I form the light, and create darkness:
I make peace, and create evil:
I the LORD do all these things.
—Isaiah 45:7
This verse uses two sets of contrast: light vs darkness and peace vs evil. The Lord can give light and he can take it away. That can be physical, metaphorical, or spiritual; he can lighten you understanding or darken it according to his purposes and the thoughts and intents of the heart.
John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
The opposite of peace is some many things: war, pain, illness, famine, etc., so many but all are evil and that is why the word is used here. All these evils come upon men for various reasons: the judgments of God for one, but God is ultimately responsible and takes ultimate responsibility.
Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
The main reason for the evils that beset man is God attempting to turn your heart unto him. Man receives far less evil than he deserves.
Ezra 9:13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
Job 11:6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
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