Thank you all for your responses.
The verdict is out!...REPORT HIM!
It is no surprise to me, nor do I believe it is any surprise to anyone here on SI.
I'll begin with a quote from another thread by romanchog,
"... this is the main question in the matter of FAITH: do we TRUST God to be Who he says He is? Do we even know Who He is?"
THAT IS WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO.
THAT IS WHAT I'D LIKE EVERY ONE TO PONDER.
Those persons who are guilty in the scenarios in the OP have been clearly called out for their wrongdoing to state it mildly. We all see it without exception.
Now I quote TMK from another thread,
"I certainly agree that our definition of good and evil comes from God. He instilled that in us. Which is why I feel that ascribing actions to God that seem evil must be avoided at all costs."
And now this quote from dolfan in the same thread addressed to TMK,
"God's character does matter. By it, we know Him; by it, we know what it is He made us to be. But, He is self-defining. He also defines everything else...Whatever I think God is or would be or do is incorrect if His revelation of Himself is to the contrary, even if I find it unpalatable. "Lord, help my distaste to become the taste of heaven!" (for the full quote go to the thread).
Accordingly, the scenarios presented clearly involve evil sinful acts. Any human being who would commit such evil ought to be REPORTED and brought to justice. The verdict is out on that without question.
All are agreed that it is impossible for God to commit evil or sin.
My next question is, what change occurs when a similar act of the scenario given is ascribed to God. Evil is no longer evil if God is the One carrying it all out.
Heydave guessed right when he said,
"Let me guess. The 10 children killed relate to Job's children that God allowed Satan to kill. The unborn baby...could that be the illegitimate baby from David and Bathsheba that God took?"
I'd remind you of the quote by romanchog which is the main matter, and what I'd like everyone to ponder,
"... this is the main question in the matter of FAITH: do we TRUST God to be Who he says He is? Do we even know Who He is?"
THAT IS WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO.
THAT IS WHAT I'D LIKE EVERY ONE TO PONDER.
The Word of God,
Job 1:6-22
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said to Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down upon it. And the LORD said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for naught? Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger to Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yes, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only have escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God hath fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only have escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yes, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only have escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only have escaped alone to tell thee.
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshiped,
And said, Naked came I from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
2 Samuel 12:13-18
Then Nathan replied to David, “The LORD has taken away your sin; you will not die. However, because you treated the LORD with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”Then Nathan went home.
The LORD struck the baby that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground. The elders of his house stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
On the seventh day the baby died.
Please do not dismiss this, as is the practice of many a professor of a believer in the God of the Bible and the Bible of such God.
Since Heydave guessed right, maybe he'd like to be the first to attempt to answer.
No pressure...just a guess! |
