QT 31 Dec 12, Evil is not from God but is used by God to accomplish his will

Judg 9:22-24 (NIV) After Abimelech had governed Israel three years, 23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

NOTE: Abimelech is not a judge. The word used here is suwr (pronounced soor) and means to vanquish; to rule. The normal word used for the judges in the book is shaphat (pronounced shaw-fat'), meaning to judge or pronounce a sentence. In essence, Abimelech has set himself up as ruler. Whether the other tribes completely submit to his rule or not is questionable, but Shechem is under his rule. The other interesting question regards the evil spirit sent by God. In Job 2:3b, God says "And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason." God takes responsibility for an action that is clearly done and suggested by Satan (Job 1:9-12). God says that ("me against him") because God gave permission for the event. I think this is a similar case. God cannot do evil, but God can allow it when he sees the greater good that he can accomplish through it. In this case, God intends to judge Abimelech and the people of Shechem's sin, and remove Abimelech from his position of authority. The people of Shechem were fully aware of what Abimelech did to his innocent brothers, and yet they made Abimelech their king. Therefore God allows or sends (it doesn't really matter since allowing is the same as sending) the evil spirit. In many ways, God could have done absolutely nothing. Just removing his presence and allowing people to act as their sinful nature desires would have ultimately had the same result. It's possible, God's action only speeds up the result. There is a major truth in scripture. God is in control. He does not do evil. He allows it for many purposes. For the believer, we know that in all things (including evil), God works for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28).