Isis and Evil

by Marilyn Adamson, director of EveryStudent.com and StartingwithGod.com

I know that all the reports about ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, etc., are disheartening. Difficult to hear.

You might live in a country that is directly experiencing their evil cruelty.

I was recently in the Middle East and had a conversation with a Christian who lives there. His perspective was helpful, and I’d like to share it with you.

The book of Habakkuk begins with Habakkuk complaining:

“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.”

Sounds pretty close to today’s news, doesn’t it? The word “violence” in Hebrew is Hamas.

God reminds Habakkuk that he is in control. That God is in the midst of accomplishing his plans. God remains in his holy temple. He is aware. He is acting.

Habakkuk ends his book, saying even if things are awful. Even if they are in the midst of war or famine. He says…

“yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength…”

The only way to have perspective like this is to view events from God’s perspective.

I think Isaiah 41 is perfect in guiding us. What God said to Isaiah, I believe holds true for us also. Here are just a few verses from it: (verses 10,13,14)

…do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’
Do not be afraid…for I myself will help you, declares the Lord, your Redeemer.

I’ll end with Psalms 37:7,39,40

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes…The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”

He might deliver us through death…but even then, we are saved!

He is our Rock. He is the one true God. No one who believes in him will be disappointed.

A good article to share with people about this would be this one:
https://www.everystudent.com/features/where-is-god.html