Did GOD create evil?

Today I heard a question and answer session and a question was asked about defending GOD in light of Isaiah 45:7 that says, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.”, KJV. Since the questions were off the cuff the person answered well but did not really speak to the heart of the question which is “Did GOD create evil?” If you have been a Christian very long you know the answer is, No! But most of us do not know how to answer the challenge of questioning GOD’s goodness.

Since I knew GOD did not create evil but does allow it because He gives all of His created beings free will; or the right to make our own decisions no matter the result; I took the time to do the research so I can make a better answer myself.

First we always have to understand the questioned scripture in its context, Isaiah 45 completes GOD’s prophecy about Cyrus which starts in chapter 44 (this is the very reason we must read at least 10 verses before and after). In that GOD tells Cyrus and us who He is and what He does like verse 5, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no GOD beside Me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me:”

Then I research the word ‘evil’, the Hebrew word used in Isaiah 45: is ra; it is translated into 32 different English words in the Old Testament. Evil is used the most, 444 times, wickedness 54 times, wicked 31 times, mischief 22 times, hurt 20 times, bad 13 times and 26 other words between 1 to 10 times each.

As Christians we know that evil entered the heart of man in the Garden of Eden, GOD called forth the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden along with the tree of life. He told Adam he could eat of any tree in the Garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil because if he ate of that tree he would die. We also know that Satan in the form of a serpent deceived Eve and that she ate of the tree and then gave to Adam who also ate.

We know that Adam and Eve who were created immortal then entered the curse that GOD had placed on eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that in the day they ate they would die. We also know that with the LORD a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day and that they lived less than a thousand years; Psalm 84:10, 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8; Genesis 5:5.

Evil first entered Satan’s heart when he thought that he would raise himself up over GOD; Genesis 3; Isaiah 14:12-17. Satan then passed that sin (evil or rebellion) to Adam and ever since it has been in the heart of man; Genesis 4:3-15, 6:1-8; Luke 10:17-20; Romans 5:12-21.

So all this to say that GOD did not create evil, Satan became evil by his self will of pride and rebellion, and he convinced mankind through Adam and Eve that the knowledge of good and evil was better than obedience to GOD. That is why hell was created for Satan not mankind; Matthew 25:31-46 (41).