Lesson 26 Why Do Evil and Suffering Exist?
[Image:] Concerned parents sitting next to their son lying in a hospital bed after something tragic happened to him.
[Press play to hear the MP3 of the Lesson]
“Why?” is a natural question for a person to ask when tragedy strikes. How happy we are that the Bible offers clear answers to that question!
1. How did Satan introduce evil into the world?
Satan the Devil rebelled against God. Satan wanted to rule over others, so he influenced the first humans, Adam and Eve, to join him in his rebellion. Satan did this by telling Eve a lie. (Genesis 3:1 through 5)
[Quotation] Genesis 3:1 through 5: Now the serpent was the most cautious of all the wild animals of the field that Jehovah God had made. So it said to the woman: “Did God really say that you must not eat from every tree of the garden?” At this the woman said to the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. But God has said about the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden: ‘You must not eat from it, no, you must not touch it; otherwise you will die.’” At this the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die. For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.” [End Quotation]
He made her think that Jehovah was wrongly withholding something good from her. He implied that humans would be happier if they did not obey God. Satan told the first lie by telling Eve that she would not die. Thus, the Bible calls Satan “a liar and the father of the lie.” (John 8:44)
[Quotation] John 8:44: You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. 2. What did Adam and Eve choose to do?That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie. [End Quotation]
2. What did Adam and Eve choose to do?
Jehovah was very generous to Adam and Eve. He said they could eat from every tree in the garden of Eden except one. (Genesis 2:15 through 17)
[Quotation] Genesis 2:15 through 17: Jehovah God took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to take care of it. Jehovah God also gave this command to the man: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die.” [End Quotation]
But they decided to eat the fruit of that tree anyway. Eve “began taking of its fruit and eating it.” Later, Adam “began eating it.” (Genesis 3:6)
[Quotation] Genesis 3:6: Consequently, the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something desirable to the eyes, yes, the tree was pleasing to look at. So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her, and he began eating it. [End Quotation]
They both disobeyed God. Because Adam and Eve were perfect, it was natural for them to do what is right. But by willfully disobeying God, they sinned and rejected his rulership. That decision caused them great suffering.
[Quotation] Genesis 3:16 through 19: To the woman he said: “I will greatly increase the pain of your pregnancy; in pain you will give birth to children, and your longing will be for your husband, and he will dominate you.” And to Adam he said: “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree concerning which I gave you this command, ‘You must not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground on your account. In pain you will eat its produce all the days of your life. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, and you must eat the vegetation of the field. In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.” [End Quotation]
3. How has Adam and Eve’s decision affected us?
When Adam and Eve sinned, they became imperfect, and they thus passed on imperfection to all of their descendants. Regarding Adam, the Bible says: “Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men.” (Romans 5:12)
[Quotation] Romans 5:12: That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned. [End Quotation]
We suffer for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we suffer because of bad decisions we make. Sometimes we suffer because of other people’s bad decisions. Sometimes we suffer because we are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Read Ecclesiastes 9:11.
[Read scripture] Ecclesiastes 9:11: I have seen something further under the sun, that the swift do not always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle, nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches, nor do those with knowledge always have success, because time and unexpected events overtake them all. [End of Read scripture]
Dig Deeper
Consider why God is not responsible for the evil and suffering in the world today and how he feels when we suffer.
4. The one who is responsible for our suffering
Many people believe that God controls the whole world. Is that true? Play the video Who Controls the World? (1:24).
[Disclaimer: The following video is created by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society; however, the audio description has been added by independent blind and sighted volunteers to assist those who are blind or have low vision]
[Click for Transcript]|[Who Controls the World?]
[People with divergent ideas]
People think the Bible says that God controls the world.
[Hand holds the earth]
But how could that be? This world is out of control!
[Protesters struggle with riot police]
It’s full of pain and suffering,
[Grieving woman cries over empty crib]
sickness and death,
[In pain, an old man sits in a hospital hallway]
poverty and disaster.
[Woman holds dead child]
How could a loving God be responsible for all of this?
[A Bible opens]
What the Bible says may surprise you.
[And pages begin flipping]
It says: “The Evil One controls the whole world.”
[Devil conspiring]
In other words, there’s an evil power behind the world’s problems, someone who’s pulling the strings behind the scenes.
[Religion, politics, angry protestants. Man with a pained look]
That’s why, no matter how hard we try, humans just cannot solve the world’s problems. The good news is: The Bible says things will not always be like this!
[Girl smiles as plant blooms]
It tells us why we’re in this situation,
[Bible opens]
how God will fix it, and how we can deal with it in the meantime.
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2013 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
Read James 1:13 and 1 John 5:19, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] James 1:13: When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] 1 John 5:19: We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. [End of Read scripture]
Is God responsible for suffering and evil?
5. Consider the results of Satan’s rulership
Play the video Why Does God Allow Suffering? Excerpt (3:07).
[Disclaimer: The following video is created by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society; however, the audio description has been added by independent blind and sighted volunteers to assist those who are blind or have low vision]
[Click for Transcript]|[Why Does God Allow Suffering?]
[Text: Why Does God Allow Suffering? Smoke rises from a devastated city, buildings collapsed, and windows broken. A man sits in rubble. He looks up despondently into the sky from his roofless home]
Presenter: Why does God allow suffering? Jehovah God didn’t intend for humans to suffer.
[Text: Genesis 1:28, 31]
On the contrary, he gave the first human couple a wonderful start.
[Adam and Eve surrounded by lush greenery]
But Satan, a rebel angel,
[The devil looks down]
called God a liar and influenced the first humans to reject God’s authority.
[Devil looks up over his shoulder]
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they chose to follow Satan.
[Text: Genesis 3:1-6]
They rebelled against Jehovah and decided for themselves what was right and wrong.
[Eve offers Adam a piece of fruit and he accepts it]
Was Satan correct?
[They are cast out of the garden]
Could humans rule themselves successfully without help from God?
[Into darkness]
Time would be needed to settle the crucial issues raised by the rebels.
[In a classroom]
To illustrate: A rebellious student claims that the teacher’s method of instruction is wrong. He insists that he knows a much better way.
[Classmates turn to look as he challenges]
Some students think that he is right, and they also become rebellious.
[The student’s smirk, arms crossed]
What should the teacher do?
[Teacher writes on the blackboard]
He has the authority to reprimand the rebellious students. But what effect would that choice have on the other students? They may lose respect for the teacher, thinking that he is afraid of being proved wrong.
[Students watch]
But suppose the teacher allows the student to show the class his method.
[Teacher uses chalk to student]
Then it would be proved to all present who is qualified to teach.
[The frustrated student repeatedly attempts an equation. When the bell rings, he drops his head and shoulders and bangs his fists down. The teacher erases the board]
Jehovah has done something similar to what the teacher does. When Satan challenged Jehovah,
[Devil points up]
millions of angels were watching.
[Text: Job 1:6]
How Jehovah handled the rebellion would greatly affect all those angels and eventually all intelligent creation.
[Angels look down]
Knowing this, Jehovah allowed Satan to rule this world for a time.
[Countdown]
Satan’s rule has caused untold pain and suffering.
[Text: 1 John 5:19]
However, once Jehovah’s right and ability to rule is established beyond any doubt,
[Poverty and war]
Jehovah will undo all the damage caused by Satan’s rebellion.
[Text Revelation 21:4]
At that time, only people who choose to follow God’s standards will inhabit the earth.”
[Text: Psalm 37:29] [In paradise, by a sparkling stream, a woman and two children approach a man who sits and reads. The little girl excitedly runs up to him. He stands and joyfully lifts her into the air]
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2018 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
[Image:] Collage: Scenes depicting the condition of the earth from its creation until the future Paradise. A. An earthly paradise with lush vegetation. B. Human rulership over the centuries filling the world with false religion, division, warfare, and pollution. Some of the powerful governments pictured are Egypt, China, Greece, Rome, Great Britain, and the United States. C. People living in the restored Paradise earth.
Caption A: Adam and Eve were perfect and lived in Paradise. But they listened to Satan and rebelled against Jehovah
Caption B: After the rebellion, the world became filled with sin, suffering, and death
Caption C: Jehovah will end sin, suffering, and death. Once again, humans will be perfect and live in Paradise
Read Genesis 3:1 through 6, and then discuss the questions that follow:
[Read scripture] Genesis 3:1 through 6: Now the serpent was the most cautious of all the wild animals of the field that Jehovah God had made. So it said to the woman: “Did God really say that you must not eat from every tree of the garden?” 2 At this the woman said to the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. 3 But God has said about the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden: ‘You must not eat from it, no, you must not touch it; otherwise you will die.’” 4 At this the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die. 5 For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.” 6 Consequently, the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something desirable to the eyes, yes, the tree was pleasing to look at. So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her, and he began eating it. [End of Read scripture]
What lie did Satan tell? See verses 4 and 5.
How did Satan imply that Jehovah was holding back something good from humans?
According to Satan, do humans need to have Jehovah as their Ruler in order to be happy?
Read Ecclesiastes 8:9, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] Ecclesiastes 8:9: All of this I have seen, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, during the time that man has dominated man to his harm. [End of Read scripture]
Without Jehovah as the Ruler of this world, what has happened?
6. Jehovah cares about our suffering
Is God indifferent to our suffering? Consider what King David and the apostle Peter wrote. Read Psalm 31:7 and 1 Peter 5:7, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] Psalm 31:7: I will rejoice greatly in your loyal love, For you have seen my affliction; You are aware of my deep distress. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] 1 Peter 5:7: while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. [End of Read scripture]
How does it make you feel to know that Jehovah notices and cares about our suffering?
7. God will end all human suffering
Read Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:3 and 4, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] Isaiah 65:17: For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be called to mind, Nor will they come up into the heart. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] Revelation 21:3 and 4: With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” [End of Read scripture]
Why is it comforting to know that Jehovah will undo the effects of all the bad things that humans have experienced?
[Box] Did You Know?
When Satan told the first lie, he slandered Jehovah. That is, he damaged Jehovah’s reputation as a fair and loving Ruler. When Jehovah undoes human suffering in the near future, he will vindicate himself. In other words, he will prove that his rulership really is the best. The vindication of Jehovah’s name is a matter of the highest importance in the universe. (Matthew 6:9 and 10)
[Quotation] Matthew 6:9 and 10: “You must pray, then, this way: “‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth. [End Quotation]
[End of box]
[Box]
Some People Say: “Suffering is part of God’s purpose for us.” What would you say? [End of box]
Summary
Satan the Devil and the first two humans are mainly responsible for the evil in the world. Jehovah cares deeply about our suffering, and he will soon undo it.
Review
What lie did Satan the Devil tell Eve?
How has Adam and Eve’s rebellion affected all of us?
How do we know that Jehovah cares about our suffering?
Goal
Tell someone why God is not responsible for the evil we see around us. Set Other Goals
Explore
Learn the Bible’s definition of sin. “What Is Sin?” (Web article)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
Read more about the issue that Satan the Devil raised in the garden of Eden. “Why Does God Allow Suffering?” (The Watchtower, January 1, 2014)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
Examine comforting answers to a difficult question. “Why Did the Holocaust Happen? Why Didn’t God Stop It?” (Web article)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
See what one man learned about the suffering he saw around him. I’m Not on My Own Anymore (5:09)
[Click for transcript]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]