God and sin

Why would God allow Eve to be tempted when he knew what the outcome would be? Would you allow your own child be in a situation where you knew the outcome would be terrible? I would never have my child come to harm if I could have prevented it. Why would God do that?

Your questions are ones that people have asked frequently over the years.

Because sin entered God’s perfect world, some people have questioned God’s power, as if he had no ability to prevent sin from entering the world. God is all-powerful (Job 42:2; Psalm 115:3; Matthew 19:26). He could have prevented sin from entering this world.

Because sin entered God’s perfect world, other people have questioned God’s love: “Why would a loving God do that?” God is love (1 John 4:8). In his love and wisdom (Romans 16:27), God allowed sin to enter his perfect world.

In the Bible, God does not explain why he did not prevent sin from ruining his creation—nor is God obligated to provide an explanation.

Questions about God and why he did or did not do something about the origin of evil need to be addressed in light of passages like these: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). God always acts wisely, and his wisdom far surpasses our understanding. God’s ways may be mysterious to us, but his ways are always right.

Your question and statement about earthly parents and children remind me what God, in love, did to solve the problems sin created: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). When sin threatened our eternities, God stepped into action, sending his one and only Son, to be our perfect Savior in life and in death. God did what no earthly parent could have done. For that, we are eternally grateful.