Does God Cause Everything that Happens, Good or Bad?

The Poll Question: Does God Command Everything That Comes to Pass?

This poll question was presented on social media. Do you believe that God has commanded everything that comes to pass, whether good or bad? Seth replied, if yes, then God is worse than the devil, for the devil is merely doing God's bidding.

He shared a lengthy quote from C .S. Lewis about man having free will. Epistemic Trespasser said, no, things happen despite God's will, but there's an eschatological horizon to which God directs everything in the end.

Think of it in terms of the calculus of variations. And then he shared a chart of something. Ben said, I feel uncomfortable voting on a word the Bible doesn't use. David said, commanded is not the right word.

Hannah said, not commanded, but ordained. Andy said, the answer is no, commanded or ordained. Sam said, no, God allows, that's not commanding. But the Bible says, who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it.

Scripture on Divine Sovereignty and Human Evil

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? Lamentations 3, 37 -38. Roger shared Isaiah 46, 9 -11, where the Lord says, I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass. I have purposed, and I will do it. Tim shared Isaiah 45, 7, the one forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity. I am the Lord who does all these.

Joseph, the Cross, and God's Good Purpose

Selwyn shared Genesis 50, 20. 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. Acts 4, 27 -28 says that God predestined the murder of His Son, even who would do it, for the salvation of His people.

The Comfort of God's Sovereignty

May the sovereignty of God be a comfort to you, that God works all things together for good, for those who love God, and are called according to His purpose when we understand the text.