Understanding the Origins of Wickedness and Suffering

To grasp why God has permitted wickedness and suffering, one must return to the earliest chapters of the Bible in Genesis and delve into the book of Job. These texts reveal the fundamental reasons behind the existence of pain, evil, and suffering. William Lane Craig once asserted that “God has morally sufficient reasons for permitting the evil and suffering in the world.” These reasons stem from a more profound context involving divine sovereignty, human free will, and moral independence.

In contrast, Dr. Bart D. Ehrman, a well-known Bible scholar turned agnostic, struggled with reconciling the idea of a loving God with the rampant suffering observed in the world. In his work Misquoting Jesus (p. 248), Ehrman states, “I eventually found it impossible to explain the evil so rampant among us . . . if there was a good and loving God who was actively involved in this world.” Ehrman’s difficulty lies in his assumptions. Firstly, he begins with the premise that if God is a loving deity with the power to prevent evil, He should not allow suffering. Secondly, he assumes that God is directly responsible for everything that happens. These flawed premises lead to incorrect conclusions.

The Biblical Foundation: Genesis and the Role of Free Will

The foundation for understanding suffering begins in Genesis. God’s command to Adam in Genesis 2:17, “but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die,” introduced the principle of obedience and dependence on God. This command was not arbitrary; it was designed to underscore the relationship between the Creator and His creation. The serpent, identified in later texts as Satan (Revelation 12:9), challenged this command by deceiving Eve, saying, “You shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4).

Satan’s words were more than a simple lie; they represented a direct attack on God’s truthfulness and sovereignty. The implications of his challenge were vast:

1. God’s trustworthiness: Satan insinuated that Jehovah was withholding good from Adam and Eve, implying that independence from God would lead to a better state.
2. Divine sovereignty: Satan’s challenge called into question whether God had the right to rule over His creation.
3. Human loyalty: The insinuation suggested that humans would only serve God if it benefited them materially or circumstantially.
4. Moral autonomy: Satan suggested that humans could choose their moral path without divine guidance, essentially claiming that humanity could act independently of God’s standards.

The Consequences of Rebellion

When Adam and Eve chose to eat from the tree, they exercised their free will but in doing so, rejected divine sovereignty. This act was not simply an error; it was a deliberate choice to redefine good and evil on their terms, a theme that The Jerusalem Bible (1966) elucidates in its footnote on Genesis 2:17: “It is the power of deciding for himself what is good and what is evil and of acting accordingly, a claim to complete moral independence by which man refuses to recognize his status as a created being.” This rebellion was an assertion of pride, challenging the created order established by God.

The Issues Raised by Satan’s Challenge

The challenge that Satan raised was multifaceted:

1. God’s truthfulness: Satan’s statement, “You shall not surely die,” contradicted Jehovah’s declaration and questioned God’s integrity.
2. God’s rightful rule: The suggestion that life under God’s rule was not beneficial put His governance in question.
3. Human loyalty under trial: Satan’s contention implied that humans would only remain faithful to God when circumstances were favorable, an argument explicitly demonstrated in the book of Job.

In Job 1:6-11, Satan presented the claim that Job’s faithfulness was contingent on God’s protection and blessings. “But put forth your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse you to your face,” Satan argued. This statement implied that humans, when deprived of comfort, would turn against God. Similarly, in Job 2:4-5, Satan stated, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. However, put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse you to your face.” This accusation extended beyond Job to encompass all humanity.

Why Did God Permit Suffering?

One might ask why God allowed Satan’s rebellion and humanity’s subsequent suffering to continue. The answer lies in the nature of the issues raised. If God had immediately destroyed Adam, Eve, and Satan, He would have dealt with the symptoms but not the root of the challenge. Such an action might have led to fear-based obedience rather than genuine love and loyalty. Proverbs 27:11 states, “Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him who taunts me.” The resolution of these issues required time for all intelligent beings—both human and angelic—to witness the consequences of life apart from divine sovereignty.

The Role of Free Will and Moral Autonomy

Humans and angels were created with free will, designed to choose to serve God out of love rather than compulsion. The allowance of free will inherently brought the possibility of rebellion. If God had created beings without the capacity to choose, true love and loyalty would be impossible. Isaiah 43:10 states, “You are my witnesses, declares Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.” The witness role of God’s servants involves demonstrating loyalty amidst trials, thus vindicating God’s way of ruling.

An illustration helps clarify why God permitted the ongoing rebellion. Consider a father accused of being overbearing and unfair by a neighbor. If he reacts violently, it could confirm the accusation. Instead, if the father allows time to prove his parenting and his children grow up respectful and well-adjusted, the slander is proven false. Similarly, Jehovah allowed time to pass to settle the issues Satan raised. The faithful endurance of God’s servants, including Job, proved Satan’s claims wrong.

Simple Foreknowledge, on the other hand, argues that God simply knows everything, including future contingent events, but this knowledge does not determine them. Proponents of Simple Foreknowledge believe that human freedom and God’s foreknowledge are compatible, as God’s foreknowledge does not causally determine human choices. In other words, the event does not happen because God foreknows it, but God foreknows the event because it will happen. The event is logically prior to the foreknowledge, so he foreknows it because it will happen, even though the foreknowledge is chronologically prior to the event. We can see foreknowledge on this, as the foreshadowing of something. When you see the shadow of someone coming around the corner of the building, you see his or her shadow on the ground before you see the person. You know that person is about to come around the corner because of their shadow but the shadow does not determine the person, the person determines the shadow. God’s foreknowledge is like the foreshadowing of a future event. By seeing this foreshadowing, you know the events will happen, But the shadow does not determine the reality, the reality determines the shadow. Therefore, we should think of God’s foreknowledge as the foreshadowing of things to come. Therefore, just because God will know something will happen, this does not prejudice or remove the freedom of that happening. In fact, if the events were to happen differently, God’s foreknowledge would be different as well. An illustration of this is, like an infallible barometer of the weather. Whatever the barometer says, because it is infallible, you know what the weather will be like. However, the barometer does not determine the weather; the weather determines the barometer’s findings. Thus, God’s foreknowledge is like an infallible barometer of the future. It lets him know what the future is going to be, but it does not constrain the future in any way. The future is going to happen anyway the free moral agent wants it to happen. However, the barometer is going to track whatever direction the future will take.

Destiny is unbiblical. God has not fixed your destiny. People freely choose, with no predestination. Foreknowledge is not just about God knowing the future, but God knowing all the potentialities of free will decisions and how they would play out in every conceivable situation. This idea balances the sovereignty of God in His plan and the free will of creatures in their decisions.

Job as an Example of Faithfulness

Job’s endurance under severe trials exemplifies human faithfulness despite suffering. Job 1:22 states, “In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” This response demonstrated that loyalty to Jehovah could exist independently of material blessings. Job’s example set a precedent, showing that it is possible to serve God faithfully regardless of circumstances.

The larger narrative extends to all who choose to align with Jehovah’s sovereignty. The apostle Paul reflects on suffering in 2 Corinthians 4:17, writing, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” This affliction, though intense, serves a greater purpose within the context of God’s long-term plan.

The Global and Historical Context of Human Suffering

Over the past 6,000 years, human history has been marked by suffering on a grand scale. Genesis 6:5 notes, “Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” From the early accounts of violence and corruption in Noah’s time to the countless wars, famines, and natural disasters that followed, humanity has experienced suffering both by choice and circumstance.

The Bible provides examples that illustrate this. When David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba and arranging for Uriah’s death, it had dire consequences, including the death of their child (2 Samuel 12:15-18). While God allowed the outcome, He was not directly responsible for David’s choices. The principle remains: God does not tempt or induce evil (James 1:13). Instead, the consequences of sin are often a result of human free will.

Why God Has Not Yet Intervened

Many ask why God has allowed evil to persist for so long. 2 Peter 3:9 explains, “Jehovah is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” This patience reflects God’s desire for more individuals to choose to serve Him out of their own volition.

Another reason lies in demonstrating the incapability of human rulership. Ecclesiastes 8:9 states, “All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.” Human governance, independent of God, has resulted in wars, social injustice, and various forms of suffering. Jeremiah 10:23 further confirms, “I know, O Jehovah, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” The failures of human rule highlight the need for divine governance.

The Role of Satan as the God of This World

Satan’s role in the world is significant. 2 Corinthians 4:4 calls him “the god of this world,” who has blinded the minds of unbelievers. His influence has led to deception, conflict, and a pervasive spirit of rebellion against God. Jesus acknowledged this influence when He was tempted in the wilderness and refused Satan’s offer of all the kingdoms of the world (Matthew 4:8-9). This demonstrated that Satan’s power is limited but real, operating under God’s allowance for a time.

1 John 5:19 reinforces this, stating, “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” However, Revelation 12:12 warns of a time when Satan, knowing his time is short, intensifies his activities: “But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath.” This escalation serves as a precursor to God’s final intervention and judgment.

God’s Plan for Restoration

Despite the current state of suffering, God’s plan for restoration is clear. Revelation 21:4 promises, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” This assurance points to a future where the consequences of rebellion are addressed, and God’s original purpose for humanity is fulfilled.

Acts 3:21 speaks of “the times of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.” This period will see the undoing of suffering and the reestablishment of a world where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). The culmination of God’s plan includes the binding of Satan for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-3), a symbolic period during which Christ will reign and bring healing to the nations.

The Final Outcome: A World Without Suffering

After the millennium, Satan will be released for a short time to test humanity one last time (Revelation 20:7-10). This final test will prove the loyalty of those who have lived under Christ’s reign. Those who choose rebellion will face destruction along with Satan. Ultimately, God’s sovereignty will be fully vindicated, and His creation will be restored to harmony.

The Bible’s narrative shows that God’s allowance of suffering serves a greater purpose that transcends human understanding. It is an object lesson demonstrating that true peace, security, and righteousness come only through adherence to God’s guidance. The apostle Paul captures this in Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

God’s final promise to eliminate suffering and evil underscores His love and justice. Isaiah 25:8 assures, “He will swallow up death forever; and Jehovah God will wipe away tears from all faces.” This prophecy echoes the certainty of God’s ultimate victory and the complete resolution of the issues raised in Eden.

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