WHY SO MUCH SUFFERING?

People of various religions have gone to their religious leaders and teachers to ask why there is so much suffering.   Often, the response is that suffering is God's will and that he long ago determined everything that would ever happen, including tragic events.  (they say this because they really don't know squat)  Many are told that God's ways are mysterious or that he brings death upon people-even children-so that they can have them in heaven with him.  (if these so-called leaders actually read the Bible, they would know better than to say this garbage)  As you have learned, though, Jehovah God never causes what is bad. The Bible says: "Far be it from the true God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly!" -Job 34:10.

Do you know why people make a mistake of blaming God for all the suffering in the world? In many cases, they blame the Almighty  God because they think that he is the real ruler of this world.  They do not know a simple but important truth that the Bible teaches.  You learned that truth in Chapter 3 of this book.  The real ruler of this earth is Satan the Devil. 

The Bible clearly states: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19) When you think about it, does that not make sense?  This world reflects the personality of the invisible spirit creature who is "misleading the entire inhabited earth."  (Revelation 12:9)  (Note: Satan gets in people's heads who do not know God and manipulates them) Satan is hateful, deceptive, and cruel.  So the world under his influence, is full of hatred, deceit, and cruelty. That is one reason why there is so much suffering. 

A second reason why there is so much suffering is that, as discussed in Chapter 3, mankind has been imperfect and sinful ever since the rebellion in the garden of Eden. Sinful humans tend to struggle for dominance, and this results in wars, oppression, and suffering. (Ecclesiastes 4:1; 8:9)  A third reason is  "time and unforeseen occurrence." (Ecclesiastes 9:11) In a world without Jehovah as a protective Ruler, people may suffer because they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  

It is comforting for us to know that God does not cause suffering.  He is not responsible for the wars, the crimes, the oppression, or even the natural disasters that cause people to suffer.  Still, we need to know, Why does Jehovah allow all this suffering?  If he is the Almighty, he has the power to stop it. Why, then, does he hold back?  The loving God that we have come to know must have a good reason. -1 John 4:8. 

Next time:  A VITAL ISSUE IS RAISED 

From the Book: What Does the Bible Really  Teach? 2005 and 2006.