What does Proverbs 16:4 mean?

Scripture indicates that God did not "create" moral evil. Everything He made has a good use and some beneficial application (1 Timothy 4:4). What makes something evil is when it is used contrary to the purposes for which it was created. Even when human beings choose to do evil—defying God in the process—He can use that to accomplish His will. The idea that everything God does has some good purpose is challenging (Romans 8:18–25). Circumstances where people suffer without bringing it on themselves (John 9:1–3) are hard to understand. For example, an especially difficult situation is faced by parents of severely disabled or ill children. Even then, one can take comfort knowing that the Lord has a purpose for those children. Without God, their experiences would be ultimately meaningless.

This proverb assures us that the Lord is not weak or dependent on man for success. He is fully in control, assured of His purposes, and makes no mistakes. Every human being should try to discover the Lord's purpose for his or her life. Certainly, it is God's desire that an individual should trust in Christ as Savior and become like Christ (Acts 17:26–27, 30; Romans 8:28–30). The Lord has created every person to glorify Him. That even includes those who are evil. Even the destruction of the wicked conforms to the Lord's will. Proverbs 16:4 assures us that the Lord made "even the wicked for the day of trouble." God created an eternal punishment for sin, which is the fate of all who die without having trusted in His Son as Savior. John 3:36 declares: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."