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bible student
Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:09 pm

Re: Looking for proof, for or against, I don't have a side.
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[b]Why does God permit Suffering?[/b]

The Bible assures us that the suffering we see around us is not caused by God. For instance, the Christian disciple James wrote: “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.” (James 1:13) 
  To remain in God’s favor, Adam and Eve would have to refrain from eating from “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.” (Genesis 2:16, 17) If they had obeyed God’s law, there would have been no suffering to mar human life. By obeying God’s command, they would have demonstrated their love for God and their loyalty to him. 
  Satan was attacking God’s position as the Most High. By saying, “You positively will not die,” the Devil contradicted God’s words, “You will positively die.” Satan’s further words implied that God was keeping Adam and Eve ignorant of the possibility of becoming like God, thus not needing Him to decide what was good and bad. Satan’s challenge therefore brought into question the right and validity of God’s position as the Universal Sovereign.—Genesis 2:17; 3:1-6.
  Satan the Devil also insinuated that people would remain obedient to God only as long as obeying God was to their advantage. In other words, human integrity was brought into question. Satan charged that no human would voluntarily remain loyal to God. This malicious claim by Satan is clearly revealed in the Bible’s account about Job, a faithful servant of God who underwent a great test sometime before 1600 B.C.E. When you read the first two chapters of the book of Job, you can gain insight into the reason for human suffering and why God permits it.
  Job, “a man blameless and upright,” came under Satan’s attack. First, Satan imputed  bad motives to Job by raising the question, “Is it for nothing that Job has feared God?” Then, the Devil cunningly maligned both God and Job by charging that God had bought Job’s loyalty by protecting and blessing him. “But, for a change,” Satan challenged God, “thrust out your hand, please, and touch everything he has and see whether he will not curse you to your very face.”—Job 1:8-11.
  Was Job serving God simply because of all the good that he received from God? Could Job’s integrity stand up under test? In turn, did God have enough confidence in his servant to allow him to be tested? These questions could be answered if God would permit Satan to bring upon Job the severest of tests. Job’s faithful course under the test allowed by God,  proved to be a thorough vindication of God’s righteousness and man’s integrity.—Job 42:1, 2, 12.
  What happened in the garden of Eden and to the man Job, however, has a deeper implication. The issues Satan raised involve all mankind, including us today. God’s name was maligned, and his sovereignty was challenged. The uprightness of God’s creation, man, was called into question. These issues had to be settled.