Does God deceive?

Question

Does God ever cause evidence in the natural world to come into being that would deceive us?

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Answer 1

Many people have come to the conclusion that since their God is all-good it is not a deceiver. However, it could all be God fooling them into believing they are not being deceived.

Answer 2

God's nature is manifested in goodness -- truth, love and wisdom. The purpose of human mistakes is not to be deceived, but to learn which is a good thing. Although we may misinterpret or misperceive the world while we are developing a better understanding; if we can learn from our mistakes in the past, we can be more aware in the future and improve our "learning curve."

For example, look at geocentric beliefs vs. heliocentric theory -- Copernicus was put to death as a heretic for preaching that the earth revolved around the sun. Surely, it was not God's ideal will that humanity be so religiously attached to past teachings, later shown incorrect, that those who knew the truth were either killed or forced to disavow the truth to avoid persecution; but that's where people were with their beliefs and understanding back then. Nowadays, we have developed scientific techniques to study and prove, and communicate theories so the truth can be established in an educated manner. So we have come a long way since the days of Copernicus. Today, even the effects of healing prayer, largely considered a matter of religious belief only, are being studied and documented by medical researchers, so that science can use modern technology to measure if not prove the effect of healing energies and how they work.

If correcting past misperceptions in order to learn, teach and grow is part of God's plan for humanity to gain the right understanding of the world, then those mistakes are allowed to happen as part of the learning process. It is not God's ideal or purpose for us to be deceived, but to learn, by free will and reason given to us by God, the difference between what is truth and what is inconsistent, so we can eliminate falsehood and arrive at a better understanding of the truth.

Answer 3

No

Consider that God gives us each unique gifts of understanding. There are things in the world we do not understand (and may not be meant to). In our infantile comprehension we might not fully understand something and it appear deceiving to us when it isn't.

For example... I know someone who lost their child at the age of 2 years old who was caught in a terrible tornado. Some people hated and blamed God. What some did not see that part of God's plan was what the family did with this event to still make the child's life worth while. http://www.nbuc.ca/lucasday/index.html

Answer 4

No, I do not believe he does in the way man does with an ill purpose in accord

Job 34: NIV

10 "So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.

11 He repays a man for what he has done;
he brings upon him what his conduct deserves.

12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.

James 1: (Holman......Bible)
13 No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, [c] and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone"

There are many other texts that show he has never used deception to the harm of anyone. He has at times deceived Satan, his demons, men like Ahab, & women like Jezebel & other evil individuals.

Jesus always showed what his Father, God--was like in his life-course, life-style and supperlative acts of Goodness. Jesus always showed how his Father, Jehovah was is and always will be by what he did in representing his God on earth.

THA

Answer 5

No, people force god into the natural world to deceive themselves and others.

Answer 6

I can answer that very simply: NO NOT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CHANCE! Satan has that job, which he volunteered for by not excepting Jesus/Michael as he commander the second in line for the throne of God. You see Michael is the only begotten Son of God since before the creation.

Answer 7

I don't think that the word deceive is the right word, but Jesus spoke in parables in order to hide the truth from those who were not serious. The Bible teaches the same thing that people who are not believers have their eyes blinded so that they won't see the truth. Sounds strange but here are a couple of scriptures:

John 12:37 "But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT ? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED ?" 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 "HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED AND I HEAL THEM."

Matt 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 "For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, `YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.'

Answer 8

according to Descartes god does not deceive b/c if he did he would not be good. plus if the bible is true then we are nothing to him and he wouldn't waste his time. like in Job, god didn't seem to care too much for Job he just let the devil torture him. lovely god people worship.

Answer 9

No God doesn't deceive.....that's usually done by negative forces

Answer 10

The sole purpose of the many false gods (allah, greed, lust, etc) is to deceive. They were created to distract and keep us away from the love and mercy of the one true God, and salvation thru His Son, Jesus.