WHY DOES GOD PERMIT SUFFERING?

HOW TO SETTLE ISSUES

For the sake of illustration, let us say that you are a loving parent with several children in a happy family. Suppose one of your neighbors spreads lies, accusing you of being a bad parent. What if the neighbor says that your children do not love you, that they stay with you only because they do not know any better, and they would leave if someone showed them the way. 'Preposterous!'  you might say. Yest, but how would you prove it?  Some parents might react in rage. Besides creating more problems, such as a violent response would lend support to the lies.  A satisfying way to deal with such a problem would be to allow opportunity for you accuser to prove his claim and for your children to testify that they sincerely love you.  

Jehovah is like the loving parent. Adam and Eve may be compared to the children, and Satan fits the role of the lying neighbor.  God wisely did not destroy Satan, Adam and Eve immediately  but permitted these wrongdoers to continue living for awhile.  This allowed our first parents time to start the human family, and it has given the Devil a chance to prove whether his claim was true so that the issues could be settled. From the start, however, God knew that some humans would be loyal to him and would thus prove Satan a liar. How thankful we are that Jehovah has continued to bless and help those who love him! -2 Chronicles 16:9; Proverbs 15:3. 

WHAT HAS BEEN PROVED? 

During nearly all human history, Satan has had a free hand to work out his schemes of domination over mankind. Among other things, he has wielded influence over the political powers and has promoted religions that  subtly direct worship to him rather than to Jehovah.  Thus the Devil has become "the god of this system of things," and he is called "the ruler of this world."  (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31) Indeed, "the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one."  (1 John 5:19) Does this mean that Satan has proved his claim that he could draw all mankind away from Jehovah God?  Certainly not!  While permitting Satan to remain in existence, Jehovah has proceeded to carry out his own purpose. What, then, doe the Bible reveal concerning God's permission of wickedness? 

Wickedness and suffering are not caused by Jehovah.  Since Satan is the ruler of this world and the god of this system of things, he and those on his side are responsible for the present condition of human society and all the misery that mankind has suffered. No one can rightly say that God is the cause of such hardship. -Romans 9:14. 

Jehovah's permitting wickedness and suffering has proved that independence from God has not brought  about a better world. Undeniably, history has been marked by one disaster after another.  The reason for this is that humans have chosen to pursue their own independent course and have shown no real regard for God's word and will.  When Jehovah's ancient people and their leaders unfaithfully pursued "the popular course" and rejected his word, the results were disastrous. Through is prophet Jeremiah, God told them:  "The wise ones have become ashamed. They have become terrified and will be caught! Look! They have rejected the very word of Jehovah, and what wisdom do they have?"  (Jeremiah 8:5, 6, 9)  Having failed to follow Jehovah's standards, mankind in general has become like  ship without a rudder, tossed about in the turbulent sea.  

Next time: WHY DOES GOD PERMIT SUFFERING?/Conclusion of WHAT HAS BEEN PROVED 

From the book: KNOWLEDGE That Leads to Everlasting Life