How can it be said that God is the Creator of both good and evil (Isaiah 45:7) when evil does not align with God’s inherently good nature? Is God Truly All-Good?

To understand this, we must first comprehend the meanings of the words “good” and “evil” as they are used in the Bible. Each term has more than one meaning. The word “evil” can refer to sin. Clearly, the phrase “Creator of evil” in Isaiah 45:7 cannot mean that God creates sin, as sin is inconsistent with God’s wholly good nature. Instead, the term “evil” in the biblical context often means calamities or troubles. Conversely, the word “good” can also have dual meanings. It can signify righteousness and virtue, which is the opposite of sin, or it can mean prosperity, blessings, and various forms of well-being, material or immaterial. This concept is clearly illustrated in the story of Job. When he was afflicted with severe trials and his wife complained, he rebuked her, saying, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10). Job did not refer to sin when he mentioned “evil” here; he was referring to the afflictions he suffered— the death of his children, the destruction of his house, and the loss of his livestock. These misfortunes, which common parlance calls “evil,” were the calamities the book referred to when it said, “When Job’s three friends heard of all the adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from his own place… to sympathize with him and to comfort him” (Job 2:11). Similarly, when God spoke of punishing the Israelites, He said, “Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon this place and its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book” (2 Chronicles 34:24). Here, “evil” refers to the calamities that would befall them, such as exile, defeat by their enemies, and other forms of punishment. This is evident in passages like, “Behold, I am bringing such a calamity upon this place, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle” (Jeremiah 19:3). The detailed description includes the people falling by the sword before their enemies and their corpses becoming food for birds and beasts. These were the consequences that God called “evil.” In Amos 4:9, God again speaks of bringing “evil” in terms of punishments like locusts and drought. When God speaks of restoring the people from captivity, He says, “Just as I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I have promised them” (Jeremiah 32:42). Here, “good” refers to blessings, while “evil” means the previous calamities. Therefore, the term “good” can imply blessings or material prosperity, as seen in verses like, “He satisfies your desires with good things” (Psalm 103:5), and “Your sins have withheld good from you” (Jeremiah 5:25). Hence, when it is said that God is the Creator of good and evil, it means He bestows blessings and also allows or brings about discipline and hardships, which people perceive as “evil.” These difficulties are meant for correction, urging repentance, or providing spiritual benefits through trials (James 1:2-4). However, when “good” means righteousness and “evil” means sin, it is clear that God rewards good deeds and punishes evil ones, as in “for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good” (1 Peter 2:14), and “Turn from evil and do good” (Psalm 34:14). God’s creation of “evil” in the sense of sin is never implied. Rather, God allows or brings what people perceive as “evil” for their ultimate good. In conclusion, understanding these nuances helps us grasp how the Bible speaks of God as the Creator of both “good” and “evil,” reflecting His role in both bestowing blessings and allowing or causing hardships as part of His divine plan for human growth and correction.