“Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hands is My indignation…Yet it does not so intend, Nor does it plan so in its heart, But rather it is its purpose to destroy And to cut off many nations.” (Isaiah 10:5-7, NASB)
The Lord says that Assyria is the rod of His anger and the vehicle of His indignation. We have a glimpse here of how God uses the wicked for His purposes.
The rod of My anger. The wicked are tools in the hands of God. Yes, even Satan. They are unwilling and often ignorant servants. In this case, God is using them for the discipline of His rebellious people. But He uses the wicked for many other reasons as well.
The staff in whose hands is My indignation. Not only are the wicked tools in God's hands, but He also works through their actions. This was most clearly seen when Joseph told his brothers, “…you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). How frustrating it must be to be among the wicked! No matter what they plan, they always ultimately accomplish the purpose of the very One they are fighting against!
If you find yourself up against wickedness in any of its manifestations, know this. It is not a rogue force outside of God's control. And once God has accomplished His purpose through them, He will judge all their wicked acts (see Isaiah 10:12).