When It All Began

Our world is broken.

This much most of us can agree on. In our journey of evil and suffering we must be reminded of this truth from the beginning. Sometimes we say things like, “why do bad things happen to good people” which can undermine we are all broken. I don’t mean to minimize the statement because when we say it we are talking about “normal” typically decent human beings.

Goal: to think Biblically about evil and suffering.

This is the goal of the series. Last week we talked about the prayer of evil and suffering and how the cross of Christ brings things into perspective. The glory of God is greater than my pain, your suffering, and the evil in this world. That can be helpful but we may be left going, great now what?

Let’s go back to the beginning.

Turn with me to the very beginning pages of Scripture to see how everything began. Knowing how things started may help in getting understanding in the present.

God created all things!

Everything created God did. This is confirmed and affirmed in the NT by passages like Colossians 1.16. Anything that has been created God created.

God pronounced creation, including humans, to be VERY GOOD!!!

I think this is important to be reminded of. Our original world was created good and including humans we God proclaimed goodness upon the Earth.

Satan appears in God’s good work.

Passages like Isaiah 14.12-15; Ezekiel 28.11 may be allusions and hints as to Satans fall. The reality we know that at some point Satan who was originally in heaven was cast down to earth. At this point we are left wondering, “Why would God allow this?” We also don’t know how long Satan had been “fallen” before the plan was devised. All Scripture is clear is there is evil and God has done something about it.

Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Sin changed God’s creation.

Adam and Eve sinned by going against God’s plan and revealed Word. Sin always leaves a mark, a scar, and causes pain.

God is still good even though evil & suffering exist.

Notice in Genesis 3 that God does not leave Adam and Eve in their sin and suffering. God does not just wipe them off the face of the Earth, which would be true justice. He promises something greater.

Christ provides ultimate freedom from suffering and evil.

This is the point Paul makes and Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of Genesis 3.15

God does not offer us a logical argument to deal with suffering. The problem of suffering is not solved by reason, but is ultimately resolved by faith in our crucified and risen Lord.1

1 Gardner, L. (2007). What the Bible Says about Suffering: Where is God When We Suffer?

Genesis 3:15 NIV

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Grace is God’s gift.

Sometimes overlooked in our passage this morning is verse 21. God’s shows us grace. We cannot always understand the ways of God. But we can always rest in his grace. When Paul was dealing with his own pain and suffering he said these words:

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.