I think there are natural consequences in relation to our wrong choices.

If I choose to drink too much strong drink, I am going to get intoxicated.

With his own evil characteristics he sought to invest the loving Creator. {DA 21.3}

It testifies that the thoughts of God toward us are "thoughts of peace, and not of evil." Jeremiah 29:11 {57.1}

That there should be upon the earth one life free from the defilement of evil was an offense and a perplexity to the prince of darkness. {DA 71.2}

He was wise to discern evil, and strong to resist it. {DA 72.1}

Because the life of Jesus condemned evil, He was opposed, both at home and abroad. {DA 88.1}

Often He was accused of cowardice for refusing to unite with them in some forbidden act; but His answer was, It is written, "The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." Job 28:28. {DA 88.3}

In the day of final judgment, ... Every question of truth and error in the long-standing controversy will then have been made plain. In the judgment of the universe, God will stand clear of blame for the existence or continuance of evil. {DA 58.1}

James, cancer cells are not self-acting. They would cease to function if Jesus ceased to employ them. This does not mean Jesus causes cancer.



Most of the time Jesus permits cause and effect to run its normal course. However, germs, viruses, bacteria, etc are not self-acting. Again, they depend on Jesus for their existence and their activity. He does not sit back and allow things to happen without guidance and limitations. He sets limits and enforces them ensuring things play out according to His will. He is in control - not sin, not sickness, not man, not evil angels. Jesus doesn't force sinners to sin. He doesn't randomly make them sick. He does, however, manage the outcome of their choices.

APL thank you for your insight on the issue before, but may I please correct you on this point. It is not evil for God to have His angels pour out the last seven plagues, is it?

Re 16:2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. (NKJV)

Re 15:1 ¶ Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. (NKJV)

This is why relying solely on the KJV or any 1 translation will get you into trouble. I suggest you get a Lamsa's translation from the Aramaic as a co-study Bible.

On one occasion the son of an Israelitish woman and of an Egyptian, one of the mixed multitude that had come up with Israel from Egypt, left his own part of the camp, and entering that of the Israelites, claimed the right to pitch his tent there. This the divine law forbade him to do, the descendants of an Egyptian being excluded from the congregation until the third generation. A dispute arose between him and an Israelite, and the matter being referred to the judges was decided against the offender. {PP 407.4}
Enraged at this decision, he cursed the judge, and in the heat of passion blasphemed the name of God. He was immediately brought before Moses. The command had been given, "He that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death" (Exodus 21:17); but no provision had been made to meet this case. So terrible was the crime that there was felt to be a necessity for special direction from God. The man was placed in ward until the will of the Lord could be ascertained. God Himself pronounced the sentence; by the divine direction the blasphemer was conducted outside the camp and stoned to death. Those who had been witness to the sin placed their hands upon his head, thus solemnly testifying to the truth of the charge against him. Then they threw the first stones, and the people who stood by afterward joined in executing the sentence. {PP 407.5}
This was followed by the announcement of a law to meet similar offenses: "Thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death." Leviticus 24:15, 16. {PP 408.1}
There are those who will question God's love and His justice in visiting so severe punishment for words spoken in the heat of passion. But both love and justice require it to be shown that utterances prompted by malice against God are a great sin. The retribution visited upon the first offender would be a warning to others, that God's name is to be held in reverence. But had this man's sin been permitted to pass unpunished, others would have been demoralized; and as the result many lives must eventually have been sacrificed. {PP 408.2}

However, why do you ask if it were "God's hand?" Should this make a difference when it was God Himself giving the orders?