The Scripture teaches that God works all things for good for those that love him (Rom 8:28). Indeed, the Lord is righteous and kind in all His ways (Ps 145:17).

So, when a hurricane happens or a horrible illness occurs, this is somehow is “good” because God has permitted it. Now, if Satan somehow works evil with impunity and is completely autonomous, rivaling God in power, then Satan would have all the blame. However, because all things work after the counsel of God’s will (Eph 1:11), we know that God permits even this. And, because He is righteous and kind in all of His ways, then allowing Satan to do what he does ultimately is good. For, it was better to permit evil for a time than to have it be completely absent from existence.

Let’s think of King Hezekiah who out of pride showed the Babylonians all of his wealth:

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord. ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. ‘Some of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you will beget, will be taken away; and they will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days” (2 Kings 20:16-19)?

Hezekiah only thought what God said was good, simply because it would not affect him. Perhaps he knew that the Israelites had it coming to them for their sin. He trusted the Lord himself and was aware that he had sinned. Indeed, God was gracious to him.

However, how about the rest of it. Israel being carried into captivity…this word spoken by God through Isaiah was good?

Indeed. For Hezekiah did not know it, but the captivity was the precursor to a religious renaissance among the Israelites. They rid themselves of their idols, more Scripture was written after the Babylonian captivity, and the historical stage was set for God’s coming into the world in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Though it might seem it all the time, we must remind ourselves, the word of the Lord is always good. He truly works all things for good.