Why Does God Allow Evil to Exist?

RECAP

Asaph’s Story (Asaph: Levite musician appointed by King David to lead worship music in Jerusalem. Seen as a musical prophet.)

Purpose of Doubt: A gift from God, that causes us to draw near to God, allows God to confirm his love for us.

What was Asaph’s doubt, and what did he learn about God as he sought him?

Psalm 73:1–16 NLT

Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?” Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

Why does God allow evil to exist?

Who remembers what Asaph did to answer his question?

Psalm 73:17 NLT

Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

How did evil/pain/suffering come to exist on earth?

Who remembers what God’s greatest desire for you is?

A: God’s Goal: Foster genuine love, and deeper relationship. For us to know him fully, as he knows us fully.

God created humanity with free will so we can love freely, since genuine love (relationship) depends on freedom. The highest values we know—love, loyalty, compassion—require human freedom, and God cannot create a world where these values exist without granting that freedom.

The Garden of Eden

Genesis 2:8–9 NLT

Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:15–17 NLT

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

Genesis 3:1–7 NLT

The serpent [(Satan)] was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness.

Genesis 3:22–23 NLT

Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.

Humanity said with it’s free will, “I don’t need God.” The natural consequences followed. Separation from God leads to death/evil.

Because all of us sin, we hurt others through our choices—drunk drivers kill, selfish decisions damage relationships, and human negligence causes suffering. God’s creatures bear responsibility for evil and its consequences, while God remains blameless.

Why hasn’t God intervened?

If God eliminated all suffering and evil, he would have to destroy everything evil—including us. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Good people don’t exist!)

God DID intervene! Through Christ—he pays the debt of our sin SO THAT we can one day live in eternity where there is no longer pain and suffering.

Romans 3:24–25 NLT

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

Jesus has come, so why the wait?

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.”

But out of love and mercy, he allows us to live. God graciously delays ending this present world, desiring that our suffering drives us toward him as the answer to all suffering.

C.S. Lewis described pain as “God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world”. Suggesting suffering reorients us toward what matters most. God redeems suffering and makes it purposeful.

CONCLUSION/APPLICATION/QUESTIONS

Will you allow God too redeem your pain?

Trust in him for your salvation

Seek him in healing and direction

What spoke to you tonight?

What is something new you learned about God tonight?

What is a certain pain and suffering that you would like God to redeem in your life?

How will you decide to draw near to him moving forward, like Asaph did?