Why Did God Send Evil Spirits on People? An Ancient Near Eastern Perspective Part 2

Why Did God Send Evil Spirits on People? An Ancient Near Eastern Perspective Part 2


When modern readers encounter verses where God sends an evil spirit, like in the story of Saul (1 Samuel 16:14), they’re often shocked. How could a good and holy God send something evil? Doesn’t that contradict His nature?


But when we step into the Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) worldview—the world in which the Bible was written—we find something surprising: Yahweh's ability to send even evil spirits wasn't a contradiction. It was proof of His total sovereignty. In the worldview of Israel's neighbors, divine power wasn’t defined by moral categories alone, but by the ability to control every force—good or bad, seen or unseen.


Divine Authority in the ANE: Not Just a God of the Nice Stuff


In Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Canaan, gods ruled over specific domains—Baal controlled rain and fertility, Marduk controlled order, Ishtar ruled over sex and war. These gods were powerful, but limited in scope. They warred with each other. They were unpredictable, emotionally unstable, and had to negotiate with other deities to accomplish anything.


Yahweh, by contrast, commands all forces—light and dark, blessing and calamity. He doesn’t merely conquer chaos—He uses it.


“I form light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.” – Isaiah 45:7


When God Sends Evil Spirits: What’s Really Happening?


For example 1 Samuel 16:14:


“Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.”


Or 1 Kings 22:19–23, where a spirit volunteers before God to become a lying spirit in the mouths of prophets to deceive King Ahab into battle.


In both cases, God is not “becoming evil.” Rather:


He is shown to be in control of the spiritual realm—even the forces that bring confusion or judgment. This is not to be confused with Calvinism. These spirits act as tools of divine discipline for kings who have broken covenant, disobeyed, or grown proud. This wasn’t horrifying to ancient readers—it was expected. A king who breaks loyalty with his god will face consequences. But the difference with Yahweh is this: He is not subject to the spirit realm—He rules over it.


The Hebrew Concept of "Evil"


Modern readers associate “evil” with moral wickedness. But the Hebrew word רַע (ra) is broader. It can mean:


Evil in the moral sense


Disaster or calamity


Misfortune or destruction


When God “sends an evil spirit,” He’s not sending sin itself—He’s allowing a calamitous force to fulfill divine judgment or test someone’s heart. In Saul’s case, it came after his repeated rebellion. In Ahab’s case, it was God finally giving him over to his own deception.


Why This Would Inspire Awe in the ANE


In the cultural backdrop of the ancient world, gods who could use darkness for justice were the most feared and revered. Most gods fought against evil spirits. Yahweh commands them. He doesn’t just act within a moral dualism of good vs. evil—He transcends it.


This does not mean Yahweh is evil. It means He is the supreme King who:


Rewards loyalty


Disciplines covenant-breakers


Executes justice using any agent at His disposal


The New Testament Carries This Idea Forward—Then Transforms It


Even Paul says:


“A messenger of Satan was given to me to torment me…” – 2 Corinthians 12:7


Yet it serves a divine purpose: “so that I might not become conceited.”


In Christ, God still disciplines and tests, but now from within a new covenant of mercy, using even pain and affliction to draw us deeper into grace.



Conclusion


To an Ancient Near Eastern audience, the fact that Yahweh could send evil spirits proved:


He was not like Baal or Marduk, limited and corrupt.


He ruled every level of creation—light and dark, truth and deception, blessing and curse.


He could not be manipulated, flattered, or outwitted.



To the modern reader, this reminds us: God’s justice is more complex than our comfort zones. He disciplines, tests, and even breaks people—not out of cruelty, but to expose pride, reveal truth, and protect the covenant relationship.

The Bible doesn’t hide from this tension. It leans into it. Because a God who can command storms and spirits is not just a tribal deity—

He is the Holy One of Israel, sovereign over all.




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