It is worthy of note that one of the best manuscripts, Vaticanus (B) reads evil in place of bad or FOUL in 2 Cor.5:10. This confirms the thought that bad belongs in the same category with evil, rather than with sin. We have shown elsewhere that God creates evil yet does not sin. So it is with our bad or evil acts. It seems that they, when viewed in the light of that day, are used by Him to humble us and give us the experience of bad or evil, and the corresponding grace, which is needed to prepare us for our place in His purpose. I am thankful for the bad which comes to me, in a personal way, yet I realize that the exposure of my own evil and the loss it entails is just as essential as a firm basis for the future. We should be most thankful if, in this life, we are able to requite for anything bad that we have done. It may mean a serious loss, yet all who have the spirit of God should not rest easy so long as they have injured a fellow creature. It may not be possible always to do this. I am sure no one would view the future glory with equanimity if anything of this sort still is against him. To requite all might be an intolerable burden now, added to our other infirmities. How gracious, then, is the postponement of requital until we are immortal, and well able to forfeit all that is necessary to square accounts with those who were associated with us in this life!
God & Evil
1. God uses evil to punish evil; e.g. Flood, Sodom; typically unleashing nature in a destructive/catastrophic manner. (refer to Isaiah 45:7)
2. When an individual falls under the influence of an evil spirit, it's because the individual does not have God's Spirit. In the case of King Saul, God's Spirit had been withdrawn from him. A similar circumstance is the case of Judas.
3. God does not manipulate individuals to do evil acts; e.g., Joseph's brothers acted due to hatred caused by jealousy; Judas acted due to greed; God does not "orchestrate" but rather chooses individuals who are receptive to Him and who (because they possess certain traits of character) have the potential of serving Him.
Notes
*And when God instructs individuals to be involved in evil (such as when the Israelites were instructed to kill everyone including women and children in certain Canaanite cities), He was upfront about it. Once again, He was punishing evil.
**What's the difference between God commanding the Israelites to kill all the men, women and children in a Cannanite city and sending a flood or sulphur and brimstone to do the same? Each is an element at God's disposal and the former may have something to do with the metaphor of the potter and the clay. Now individually, an Israelite could have refused the command to kill (and would probably have been put to death as a result), but in obeying God, he was the clay.
***I would say our traits of character are not manipulated by God. Morality or immorality is voluntary.
****Were the inhabitants of Sodom and the pre-Flood inhabitants of Earth (except for Noah and his immediate family) "fitted for destruction"? I would say yes. Were they fitted millions of years before it happened? I would say no. They were punished for the evil they committed. It stands to reason that any righteous individual would have escaped either Sodom's destruction or the Flood. Unless they were innocent bystanders who just happened to be caught in the natural onslaught (which happens all the time).
# You can't be involuntarily moral. Morality is a choice. Choice implies a certain amount of freedom.
