Do God's Actions Please or Puzzle Us?
In this article, you will learn how Exodus 18:9 contradicts Isaiah 45:7, Job 9:24, Ecclesiastes 9:2, Proverbs 16:4 and Jeremiah 12:1. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
The Bible is a tapestry of verses that sometimes appear in conflict, much like a puzzle that seems difficult to piece together. Take Exodus 18:9, for example. It paints a picture of joy and gratitude, where Jethro rejoices because God delivered the Israelites from the oppressive Egyptians. Here, God is portrayed as a benevolent savior who brings happiness and freedom.
Yet, as we explore other verses, the perspective can shift. In Isaiah 45:7, God identifies Himself as the creator of both light and darkness, peace and evil. This duality can be perplexing. How can the same God who delivered the Israelites also create evil? It’s as if a superhero also plays the role of a villain, challenging our understanding of good and bad.
In Job 9:24, the verse implies that the earth is sometimes under the control of the wicked. This seems to contradict Exodus 18:9, where divine justice is celebrated for rescuing the oppressed. Here, one might feel as if a movie that ended happily has an alternate scene where the villain wins.
Then, there’s Ecclesiastes 9:2, which suggests that the same fate awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked. This viewpoint diverges from the specific deliverance celebrated in Exodus. It’s like saying, regardless of how well you play, everyone finishes at the same line in life’s race.
Proverbs 16:4 asserts that everything, even the wicked, is made for a purpose. This raises questions against the simple joy of deliverance in Exodus, adding layers of complexity to God’s plans. Similarly, Jeremiah 12:1 questions the prosperity of the wicked, challenging the idea of divine justice.
These verses invite us to consider the complexities and contradictions in our understanding of divine actions, much like a story with multiple endings. Are we prepared to embrace both the joy and the puzzle?
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Exodus 18:9 | And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. |
| 2. | Isaiah 45:7 | I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things]. |
| 3. | Job 9:24 | The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, [and] who [is] he? |
| 4. | Ecclesiastes 9:2 | All [things come] alike to all: [there is] one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as [is] the good, so [is] the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as [he] that feareth an oath. |
| 5. | Proverbs 16:4 | The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. |
| 6. | Jeremiah 12:1 | Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of [thy] judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? [wherefore] are all they happy that deal very treacherously? [talk...: or, reason the case with thee] |