“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. — Isaiah 55:8
The Question
Today’s reading from Ezekiel 28–31 stirred something deep. The fall of Tyre’s ruler, the pride of Egypt, and the lush imagery of Assyria all point to a truth that transcends history: there is a spiritual architecture behind the rise and fall of nations, and behind rebelling hearts.
But one question lingered:
Did God create evil? Or did evil exist alongside Him, waiting to infect creation?
What About Evil?
Scripture affirms that God is eternal—without beginning or end (Psalm 90:2). He is light (1 John 1:5), love (1 John 4:8), and goodness itself (Psalm 119:68). Everything He created was “good” (Genesis 1:31).
But then we read:
“Darkness was over the surface of the deep…” (Genesis 1:2) So He said, “Let there be light…” (Genesis 1:3)
Was darkness already there? Did evil predate creation?
Not according to Scripture. Evil is not a substance or force; it is the absence of good, a corruption of what was once whole. Physics defines darkness as the absence of light, and coldness as the lack of heat. It is possible to measure light and heat. The goodness of God is like that, and evil is the lack of that substance.
God created the beautiful cherub in Ezekiel 28 to be blameless, but God found pride in him. Evil was conceived, not co-created.
Eternity and Perception
We often think of eternity as endless time. But eternity is timelessness—a state beyond beginning and end. When we put our faith in Christ, we step into that eternal life (John 17:3). But we are not eternal in the same way God is. We are everlasting, not uncreated.
So when Job says the angels sang at creation (Job 38:7), it reveals their presence before the material universe—but not their co-eternality with God. God created them as he created us.²
The Mystery of God’s Sovereignty
Ezekiel 30:3 warns of “the day of the Lord”—a phrase that false prophets and heretical movements have misused. From William Miller to Harold Camping, many have claimed to know the hour. But Jesus said:
“No one knows the day or the hour…” (Matthew 24:36)
We must not confuse mystery with speculation, nor sovereignty with predictability. God’s ways are higher. His timing is perfect. And His justice is sure.³
Devastating Pride
Whether in Tyre, Egypt, Assyria—or in the heart of man—pride precedes destruction. Ezekiel 31:10–11 describes Assyria as a towering cedar, beautiful and nourished, yet cast down for arrogance. It echoes the fall of Satan, and the warning of Jesus:
“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” (Mark 8:36)⁴
The Invitation to Trust
We may not grasp how evil came to be. We may wrestle with eternity, with justice, with the unseen. But we are not called to solve the mystery—we are called to trust the One who holds it.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us…” (Deuteronomy 29:29)
So today, I invite you to rest in what Scripture reveals.
God is good.
Christ is light.
The Spirit is truth.
And eternity is not a concept—it’s a communion.
Tomorrow, we will read Ezekiel 32-34.
Bibliography
Benson, Joseph. Commentary on Ezekiel 28:15. BibleHub. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ezekiel/28-15.htm
BibleHub Study. Commentary on Job 38:7. https://biblehub.com/study/job/38-7.htm
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Commentary on Ezekiel 30:3. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ezekiel/30-3.htm
Hearing From Jesus. The Fall of the Mighty: A Lesson in Humility (Ezekiel 31). https://hearingfromjesus.org/the-fall-of-the-mighty-a-lesson-in-humility-ezekiel-31/