The Truth About Good and Evil in the World

Obedience often brings opposition. It doesn’t always, but it certainly doesn’t seldom bring it either. From personal experience and the consistent witness of Scripture, it’s safe to say: obedience often brings opposition. That truth shows up again and again.

We see it clearly in the story of Moses and the Israelites. Moses took his first bold step of obedience to God by confronting Pharaoh with a simple but powerful command: Let God’s people go.

Let’s look at how Pharaoh responded in Exodus 5:2-5:
“But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.’ Then they said, ‘The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.’ But the king of Egypt said to them, ‘Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.’ And Pharaoh said, ‘Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!’”

Pharaoh's response is sharp and immediate. He rejects Moses, rejects God, and resists the command. Moses takes a step forward in obedience and is immediately hit with forceful opposition.

If you’ve lived life with any spiritual awareness, you’ve probably experienced something similar. You try to do good. You step out in obedience. And what happens? It feels like two steps back. Obedience brings resistance.

Why Obedience Meets Resistance
Why does it work this way?

It’s because there are two forces at work in the world. Good and evil. God and the enemy. These are not neutral forces quietly coexisting. They are in constant, forceful opposition to each other. When you align yourself with God and His plans, you’re stepping directly into a world that has systems and forces already aligned against Him.

As Jesus says in Matthew 12:30, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” There’s no middle ground. No spiritual neutrality. You’re either aligned with the purposes of God or you’re opposing them, whether actively or passively.

Pharaoh becomes an example of this opposition. He is, in many ways, a tool in the enemy’s hand. His heart is hardened. His focus is on power and profit. His defiance is clear. He doesn’t know the Lord. He resists God’s authority. He harms God’s people.

Theologian Phil Ryken describes Pharaoh as an unbeliever for three reasons. He was ignorant of God’s identity, resistant to God’s authority, and malevolent toward God’s community. That is what it looks like to be opposed to God and aligned with the enemy.

So what should we expect when we walk in obedience? We should expect resistance. We have a spiritual enemy, the devil, who Scripture says is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. That enemy works through both direct and indirect means to resist the work of God in and through our lives.

Resistance is a Pattern in Scripture
This is not just Moses’ story. It is the pattern throughout Scripture.

Daniel and his friends chose to remain faithful during their captivity in Babylon. They refused to bow to idols. They kept praying. And what did that get them? A lion’s den. A fiery furnace. Obedience brought direct and deadly opposition.

Nehemiah answered the call to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. As soon as they began, enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah rose up against them. Nehemiah and his workers had to carry a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other. Why? Because obedience brings opposition.

The early church, filled with the Holy Spirit and obedient to Jesus’ commission, immediately faced persecution. The apostles were beaten, imprisoned, and threatened for their obedience to the call of Christ.

The pattern is consistent. Obedience does not eliminate opposition. It invites it.

A Personal Story of Obedience and Pain
That’s not just theory. It is real life. My wife, Kelli, and I have walked through this personally.
Some years ago, we felt the Lord calling us into the story of adoption. It was a journey of prayer, preparation, and stepping into something that felt incredibly right and yet incredibly difficult.

I have to give credit to Kelli. She was obedient to the Lord long before I was. It took me some time to catch up. But eventually, we were united in our obedience, trusting God as we prepared to bring a child into our home.

What followed was immediate and painful opposition. I could spend hours telling the stories, but one stands out.

There was a young couple we had deeply invested in. Emotionally, relationally, pastorally. We loved them. I officiated their wedding. We dedicated their children. And when we took this step of obedience, they turned on us. To this day, we don’t fully understand why. But their betrayal hurt deeply.

We asked, “God, what is going on? Aren’t we doing something good?” It didn’t feel like a reward. It felt like punishment. But over time, we began to understand. Our obedience invited opposition. And even though it brought confusion and grief, God was still at work through it all.

God's Purpose in Opposition
Here’s the hope. Even when obedience brings opposition, God uses that opposition to refine our faith, display His power, and fulfill His purposes.

Resistance isn’t wasted. It’s not random. It is part of how God matures us, strengthens us, and shows His glory.

When Pharaoh resisted, God didn’t abandon the Israelites. He demonstrated His power more clearly. When Daniel stood firm, God shut the mouths of lions. When the apostles were imprisoned, the gospel spread even faster.

God doesn't remove the opposition. He uses it.

So if you’re walking through resistance today, if your steps of obedience are being met with pain or pressure, don’t be surprised. And don’t be discouraged. This is part of the story of faith. This is what it means to walk with God in a world that often walks against Him.

Obedience brings opposition. But God brings purpose through it.


This blog is based on the message shared by Campus Pastor Ben Hays at our CityRise West U campus on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. Check out the full message below!