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NASB | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. [Heb 11:3] |
Bible Question: Something I've been thinking about for a while. God is all knowing, and a loving, merciful God. So He knew all the suffering, pain, and evil that would happen in the world. Why then did He create it in the first place and put mankind on it. Why not just not create it, if He had not created it, we would have never none it, and look at all the suffering and evil that would have been avoided. Anyone have any thoughts? wdc |
Bible Answer: Xapis has a great response, but I'd like to add one more observation in reply. Your comment, "...look at all the suffering and evil that would have been avoided" had He not created the world only scratches the surface. What I mean is "look at all the LOVE that would NOT have been demonstrated" had He not created the world. You see, I can appreciate your question of "why" after you point out that the omnipotent God "knew all the suffering, pain, and evil that would happen in the world." While at first, that may appear to contradict God's other characteristics of "loving and merciful," it really doesn't because it's only part of the picture. I agree He "knew" of the suffering, pain, and evil WE'd have to endure and that WE even cause (after all, we all have sinned in one way or another during our lives) but what amazes me all the more is that He also "knew" the suffering, pain, and evil HE'd have to endure at the hands of His own creation. Jesus willingly submitted to the cross, the nails were driven in, and the death caused by mankind--His creation--because of His love for His creation. Your observation is revealed and answered in the simple quote: 1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us. (See also 1 John 4:10) That's why I love Him all the more! |