How is it loving of God to have created evil?

Question

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7)

"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 it?" (Amos 3:6)

"Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?" (Lamentations 3:38)

I know this has been asked before, but I haven't seen it in the way that I'm proposing...

God created the sword. In Genesis, to prevent Adam and Eve from re-entering the Garden of Eden, Jehovah placed fiery swords. Why would an all-knowing God who obviously would know the outcome of misuse and abuse of such an object create it in the first place? In the same way of thinking, God created Satan knowing that he would disobey. If you say he did not know--then you just admitted God is not omnipotent and all-knowing. Why then would God create Satan in the first place?

To be continued...

As the creator of evil-- therefore the cause of destruction, suffering, death, sin, hatred, and many atimes the reason for war, how can you honestly say this God is loving?

He demanded Jesus to be sacrificed in order for our atonement. Why? If God was the ideal being of absolute love, why would he intentionally ask for death, and not use his almightiness and righteousness to simply justify HIS OWN actions himself? Without need of Jesus dying?

But why even have the alternative to begin with? Why give people the choice between good and evil? Wouldn't it be more conveniant living in a world where evil didn't exist, and everything was good?

Why did God create evil?

Answer 1

Technically, the term "evil" can mean "calamity" (JW's note: It-1, page 772, article "Evil"). By that definition only, from the perspective of the unfaithful, Jehovah can be said to perform "evil" or "calamity".
...(NWT Isaiah 45:6,7) I am Jehovah, and there is no one else. Forming light and creating darkness, making peace and creating calamity, I, Jehovah, am doing all these things.
...(KJV Isaiah 45:6,7) 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.


Yet Jehovah is the very standard of righteousness and goodness, and Jehovah is motivated purely by love. Everything Jehovah does is good, and Jehovah actively looks for opportunities to demonstrate mercy and loving-kindness.
...(Psalm 100:5) Jehovah is good; His loving-kindness is to time indefinite
...(Psalm 145:9) Jehovah is good to all, And his mercies are over all his works.
...(Jeremiah 33:11) Laud Jehovah of armies, for Jehovah is good; for to time indefinite is his loving-kindness!
...(James 1:13) For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.
...(1 John 4:8) He that does not love has not come to know God, because God is love.
...(1 John 4:16,20) God is love... If anyone makes the statement: “I love God,” and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot be loving God, whom he has not seen.
...(Exodus 34:6,7) Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, preserving loving-kindness for thousands, pardoning error and transgression and sin


Jehovah is the benevolent Almighty Father of angels and humans. When an angel or human alienates himself from Jehovah, truly 'the defect is his own' rather than God's.
...(Deuteronomy 32:5) They have acted ruinously on their own part; They are not his children, the defect is their own


Here are a few Scriptural thoughts to consider:
...(Psalm 14:1) The senseless one has said in his heart: “There is no Jehovah
...(Romans 16:17) Keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.
...(2 Corinthians 4:4-6) The god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers
...(Philippians 2:14-15) In among a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you are shining as illuminators in the world
...(1 Timothy 6:3-5) If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, he is puffed up with pride, not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words. From these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions, violent disputes about trifles on the part of men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20030301/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/article_03.htm

Answer 2

Many have been perplexed because sin and its author, Satan, still exist. Some even charge God with the responsibility for it since He permitted sin. God is good, merciful, and all-powerful but He is also love. Each created being was endowed with freedom of choice. God wants people to serve Him because they choose to do so and not because they cannot do otherwise.

1. Why didn't God kill the devil when he first sinned and prevented sin from entering this world? "God is love." 1John 4:8. (Note: The government of God is based on love. If God had destroyed Satan immediately heavenly beings would have served Him through fear. Fee moral agents were given time to judge the nature of Satan's rebellion. Read Hebrews 2:14 and 1John 3:8.) (Note: Christ's life and death exposed Satan's true nature and the results of sin. Thus in the proper time God will be able to destroy Satan and sin with the consent of the universe.)

Answer 3

I love how u acknowledge God is all-knowing God created Lucifer, Lucifer rebelled against God.
Yes like so many questions on this site, this on keeps recurring, just to rag at God/His followers.
We rebel against God but unlike Satan we have redemption thought Christ.
None of us r perfect, but is.
God is God, if u have a problem with something He created ask Him.
If He weren't a loving God u would have been struck for asking such a question.