometime between 610 and 586 BC, just prior to the Babylonian invasion. Habakkuk struggles with why God would use the evil Babylonian empire to discipline His chosen people, Judah. He dialogues with God about this in the first two chapters. In chapter 1, Habakkuk complains to God about the injustice and wickedness he sees among his own people, and asks why God does not punish them (Habakkuk 1:2-4). God responds that He is raising up the Babylonians to execute judgment against Judah (Habakkuk 1:5-11). Habakkuk then questions how a just God could use a wicked nation like Babylon to judge a people more righteous than them (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1). God answers again that Babylon will also be judged for their arrogance after He uses them to discipline Judah (Habakkuk 2:2-20). Finally, in chapter 3, Habakkuk responds in praise and trust, committing to wait patiently on God’s deliverance.
God’s Sovereignty over Evil Nation’s in Habakkuk 1:5-11
In Habakkuk 1:5-11, God reveals that He is sovereign even over the evil choices of pagan nations like Babylon. Consider the following points:
- God declares “I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (1:5). This indicates God’s sovereign control over all that will happen with Babylon.
- God describes raising up the Babylonians as a “dreaded and fearsome” nation (1:6-7). They are a violent, prideful, self-reliant people.
- Babylon’s horses are described as “swifter than leopards” and “more fierce than evening wolves” (1:8). This brutal nation will swoop down swiftly to devour Judah.
- Babylon’s armies come “for violence” with the intent to conquer and “gather captives like sand” (1:9). Yet God is the one rousing them to advance.
- Babylon attributes its success to its own military might rather than recognizing God’s sovereign direction (1:10-11). But Scripture is clear that even their self-exalting arrogance is under God’s control.
This startling revelation from God affirms that He is directing the evil inclinations and free choices of the Babylonians to serve His disciplinary purposes for Judah. Babylon is neither aware of nor intentionally aligned with God’s plans. Yet their sinful lust for violence and domination plays right into God’s hand. He raises up Babylon and providentially guides their brutality to humble His wayward people.
How Could a Just God Use Evil Babylon this Way?
Habakkuk understandably pushes back against this idea. He knows that Judah, though sinful, has more redeeming features than Babylon, a wholly pagan and arrogant nation. It seems perplexing and even unjust for God to use an evil entity to judge a people far less wicked in comparison (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1). Several observations help clarify God’s justification in doing this:
- First, God reminds Habakkuk that Babylon will not escape justice either (Habakkuk 2:2-20). The Lord will hold these arrogant conquerors accountable for the cruelty against Judah and other nations.
- Second, though less wicked than Babylon, Judah has nevertheless engaged in much sin and idolatry deserving of punishment (cf. 2 Kings 23:26-27; 2 Chronicles 36:14-16). God has been patient, but their persistence in covenant unfaithfulness must be corrected.
- Third, God in His sovereign wisdom has decided to mete out that punishment through Babylon’s invasion. As the just Judge of the earth, it is His prerogative to administer justice as He sees fit.
- Fourth, God’s use of evil agents to carry out His decrees in no way morally pollutes God or makes Him culpable for their actions. He maintains His righteousness as He works His purposes through their free choices.
Though Habakkuk struggled to reconcile God’s goodness and justice with His plans to punish Judah through Babylon, He chose in the end to trust God’s higher ways and wait patiently on the Lord (Habakkuk 3:16-19). God’s response to Habakkuk models how believers today can accept God’s sovereignty over evil without charging Him foolishly or losing faith in His trustworthiness.
Principles about God’s Sovereignty over Evil
The book of Habakkuk yields several important truths about how God in His sovereignty relates to evil:
- God is sovereign over all human history and activity, including evil choices that oppose Him (Ephesians 1:11). Nothing takes Him by surprise or thwarts His purposes.
- God normally allows evil to run its course for a season rather than immediately judging each sin (Ecclesiastes 8:11). He is patient, not wanting any to perish (2 Peter 3:9).
- God sometimes uses the natural consequences of evil choices, as well as the evil intentions of wicked people, to enact His righteous judgment on sin (Jeremiah 25:8-14). His justice is untainted by the evil means.
- God’s use of evil for His holy aims in no way excuses those who perpetrate evil. They are still morally responsible for their actions (James 1:13-15).
- Humans should refrain from accusing God of wrongdoing when they do not fully understand His ways. His judgments are always just, and His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
- Believers must learn to trust God’s sovereign care over evil. Knowing He uses even the evil for our growth and His glory enables us to rest in Him (Romans 8:28).
Examples of God Turning Evil to Good Ends
Beyond the example in Habakkuk, the Bible contains many other accounts of God using evil events and actions to fulfill His righteous purposes without being morally tainted Himself. Consider the following examples:
The Crucifixion of Christ
This is the prime example of God turning wickedness into goodness. Jesus was delivered over and crucified according to “God’s set plan and foreknowledge” (Acts 2:23). Yet those who killed Him, both Jews and Gentiles, were morally culpable for the evil they did (Acts 2:23, 3:13-15). Out of their wicked intentions, God brought about the greatest good – the redemption of sinners.
Joseph’s Slavery and Imprisonment
Joseph’s brothers wickedly sold him into slavery in Egypt, where he was also unjustly imprisoned (Genesis 37:12-36). Yet years later Joseph was able to say to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:19-21).
The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart
God tells Moses, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will not let the people go” (Exodus 4:21). This was fulfilled as Pharaoh grew stubborn and refused to let Israel leave Egypt. Yet Pharaoh hardened his own heart through his free choices (Exodus 8:15, 32). Through the ten plagues, God displayed His glory and power, judged Pharaoh and Egypt’s gods, and freed His people from slavery.
The Crucifixion Brought Growth to the Church
When the early church faced persecution, believers prayed for boldness and God’s empowering to continue preaching the gospel in the face of threats. They affirmed God’s sovereignty even over evil intentions aimed to stop them, saying Herod, Pilate, Gentiles and Jews did only “what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen” (Acts 4:23-31). Their prayers show trust in God’s ability to turn opposition into greater fruitfulness in spreading the gospel.
Trusting God’s Sovereignty through Our Suffering
The reality that God is sovereign over evil comforts believers facing adversity and persecution. While we should never blame God for the evils brought against us, we can be assured of the following:
- God knows all about the attacks and is not caught off guard or helpless to defend us (Psalm 139:1-6).
- No suffering or injustice can touch us without first passing through God’s loving and wise hands (Romans 8:28).
- God takes no pleasure in our suffering, and promises to use it only for our sanctification and His glory (Hebrews 12:7-11; 1 Peter 1:6-7).
- Our faithful response to suffering often results in greater maturity and fruitfulness for God’s kingdom (James 1:2-4; John 15:2).
- In all things, including suffering, God works to conform us to Christ’s image (Romans 8:29).
Believers can trust God to use both good and evil events to shape us into the likeness of Christ and bring about His loving purposes for us and His glory (Genesis 50:20; Romans 11:33-36). While avoiding simplistic explanations, we accept God’s mysterious providence over suffering until the day we see face to face and understand fully (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Our Response to God’s Sovereignty Over Evil
Accepting that God works sovereignly even through evil events is foundational to the Christian life. This truth should compel the following responses from us:
- Honesty – We must avoid denying or sugarcoating the existence of evil and suffering in this fallen world.
- Humility – God’s ways and wisdom are far above ours. We approach this issue with humility rather than accusing Him of wrongdoing.
- Hope – We rest in the promise that God will make all wrongs right in the end (Revelation 21:4). Justice will prevail.
- Trust – Though we don’t understand everything, we trust God’s wisdom, love and power to use all things for our eternal good.
- Obedience – We live uprightly and oppose evil, remembering we cannot do evil so that good may result (Romans 3:8).
- Faith – We live by faith in God’s unseen hand guiding all things, believing His ways are perfect.
- Worship – We worship and exalt God who infallibly directs all events and history according to His good purposes.
God calls us to bring our doubts and complaints to Him in prayer, and to wait patiently and trustfully for His working in our trials. We can rest assured He will only employ as much evil and suffering as is needed to accomplish His loving purposes for us and His glory.
Conclusion
The fact that God directs even evil events for His sovereign purposes, as illustrated in Habakkuk, rightly mystifies and unsettles us. However, Scripture repeatedly affirms God’s total control over every circumstance, including the free choices of wicked people. Believers must avoid charging God with wrongdoing for allowing evil. We acknowledge His ways are beyond ours, and humbly trust Him to only use evil to the exact degree necessary to bring about our eternal redemption and His full glory.
