I recently “discovered” a verse in the book of Isaiah 45:7 and I quote, I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things]. If a strict interpretation of the bible is used, then this means that God creates evil or in my mind sin? What are your comments regarding this verse?
In the sense that Satan, a being created by God, introduced evil into the world, then ultimately God created the source of evil, as Isaiah 45:7 says. Man, however, chose to disobey God and commit the first sin, resulting in man’s sin nature. God then provided His own shed blood to reverse the effects of our sin nature bringing things full circle.
James 1:13-15 explains it like this. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
And so while evil came into the world through one of God’s creatures, each of us is responsible for how we respond to it, and for whether we accept the remedy God has provided for our own sins.