WHY DOES GOD PERMIT SUFFERING?

A MALICIOUS CHALLENGE

To remain in God's favor, Adam and Eve would have to refrain from eating from the "tree of the knowledge of good and bad."  (Genesis 2:16, 17) If they had obeyed Jehovah's law, there would have been no suffering to mar human life. By obeying God's command, they would have demonstrated their love for Jehovah and their loyalty to him.  (1 John 5:3) But as we learned in Chapter 6, things did not turn out that way. Urged by Satan, Eve ate fruit from that tree. Later, Adam also partook of the forbidden fruit.  

Note: By the way, there isn't anywhere in the Bible as to which was the forbidden fruit. And I do not appreciate shows showing that it was an apple. So where did they get that idea?

Do you see the seriousness of what happened?  Satan was attacking Jehovah's position as the Most High.  By saying, "You will positively not die."  The Devil contradicted God's words, "You will positively not die."  Satan's further words implied that Jehovah was keeping Adam and Eve ignorant of the possibility  of becoming like God, thus not needing Him to decide what was good and bad. Satan's challenged therefore brought into question the right and validity of Jehovah's position as the Universal Sovereign. -Genesis 2:17; 3:1-6. 

Satan the Devil also insinuated that people would remain obedient to Jehovah as long as obeying God was to their advantage. In other words, human integrity was brought into question. Satan charged that no human would voluntarily remain loyal to God. This malicious claim by Satan is clearly revealed in the Bible's account about Job, a faithful servant of Jehovah who underwent a great test sometime before 1600 B.C.E  When you read the first two chapters of the book of Job, you can gain insight into the reason for human suffering and why God permits it. 

Next time: WHY DOES GOD PERMIT SUFFERING?/Conclusion of A MALICIOUS CHALLENGE 

From the book: KNOWLEDGE That Leads to Everlasting Life