Hi SBG . . . hope you enjoyed your dinner with your friends. Sorry I couldn't get back until now.
I just happened to put that into quotes because that is what I see as being said. . . because Satan has to get "permission" then God is "allowing" evil to happen. You feel okay with that . . . I don't. And I don't believe that is what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches us that there is a war going on - a war between "good" and "evil" . . . We know who is going to win - it's already been prophesied - BUT in the "in-between" time, we are involved in a spiritual battle. In a war, there is an enemy . . . you have God working with, in concert, with His enemy - God allowing Satan to take "prisoners of war" (so to speak).
I am really not grappling with anything . . . I know why what happened to me as a child happened, I know why my father was the way he was . . . the enemy tried to steal, kill, and destroy my life. And I KNOW that it wasn't because God consented to letting the enemy do that to me - It was because the enemy WANTED to do just that because those are his traits. Now, have things worked out for the good - yep . . . God took what was meant for evil perpetrated by the enemy and He turned it to the good.
I believe what I said in full context was: "and since God cannot be in the presence of sin (so I have heard said - can't ever find the verse). Must be because it's not there! LOL!
Two verses that have Satan asking permission. . . There are 66 books of the Bible. The conflict (battle, war) between God and Satan begins in Gen. 3:15 - And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel. Satan struck Jesus' heel and in so doing, is striking ours. It will end with Satan getting his head crushed.
The ONE verse I currently have? 1) the whole world lies in the control (power) of the evil one; 2) the god of this world blinds people to the gospel; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Cor. 2:11); Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8) . . . thought of a few more this morning - Put on the whole armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. (Eph. 6:11); In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Eph. 6:16); Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7b). Why all the exhortation, when God's going to "consent, permit, allow" it anyway? Now if we are fighting an enemy - we need encouragement when it comes to fighting the good fight, running the race . . . If God is "allowing" it in the first place - why do we need to fight and what are we fighting against - the enemy or God giving permission?
You are correct concerning Jesus - NOTHING would have stopped the crucifixion of Jesus - God said it would happen this way and it did. (Gen. 3:15) I also agree that if evil should happen to us that God will work in the situation and turn it for our good - You said: I don't believe God permits evil just so that He can turn it around for good. I believe if he permits any evil to touch us or Satan to sift us, that it is in order to grow our trust . . . or to bring great and eternal blessing and good to us and/or others." Yea, Satan went into the presence of God to ask permission to cause an accident so God said "okay" and "allowed, consented" to that drunk driver hitting another car and maiming the occupants so He could teach them a lesson, or build their faith . . .