God's Moral Will vs. Providential Will: Finding Peace in a Fallen World

I've dedicated years to equipping believers with a biblical lens on the chaos of our times. Last night, during my Sunday evening church service—where I'm teaching verse by verse through the Book of Revelation—I delved into a topic so crucial that I felt compelled to share it here on my radio and TV broadcast. If you missed the full teaching, you can catch it free at worldviewtube.com. The question that plagues so many today is this: Why does God allow so much evil in the world? In a nation spiraling into moral decay, with headlines screaming of corruption, injustice, and global unrest, it's easy to lose hope. But as I explained last night, understanding God's moral will versus His providential will can bring profound peace and perspective.This wasn't God's original plan. He placed Adam and Eve in a perfect, sinless garden—heaven on earth, as it were. But through original sin in Genesis 3, humanity fell, introducing evil into the world. Yet, in His grace, God provided a perfect sacrifice: His Son, Jesus Christ, whose death, burial, and resurrection pay the sin debt for all who believe. We live in a fallen world groaning under sin's weight (Romans 8:22), but God isn't the author of evil. James 1:13 declares, "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." And 1 John 1:5 affirms, "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all."Here's the key: God uses the sinful choices of man to accomplish His purposes without authoring the sin. This is where His moral will—consistent with His holy, righteous character—meets His providential will—what He allows or prevents. The moral will is what God desires: righteousness, as revealed in Scripture. The providential will is God sovereignly directing events, even through human free will, to fulfill His ultimate plan.Consider Revelation 17:17: "For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled." These "ten horns"—ten kings or leaders assisting the Antichrist—aren't forced by God to sin; He steps back, allowing what's already in their wicked hearts. This echoes Pharaoh in Exodus: Pharaoh hardened his own heart multiple times before God "hardened" it—meaning God gave him over to his rebellion (Romans 1:24-28). God isn't tempting or causing evil; He's providentially using it.Joseph's story in Genesis is a prime example. His brothers, driven by jealousy, sold him into slavery—an evil act against God's moral will. Yet Joseph later tells them in Genesis 50:20, "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." God didn't orchestrate the sin but used it to preserve Jacob's family and the messianic line. As theologian Bob DeWay notes, "God's providential will was furthered by people transgressing God's moral will."This doctrine of concurrence or confluence—like two rivers merging—illustrates how man's free will and God's sovereign providence flow together. God is supreme ruler (sovereign), ordering what comes to pass (providence). Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." He can convict a heart for good or step back, letting evil run its course for His ends.In my own life, I've seen this repeatedly. Meeting my wife of nearly 35 years was no accident. My family moved from Northern Virginia to Minnesota when I was in junior high—something I resisted. Years later, her parents sent her to a Bible college in the Twin Cities, where our paths crossed. We'd unknowingly been miles apart during family trips, even shopping in the same malls. Our first "date" was watching a hip replacement surgery (she wanted to be a nurse). God orchestrated it all—her family's decisions, my family's move, chance encounters—to bring us together for ministry. We've hosted over 300 Worldview Weekend rallies, and her strengths complement mine perfectly.Our son Logan? A surprise after two children and three miscarriages. We thought we were done, but God gave us a tech-savvy child who, at 17, mastered video editing and production. He's revolutionized our ministry with Worldview Tube. Without Logan's God-given abilities, we couldn't do what we do. Even near-disasters—like our motor coach's tire blowout sending us into a ditch—were spared by divine intervention.Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Providence often reveals itself in hindsight: "Wow, God was directing those steps." Romans 8:28 assures, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Even our sinful choices or others' wrongs against us—God uses them if we love Him.So, why so much evil? We live in a fallen world with free will. But be thankful for the evil God restrains—through the Holy Spirit as the restrainer (2 Thessalonians 2:7). One day, during the Tribulation, restraint lifts, unleashing a flood of evil. Until then, God's providence holds back far more than we realize. When we reach heaven, we'll be stunned by what He spared us.Instead of "Why so much evil?" ask: "Why did God send Jesus to save us from sin's consequences?" Or: "Aren't we grateful for Christ's escape from eternal judgment?" Evil exposes humanity's need for a Savior.In America's turmoil—deep state corruption, cultural decay—the stage is set for Bible prophecy: kings conspiring against God (Psalm 2), a final battle where God's kingdom crushes Satan's (Daniel 2). Don't despair; God's sovereign. Even evil serves His plan.This truth brings peace amid headlines. If politics were my hope, I'd quit. But the grass withers, the flower fades, but God's Word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). We're equipping you with eternal perspective, not fleeting news.Support our ministry at worldviewfoundation.com—your tax-deductible gifts fuel this work. Join our Sunday service (8 p.m. Central) or catch teachings at worldviewtube.com. Let's discern the times (Matthew 16:3) and stand firm.