.        This note is taken from a recent discussion I engaged in at Monergism's facebook page. I have edited it for better readability for my readers sake.  I must confess to my own inadequacy as a writer in this note. See, the main reason I desire to post this note is for the last section titled "Lastly."  Here I explain something to which I confess, before the sight of God, I do not explain enough or expound enough on.  I realize by God's grace He has given me profound understanding of His Sovereignty as the scriptures portray this doctrine.  Also my personal experience with embracing God's total sovereignty is rather quite removed from most.  Although raised arminius, still, upon my private reading of Romans 9 in my mid teens I completely embraced God's total sovereignty without any fight or arguments!  Therefore, I have the tendency to forget how hard this doctrine is for some.  Although I do not apologize for the bold manner in teaching this doctrine, for the scriptures do not, yet, I still have room to grow in considering the difficult time some have with this doctrine.  I pray, in particularly, the last part of this note will be especially helpful to those who are finding it hard pressing into embracing God's true sovereignty as the scriptures teach us. This is my service to you.

God is the metaphysical author of evil in the sense of decreeing it and orchestrating it into being.[1]  But He is not the author of evil in the sense of doing evil.  

God gave the dreams to Joseph, which was the tipping point of his brothers wanting to kill him (Genesis 37:5,8). They were not mad enough to kill him. But God needed them to be, for He had a plan to save many through Joseph.  The dreams was thing to bring this about. God, in this light, does not merely use things in motion, but rather, causes or orchestrates them into being.  Who is it but God who must uphold the evil devil into being?  Who is it who sustains our tongues into being as we use them for evil?  Who turns the heart like waters to any direction, even to evil?

Still, this does not mean God Himself "does" or commits evil.  He does not do evil Himself.  It is evil for any being to do evil.  Still, God is the metaphysical author of evil in these ways for the purpose of the greatest good being produced.  Only a Being who knows all things has the right or ability to make this choice.  Only by knowing all things can a being know for sure if  temporary evil will be for the greatest amount of good in the end.  For a human to do this we would acting out of our sphere or proper place to make such a choice.  Compared to God we actually "do" evil, for we do evil for evil sake.  

Consider that it is impossible for God to even be tempted to do evil.  Indeed, God is an infinite being who possess every good thing in infinity; and therefore, He is never tempted to hurt or mistreat His creature to get something, for He has it all.  We are tempted to do evil for 2 reasons.  (1) We are evil ourselves, or darkness. Ephesians 5:8, "For you were once darkness."  But God is light and has no shadow of turning.  Darkness is not produced by light; light produces light.  And so God is the Father of lights.  (2) We lack and so we steal, lust, hurt and kill to get what we want.  God possess infinity.  He possess infinite blessedness, happiness, value and beauty.  There is nothing good which God does not already have.  We have nothing for which God would want to hurt us or do us wrong to get, since He already has it.  Therefore, it is impossible for the Infinite Existence to even be tempted to do evil, let alone do evil.

A Question:

To this I received a question which went as the following: "I understand that you say God cannot be tempted by evil, which I agree.  But are you suggesting that God tempts with evil?"

My response:  Personally No, but metaphysically Yes.  

Consider that even physical secondary causes are created by God, are sustained by God, moved by God and even have their own hearts directed by God (etc).  This is why I say God is the metaphysical author of evil.  In order for God to personally tempt someone, He Himself would have to be evil or darkness.  How can light tempt someone to darkness, when light is only shining out light?  So it is impossible for God to "personally" tempt anyone in the truest sense of it.

James 1:13 is oftentimes abused.  It does not say God is not the author of evil.  Rather, it says God personally does not tempt Christians.  In context, this is all this verse says!  Many seem to miss this.

In my book, "The Divine Decrees", (http://www.osheadavis.com/content/view/83/31/) is Jonathan Edwards' complete essay of: Concerning the Divine Decrees and Election in Particular.   In point [30] on page 46 of my book Edwards says:

"God decrees all things, and even all sins. Acts 2:23, "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death." Acts 4:28, "To do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done." If the scripture means only that Christ's sufferings should come to pass by some means or other; I answer, they could not come to pass but BY SIN. For contempt and disgrace was one thing he was to suffer. Therefore, even the free actions of men are subject to God's disposal. Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." See Jeremiah 52:3, "For because of the anger of the LORD this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, till He finally cast them out from His presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon." The fact of people not complying with the terms of the covenant of grace is decreed, 1 Peter 2:8, "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed." What man determines, never comes to pass, unless God determines it, Lamentations 3:37, "Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it?" By commanding here it means willed; and God is elsewhere said to speak, and it was done; to command, and it stood fast. God determines the limits of men's lives. This is exceeding evident. Job 7:1, "Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?" Days of a hireling signify an appointed, certain, limited time, just as Isaiah 16:14 and 21:16. If the limits of men's lives are determined, men's free actions must be determined, and even their sins; for their lives often depend on such acts. See also Job 14:5."

Edwards in point [10] of his essay and also in my book has this to say regarding God willing evil to be for the sake of His glory and goodness being displayed:

"It is highly proper that the shining forth of God's glory should answer his real Excellency; that the splendor should be answerable to the real and essential glory, for the same reason that it is proper and excellent for God to glorify himself at all. Thus, it is necessary, that God's awful majesty, his authority and dreadful greatness, justice, and holiness, should be manifested. But this could not be, unless sin and punishment had been decreed."

Now in point [59] Edwards gives this explanation to people would might object to the above, by saying:

"If the sum total that has evil in it, when the evil is subtracted, has yet the greatest good in it, then it is the best sum total, better than the other sum total that has no evil in it. But if, all things considered, it really is the best, how can it be otherwise than that it should be chosen by an infinitely wise and good being, whose holiness and goodness CONSISTS in always choosing what is best? Which does it argue most, wisdom or folly, a good disposition or an evil one, when two things are set before a being, the one better and the other worse, to choose the worse, and refuse the better?"

Lastly, consider Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." On the first most ultimate level it is perfectly good and suitable for God to do whatever He wants with His created things, soul or no soul.  This verse is a sweeping statement, even in context.  It does not say God only turns or directs the heart toward good.  This verse means God turns our heart like a river toward wisdom or folly, to good or evil -wherever He wants.  Even if it is by a secondary cause like the devil, the conclusion is the same, for physical or spiritual secondary causes are created by God, sustained by God, moved by God and have their own hearts also directed by God (etc).  This is why I say God is the metaphysical author of evil in this sense.  Still not all things are by secondary causes, for who was there to be a secondary cause for Satan's disobedience?

God does not need us to get Him off the hook.  He has no problem claiming to be the author of sin in the metaphysical sense.  For indeed the scriptures record: 2 Samuel 24:1, "Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah."" & Job 42:11, "Then all his brothers, all his sisters... comforted [Job] for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him [this included the death of his children]." & 1 Kings 22:23, "Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets." & Acts 4:28, "To do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done."

Lastly:

Some might be taken back by the strong reality of God's sovereignty over evil that the scriptures paint, and to which I have been discussing here.  This doctrine concerning the severity of God being the author of evil taken by itself could be very hard for some to deal with.  Our sinful nature is so accustomed to being god that it is difficult to see our Heavenly Father being a true God: actually sovereign that is!  So allow me to add this, for the scriptures add this to this doctrine!  Consider, Jeremiah 32:42 tells us "as" God is sovereign in causing evil, that believers are likewise reassured He will be "as" sovereign in causing all the good He promised to us in Christ. So be encouraged my fellow heirs of God in Christ!  Be greatly encouraged!  This is God's word and is meant to encourage us!   As a Christian who is filled with God's own Spirit this should be helpful to us, just as it was to Jesus Christ our example!

See, when the scriptures show that God is the metaphysical cause or author of evil it is not to be subtracted from these other biblical propositions, for the bible does not.  And they are:

(1.) God decrees evil to be for His glory and our happiness by beholding that glory in Christ. We do evil for evil sake.  Yet, God is the metaphysical author of evil for the best sum total of His glory and our good being produced. (Genesis 50:20)  God being infinite value and having infinite knowledge is in the proper place to make such a choice.

 (2.) The crucifixion of Christ is the central point or reference for us to behold God's sovereignty in evil and our understanding of it.  (Acts 4:27-28)  God said he determined people to "do" those sinful and evil acts against Christ.  The cross was to God's glory and our good.  See, the worst sins ever committed were not just allowed by God, but rather, according to scripture they were both planned and caused by God for very good ends, for a great saving.  As always, we look to the cross and person of Jesus Christ for our central point of reference.   In Christ's death to save sinners we see God being the metaphysical cause of much sin in very specific details.  But we likewise see God being the metaphysical cause of endless grace and glory through the cross in great detail and faithfulness to His promises, and that to our own lives.  Dear reads look to Christ and Him crucified for you and you will gain a heart of great wisdom and understanding!  Jesus Christ knew it was ultimately His Father's wrath that was being poured on Him.  Jesus knew all sinful acts committed against Him were both planned and caused by His Father's will and power.  Yet, Jesus was not swallowed up by such thoughts, for He knew the reverse was true as well.  Just as thoroughly, detailed and great every little sin and wrong, and betrayal was fulfilled in His suffering, so likewise as thorough, detailed and great will be His victory, life, His endless purchased benefits of grace given to all His Children would be fulfilled; indeed for the joy set before Him He pressed through for He knew it was a true joy and reward that would be fulfilled!

(3.) Lastly, it is right to feel taken back by the sheer magnitude of God's causality over sin and evil: you are suppose to be!  But it is not right to be swallowed up by it.  (Jeremiah 32:42)    In this verse we learn whether it is God calling Babylon(which the scriptures accredit to God's causing, is revealed in great detail in the major prophets) to destroy Israel or God planning and causing evil to happen to His Son at the cross, in such great horrific detail, that we are not to stop there.  Seeing the magnitude of God's sovereignty over evil and the magnitude of God's sovereignty over every little detail in causing evil is to lead Christians to something else!  It is to help us understand the magnitude of God's sovereign love and grace in every little detail of our life trough Christ!  As God caused every person and detail of evil that happened against Jesus on that horrible day, God also does and will cause every person and detail in each and every one of our lives to be worked out for good.  And even more so, for in Christ we have "much more received abundance of grace." (Romans 5:17)  The scripture is so specific about the magnitude of God's sovereignty over evil so that through Christ we will be more assured and see better the magnitude of God's grace that will be faithfully worked in every detail of our lives; and this so that the magnitude of our praise of Him in every detail would be truly worthy of Him, who is the Infinite Existence.  

 Be taken back by the magnitude of Christ's sovereignty today!  Yet, be swallowed up by the endless ocean of His grace and love for you in every detail, great or small!  To God be the Glory forever!

[1]  To be fair the basic phrase, "metaphysical author of evil", I received from reading Vincent Cheung.   I do not know if it is original to him or not.  His web site is www.vincentcheung.com .