"But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him." -Job 23:13,14
"For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations." -Psalm 33:9-11
"Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." Psalm 75:5-7
"The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand" -Isaiah 14:24 (emphasis mine)
"I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun,and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil. I the Lord do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the postsherd strive with the postserds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that foashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even, my hands have stretched out the heavens, and oall their host have I commanded. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts." -Isaiah 45:5-13 (emphasis mine)
"Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying. My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." -Isaiah 46:8-11 (emphasis mine)
Jean
(I'm tempted to let FTD know that THE Bible (KJV) declares that God does indeed create evil *grin*)
These passages do indeed declare God's omnipotence, foreknowledge, etc., but they do not say that God creates evil or predetermines all our choices.
There are some passages you could quote, such as: "... shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it?" (Amos 3:6b) that are a bit more of a challenge, but those you quoted aren't the ones.
Was that an evil grin? ;-)
Hey,thanks for letting me know about that! Actually Isa.45:7 is relating to the 'evil' of divine judgement, not 'evil' in that which is contrary to God goodness. In other words, God will judge and discipline those who reject His will. This 'evil' is not His directive will (as Calvinists would state it), but God permits it since He has given man a choice. (Rom.10:21, Ezk,33:11, for the individual christian Heb.12:6) The companion verse is Amos 3:6,
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done itThus, this type of 'evil' comes from rejecting God, it is judgement.
Now, the Calvinists believe that all evil is from God and is actually Good!
Although, therefore those things which are evil, in so far as they are evil, are not good, yet is good that there should be not only good things but evil things also(emphasis mine)That is Calvin quoting Augustine who he states is 'wholly with me'(On the Eternal Predestination of God,extracts from an answer to Albertus Pighius The Treasury of Evangelical Writings, Ed.Otis Fuller, p.184) It sounds like Augustine never got over his Manichaeism! It is good to have evil
You must be a King James Only guy also, I have not seen it mentioned so many times by one person! Praise God for His precious words!'Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strive...the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely...what then? Not withstanding every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein rejoice, ye and I will rejoice
Keep that King James in your posts brother!
'Better the King James Bible, then a conquering crown' Will Durant on King James's legacy. Amen!