One of the many problematic passages in the Bible is found in Amos chapter 3. Up until a few years ago, I had no idea Amos was in the Old Testament. This is like when I got my LDS mission call and thought Bolivia was in Europe. I am learning. Here is the latest thing I have learned.
The King James Version reads:
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?
7.
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing,
but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
So if we take this at face value then GOD is apparently causing evil. Ludicrous, I know. GOD is trying to do the most good for the most people. Evil only occurs by fallen man under the influence of Satan.
By the way, everything does happen for a reason. But the reason is always because of someone's choice to do it. GOD is not orchestrating every act to create a miraculous scenario where everyone gets to go to Heaven. GOD is trying to make the best of our foolish and fallen choices.
Joseph Smith's version of Amos reads as follows:
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 known it?
7. Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing,
until he revealeth the secret unto his servants the prophets.
Makes it clear the GOD is not doing any evil, but he is aware of all of it. Painfully aware of it, since he suffered so horrifically for the sins of billions of people.
