Someone recently asked me (quite rudely) why a God who is all-knowing and all-powerful would create Satan. To see the full conversation, see Answering an Atheist Evangelist.
It’s good to prepare ourselves to answer these kinds of questions (1 Peter 3:15). So let me give you some bullet points I’d include in my answer:
🗹 God created Satan good but gave him a choice. Satan chose evil.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:1-17. See Got Questions on Ezekiel 28.
🗹 God could have ended Satan’s existence but chose to use Satan’s stupidity and evil to test people and divide true believers from unbelievers. For example: Job 1:1-12.
🗹 God creates each man and woman and gives us choice.
Genesis 4:6-7; Joshua 24:14-15; James 1:14-15; Revelation 3:20.
🗹 God is all-knowing and all-powerful, but He isn’t all-manipulative. He never tempts us, but He allows temptations in our lives because he wants our choice to be real. He doesn’t want robots forced to love Him.
James 1:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:2-4.
🗹 Anyone who rejects God is under Satan’s control, even if they aren’t involved in formal Satan worship.
🗹 Because God is omniscient, He knows every detail of every person’s heart. He won’t send someone to heaven or hell by mistake. He knows that some people only have an outward form of religion.
🗹 Because He’s all-powerful, He can do what He says He will do.
🗹 And most importantly, our God is not merely omniscient and omnipotent. He’s also completely loving, just, and pure, ready to redeem, forgive, and restore.
In fact, the man who asked this rude question can be redeemed. Our all-knowing, all-powerful God gives him that choice.
For two other difficult questions, see Six Important Clues in Answering the Question "Why Does God Allow Evil?" and Be Prepared: Why did God destroy entire nations?
These are only partial answers. Frankly, they didn't answer the question as far as I'm concerned. The biggest one is that he is God, and we are not. He does what he pleases. This is God's response to Job. The more important question is, why would a God who doesn't need anyone or anything, create a universe knowing we will rebel, and yet choose to do so, fully planning to kill his son. Why would our lord, who is all Holy choose to become sin. These are more important
ReplyDeleteHi Hadi,
DeleteThis verse is my comfort whenever I don't fully understand something in Scripture or in life:
"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
It tells me that I'm not God, just as you rightly explained was God's answer to Job. My understanding of the world is enough for me to choose life or death, heaven or hell, God or man. But it's insignificant compared to the infinite wisdom and understanding of God.
Faith is realizing the evidence of God's goodness, wisdom, and purposes is enough to trust Him even when our finite minds cannot understand everything about life.
"faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
We're given enough evidence to believe and trust Him, if we decide to do so:
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3
But that doesn't mean we are given every answer. And even though I also wish I understood every detail, I'm glad to know that God isn't just like me. I'm glad He's perfectly wise, perfectly holy, and perfectly loving because I'm none of those things.
God doesn't need anyone or anything, but He finds pleasure in the things He created and instead of obliterating the universe after mankind's sin, He chose to test and teach and save those who could have faith in what we do not see fully (Hebrews 11:13).
Psalm 149:4: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
He loves mankind in general (John 3:16) offering Jesus as the only possible sacrifice. And He loves His followers in a special, specific, and eternal way (John 15).
I hope these things will give you comfort even though none of us are able to fully comprehend all things.
And I may do a devotion on this subject.