Does God Ordain/Allow Evil And Suffering?

It is also believed that when people get sick or suffer horrible tragedies, it is the will of God because He "allowed/ordained" it.

God is the Holy and transcendent one. He is sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and omnibenevolent. He knows all things past, present, and every possible future no matter what could or will happen, what choice is made or could be made, which doesn't mean or even insinuate that every event is ordained/allowed by Him in the life of a Born-Again Christian.

The Bible says that “evil spirits” (Heb: 'ruach') are permitted by God to trouble those who persist in sin and rebellion (1 Kings 22:21-24; 2 Chronicles 18:20-23). God does not protect a person living in rebellious sin from them. God gave Saul over to an evil spirit (Heb: ruach) as punishment for his sins and self-will (1 Samuel 16:14-16, 18:10).

The Hebrew word "rah," translated as "evil," doesn't necessarily mean something morally evil. It can mean 'troubling.' The verses say that the Lord sent a troubling spirit to cause unrest between or with people as punishment for something they did. That kind of 'punishment' is not seen anywhere under the New Testament covenant. God allows evil activity in the sense that He gave the devil and his minion's free will, just as He gave human beings free will.

Throughout the Bible, Jesus is seen fighting evil spirits during His earthly ministry, suggesting that evil spirits aren't always under His sovereign control. Nowhere in the Bible is it said or suggested that evil spirits carry out the will of God.

The Hebrew word ‘ruach’ is used in many ways. It is vitally important in Bible study to understand the context in which a word is used because it can only mean what the original scribe intended it to mean.

‘Ruach’ is used when speaking of God, the Holy "Spirit," the third person of the Trinity (Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 63:10-11; Psalm 51:12). The word "spirit" used in some Old Testament passages does not refer to a spirit being but is an ancient way of personifying human attitudes.

‘Ruach’ is often used of a person’s mind-set, inner disposition/emotion, or temper (Judges 9:23 - also Ezekiel 13:3; Psalm 32:2, 51:12; Proverbs 29:11; Joshua 2:11, 5:1; Job 15:13; Ecclesiastes 10:4)

‘Ruach’ is used for the non-material beings (angels) in heaven and on earth (1 Kings 22:21; 1 Samuel 16:14).

‘Ruach’ can mean "breath," air for breathing (Jeremiah 14:6; Judges 15:19). It can also represent speaking, or the breath of one's mouth (Psalm 33:6; Exodus 15:8; Job 4:9, 19:17).

‘Ruach’ is also used with emphasis on the invisible, intangible, fleeting quality of "air" (Job 7:7). It can suggest purposelessness, uselessness, or even emptiness (see Jeremiah 5:13).

‘Ruach’ can mean "wind" as a gentle refreshing breeze as well as a strong violent wind including a gale or tornado (Genesis 3:8; Exodus 10:13,19; Hosea 8:7) "Windy words" are "empty words" (Job 16:3), "windy knowledge" is "empty knowledge" (Job 15:2). “Striving after the wind” means meaningless striving (Ecclesiastes 1:14). To “inherit the wind” means to inherent ‘nothing’ (Proverbs 11:29; Ecclesiastes 5:15-16).

‘Ruach’ can represent the fundamental element of life in a person, their natural "spirit" (Genesis 7:21-22; Psalm 104:29).

‘Ruach’ also appears to mean the "soul" (Proverbs 16:2; Isaiah 26:9; Ecclesiastes 12:7).

‘Ruach’ is used to refer to what enables a person to do a particular job or that which represents the essence of a person (Deuteronomy 34:9; 2 Kings 2:9).

Does God “Allow/Ordain” Evil Spirits to Harm the Born-Again Christian?

The English word "allow" is defined as 'to permit with full approval, consent to, forbear or neglect to restrain or prevent.' There is NO instance in the Old or New Testament that the words' allow,’ 'approve,’ 'permit,' or 'consent to' (Heb: 'Nathan;' Gk: Aphiemi; Eao; Suneudokeo) are used about evil directed by God at a covenant child, let alone a Born-Again Christian. It is most often used quite to the contrary as "not allow," "not permit," "not approve," or "not consent." God desires only the best for His people, whom He calls His Bride because He is head over heels in love with her (Revelation 21:9). He desires to pour out (not restrain!) blessing upon blessing to those who trust Him with their entire being.

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every GOOD gift and every PERFECT gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:16-17 ESV – emphasis mine)

It is the kind and merciful goodness of God that leads a person to repentance.

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?“ (Romans 2:4 NKJV)

If a person allows/permits someone drunk to drive their car, and they kill someone, they are legally responsible, just as the person who got drunk. God does not condone, permit, allow, give, punish or approve of suffering, sickness or any evil thing. To say or infer anything contrary is to impugn the character and nature of God who is love.