Genesis 2:15–17 The LORD God took the
man and put him in the garden of Eden
to work it and keep it. 16 And the LORD
God commanded the man, saying, “You
may surely eat of every tree of the
garden, 17 but of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil you shall not
eat, for in the day that you eat of it you
shall surely die.”
Genesis 6:5–8; 11-13 The LORD 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. 6 And the LORD regretted that
he had made man on the earth, and it
grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD
said, “I will blot out man whom I have
created from the face of the land……
man and animals and creeping things
and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry
that I have made them.” 8 But Noah
found favor in the eyes of the LORD……
11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s
sight, and the earth was filled with
violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and
behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had
corrupted their way on the earth…..
13 And
God said to Noah, “I have
determined to make an end of all flesh,
for the earth is filled with violence
through them. Behold, I will destroy
them with the earth.”
Evil is inherent in the risky business of
free will.
– JB Philips
Genesis 6:6 The Lord regretted [sighed at]
what had become of man He create on
the earth.
Joshua 24:15 And if it is evil [undesirable]
in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose
this day whom [what gods] you will
serve….. But as for me and my house, we
will serve the LORD.
1. Who created evil and suffering?
God created the POSSIBILITY of evil……
God created the POSSIBILITY of evil……
……Man created the ACTUALITY of evil.
The tree of the knowledge of good and
evil.
By choosing to not trust God, they
radically altered how life on Earth would
be lived.
God did not do this to us, we are doing it
to ourselves!
We drink too much, or we gamble
compulsively, or we allow pornography
to control our minds. We drive too fast
and work as if there is no tomorrow. We
challenge the boss disrespectfully and
then blow up when he strikes back. We
spend money we do not have and we
cannot possibly repay. We fuss and fight
at home and create misery……
We toy with the dragon of infidelity.
Then when the wages of those sins and
foolishness come due, we turn our
shocked faces up to heaven and cry
“Why me Lord?” In truth, we are
suffering the natural consequences of
dangerous behavior that is guaranteed
to produce pain.
– Dr. James Dobson
John 3:19 And this is the judgment: the
light has come into the world, and
people loved the darkness rather than
the light because their works were evil.
2. What about the suffering caused by
others or in nature?
Man, the world ain't supposed to work
like this. I mean, maybe you don't know
that yet. I'm supposed to be able to do
my job without having to ask you if I can.
That dude is supposed to be able to wait
with his car without you ripping him off.
Everything is supposed to be different
than it is.
– Simon; Grand Canyon
Romans 8:20–22 For the creation was
subjected to futility, not willingly, but
because of him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be set free
from its bondage to corruption and obtain
the freedom of the glory of the children of
God. 22 For we know that the whole
creation has been groaning together in
the pains of childbirth until now.
God is all-powerful but not all-good,
because He does not stop evil & suffering.
God is all-powerful but not all-good,
because He does not stop evil & suffering.
God is all-good but not all-powerful,
because He cannot stop evil & suffering.
God is all-powerful but not all-good,
because He does not stop evil & suffering.
God is all-good but not all-powerful,
because He cannot stop evil & suffering.
Either argument follows the general
tendency to blame God for evil & suffering
and shift all responsibility for it onto Him.
The fact is, God is not responsible for all
that is wrong in this world… we are!
3. What is God’s answer to suffering?
Why doesn’t He end it all right now?
Suppose God were to decree that at
midnight tonight all evil would be
removed from the universe – who of us
would still be here after midnight?
– Paul Little
Is it possible God is enduring evil and
suffering because He radically loves us?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord 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.
Just because evil is not done away with
now, does not mean it never will be.
If God is all-good, He will defeat evil.
If God is all-good, He will defeat evil.
If God is all-powerful, He can defeat evil.
If God is all-good, He will defeat evil.
If God is all-powerful, He can defeat evil.
Evil is not yet defeated.
If God is all-good, He will defeat evil.
If God is all-powerful, He can defeat evil.
Evil is not yet defeated.
God will one day defeat evil!
Will pain and suffering drive you away
from God or drive you to Him?
You don’t need a God to blame for all
the evil in the world. You need God who
takes your blame for the evil in the
world upon Himself.