We ask not the question in doubt, as “How in the world could this ever be true?” but simply we investigate the fact that it is true, yet sounds strange to our ears.

We say, Lord, you are holy, and good and righteous. You cannot tempt man to sin, and ou cannot sin Yourself. How is it that something unholy, and evil, has been sent forth from Your Presence. We ask in humility and fear, knowing that to demean the glory of God is a serious thing.

Nevertheless the Scriptures are true, as recorded in 1 Samuel 16, 18, and 19. An evil (rah in Hebrew) spirit troubled King Saul to the point of making him want to kill young David, of whom Saul had become wary and jealous. And that spirit is said to have come “from the Lord.” We can dress up “rah” all we want, but every possible meaning of the word is one which does not match the known character of our God.

Actually this is not the only time that Scripture connects our holy God to what seems to be the work of the enemy. And in tracing these events we get insights into just what is going on in the world and our own personal life. Satan is being used. For God’s purposes.

The oldest of the Bible stories, perhaps, is that of Job. Here we encounter a host of fallen angels, Satan among them, being rounded up by God to do His bidding on righteous Job, whose righteousness needed some enhancement, to put it mildly. Job would need to see beyond all the good things he, Job, had done, to the greatness of the God who does wondrous things, including justify man by his grace.

The instrument for this work, initially: Satan. His destructive power. His lust for human flesh. His delight in torment. His choice of friends. And words. Yes, that is Satan’s way. God cannot do this. Where shall He look for help to find one who will bring Job to his spiritual senses? He employs Satan. The work is done. Satan, but under the absolute control of the loving God we serve. So it will be in our own lives.

Then there is the classic story of the lying spirits used by God to infiltrate the wicked prophets surrounding Ahab, the wicked ruler. We look on the outside and see an evil man making a wrong decision and losing his life for it. But the inner workings of his mind are being manipulated by thoughts from another world. Two other worlds, if you please. Once more, God-controlled input of Satanic workings. Though the true prophet speaks the truth to Ahab, he is one given to the Liar, and his life ends by believing the lie. So it will be in the lives of all humans who love and believe the multitudinous army of satanic liars in our world today. Justly they will go to their punishment forever. But those liars were given their permission by Holy God, make no mistake.

God is able to stop a Saul or an Ahab or an evolutionist or an abortionist! Is He not Almighty God? But if men love their lies this much, they must perish with them. And God has found a people who love the Truth – Jesus – more than lies. He has infiltrated their hearts with His love, and they have reciprocated, and will do so for eternity.

Yes, evil spirits have been commissioned by the Lord in every generation, every nation. Satan gets his permission, thinking that by winning over the vast majority of humanity he will eke out some victory at the end. But the victory is won, was won, at Calvary, when the Father commissioned His Son to come and die, and commissioned His servants to go and preach and find the sheep that are lost but will be found, and commissioned His own Spirit to dwell within these humans to be sure the work is completed. His own will be saved and that vast majority will be legally sent to wherever Satan winds up. He’ll have his “kingdom” in the pit of Hell and fire and darkness forever.