Biblical References to God Sending Evil Spirits
The Bible contains several references to God sending or allowing evil spirits, plagues, or disasters, often in the context of divine judgment or as a consequence of sin. One explicit example is found in Judges 9:23, which states, "and God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech" [4]. This "evil spirit" is interpreted as God permitting jealousy, distrust, and rebellion to arise among Abimelech's subjects as a punishment for his crimes [14].
Similarly, Psalm 78:49 describes God sending "the fury of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and distress—A discharge of evil messengers" upon the Egyptians [5]. This passage suggests that God can use various agents, including "evil messengers," to execute divine judgment. The concept of God sending calamity is also articulated in Amos 3:6, which states that if "disaster" comes to a city, "the Lord has planned" it, indicating that God sends both good and harmful events [10]. Other passages reinforce this idea, such as Isaiah 45:7 and Lamentations 3:38 [10].
In the New Testament, while Jesus is depicted as casting out evil spirits by the power of God, some of his contemporaries accused him of doing so by Beelzebul, the "ruler of evil spirits" [1, 3, 6]. This accusation highlights the understanding that evil spirits are spiritual beings at enmity with God, capable of afflicting humanity with disease and spiritual pollution [2]. These spirits recognize Jesus as the Son of God and fear his power [2].
The Bible also describes instances where God allows Satan or evil to inflict suffering. For example, in the book of Job, Satan receives power to test Job, and in the New Testament, Paul mentions being given a "thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan" [12]. The apostle Paul also exercised a special apostolic power to deliver a heinous sinner "to Satan" for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit might be saved [12]. This act is understood as a form of corporeal punishment for sin, with Satan being an agent in this process [12].
Beyond evil spirits, God is also described as sending various forms of judgment, including sickness and plagues. Deuteronomy 28:59-61 and 32:39 indicate that sickness can be sent by God [7]. The ten plagues in Egypt are explicitly called "signs and wonders" that God sent to demonstrate his power [13]. Jeremiah 9:15-16 speaks of God providing "bitterness and poison" in the form of exile and death [8]. Psalm 106:15 mentions God sending a plague [9], and Zechariah 14:12 describes God striking rebels with a sudden and deadly plague as a divine judge [15]. The "four spirits of the heavens" in Zechariah 6:5 are interpreted as ministers of God's wrath against sinful nations [11].
These biblical accounts demonstrate a theological perspective where God, in his sovereignty, can use or permit various agents, including evil spirits and natural disasters, to achieve his purposes, particularly in judgment against sin or to test individuals [7, 10].
Sources
- Luke “Luke 11:15 (BBE) — But some of them said, He sends out evil spirits by Beelzebul, the ruler of evil spirits.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Demon — In the Gospels generally, in (James 2:19) and in Reve 16:14 The demons are spoken of as spiritual beings, at enmity with God, and having power to afflict man not only with disease, but, as is marked by the frequent epithet "un-clean," with spiritual pollution also. They "believe" the power of God "and tremble," (James 2:19) they recognized the Lord as the Son of God, (Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41) and acknowledged the power of his name, used in exorcism. In the place of the name of Jehovah, by his appointed messengers, (Acts 19:15) and looked forward in terror to t”
- Mark “Mark 3:22 (BBE) — And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem, said, He has Beelzebub, and, By the ruler of evil spirits he sends evil spirits out of men.”
- Judges “Judges 9:23 (YLT) — and God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,”
- Psalms “Psalms 78:49 (YLT) — He sendeth on them the fury of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and distress--A discharge of evil messengers.”
- Matthew “Matthew 12:24 (BBE) — But the Pharisees, hearing of it, said, This man only sends evil spirits out of men by Beelzebub, the ruler of evil spirits.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sickness — Sent by God -- De 28:59-61; 32:39; 2Sa 12:15; Ac 12:23. The devil sometimes permitted to inflict -- Job 2:6,7; Lu 9:39; 13:16. Often brought on by intemperance -- Ho 7:5. Often sent as a punishment of sin -- Le 26:14-16; 2Ch 21:12-15; 1Co 11:30. One of God's four sore judgments on a guilty land -- Eze 14:19-21. God Promises to heal. -- Ex 23:25; 2Ki 20:5. Heals. -- De 32:39; Ps 103:3; Isa 38:5,9. Exhibits his mercy in healing. -- Php 2:27. Exhibits his power in healing. -- Lu 5:17. Exhibits his love in healing. -- Isa 38:17. Often manifests saving grace to”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 9:15: 9:15-16 The Lord . . . the God of Israel then issued another decree. The Lord would provide bitterness and poison in the form of exile and widespread death in unknown countries.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 106:15: 106:15 he sent a plague: See Exod 32:35; Num 11:33.”
- Amos (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Amos 3:6: 3:6 disaster . . . the Lord has planned: God sends both the good and pleasant, and the harmful and painful (Isa 45:7; Lam 3:38; see Deut 28; Job 2:10).”
- Zechariah (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Zechariah 6:5: The four spirits of the heavens - Ministers of God's wrath against the sinful nations of the world.”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 5:5: Besides excommunication (of which the Corinthians themselves had the power), Paul delegates here to the Corinthian Church his own special power as an apostle, of inflicting corporeal disease or death in punishment for sin ("to deliver to Satan such an one," that is, so heinous a sinner). For instances of this power, see Act 5:1-11; Act 13:11; Ti1 1:20. As Satan receives power at times to try the godly, as Job (Job 2:4-7) and Paul (Co2 12:7; compare also as to Peter, Luk 22:31), much more the ungodly. Satan, the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev 12:1”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 6:22: 6:22 The signs and wonders were the ten plagues God sent to impress Israel and Egypt with his power when he brought about the Exodus (Exod 7–12; see also Exod 3:20; 4:5; Josh 4:23-24).”
- Judges (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Judges 9:23: Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem--In the course of providence, jealousy, distrust, secret disaffection, and smothered rebellion appeared among his subjects disappointed and disgusted with his tyranny; and God permitted those disorders to punish the complicated crimes of the royal fratricide and idolatrous usurper.”
- Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 14:12: 14:12 As divine Judge, God strikes those who rebel against him with a sudden and deadly plague (see Exod 9:14; Num 14:36-37; 2 Sam 24:10-25; Jer 14:11-12).”