Comfort in the Accurate Knowledge of God

A Moral Issue Was Raised

This rebellion in Eden raised a moral issue, a challenge of universal importance. The human rebels called into question whether Jehovah properly exercised his rulership over his creatures. Did the Creator have the right to require full obedience from humankind?  Might people be better off if they acted independently?  (Note: Not really, look where its gotten us so far)

Jehovah handled this challenge to his rulership in a way that demonstrated his perfect balance of love, justice, wisdom, and power. He could have used his power to crush the rebellion immediately.  That might have seemed just, since he had the right to do so.  But doing so would not have answered the moral question that had been raised. On the other hand, God could have simply overlooked the sin. Such a course might seem to some today to be a loving option.  Yet, this  too would fail to address Satan's claim that humans would be better off ruling themselves.  Furthermore, would such a course not encourage still others to deviate from Jehovah's way?  The result would be endless suffering.  

In his wisdom, Jehovah has allowed humans to go their own way for a time. Even though this has meant permitting evil to remain temporarily, humans have thus had the opportunity to show whether they can successfully rule themselves independent of God, living by their own standards of what is right and wrong. What has been the result?  (Note: Well if you can't see the result, you are either wearing blinders or ignorant)  Human history has consistently been characterized  by war, injustice, oppression, and suffering. The ultimate failure of the rebellion against Jehovah will settle the issues raised in Eden once and for all time. 

Meanwhile, God has displayed his love by providing his Son, Jesus Christ, who gave up his human life as a ransom sacrifice.  This enables  obedient humans to be freed from the condemnation of sin and death that resulted  from Adam's disobedience. The ransom has opened the way to everlasting life for all who exercise faith in Jesus. John 3:16.

Note:  I think that we need not to put all the blame on Adam. It takes two to tango and Eve should have been obedient. A lot of women just don't listen and won't do as they are told. This has been a problem for years. They want want what they want and damn the consequences. That does not make it right. Granted Adam did not have to listen, but he wanted to, I guess please his wife, more than he wanted to please God. And that was his big mistake. But the blame, in my opinion starts with Eve for not listening to either God or Adam, her big mistake. 

We have Jehovah's comforting assurance that human suffering temporary. Just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more," wrote the psalmist."   "You will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." -Psalm 37:10, 11. 

Next time: A Future of Security and Happiness

From the Watchtower magazine, 2002