Lesson 26

“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!

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 3:1-5)

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.

Jehovah was very generous to Adam and Eve. He said they could eat from every tree in the garden of Eden except one. (Genesis 2:15-17)

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)

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.— Genesis 3:16-19.

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.

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: 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.

Consider why God is not responsible for the evil and suffering in the world today and how he feels when we suffer.

Many people believe that God controls the whole world. Is that true? Play the VIDEO.

Read 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.

Read 1 John 5.19: We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.

Discuss this question:

Is God responsible for suffering and evil?

Play the VIDEO.

Read Genesis 3.1-6: 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?” 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.” 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.

Discuss these questions:

What lie did Satan tell?— See verse 4, 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: 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.

Discuss this question:

Without Jehovah as the Ruler of this world, what has happened?