1. The Problem
The problem of evil and suffering presents itself at 2 levels - at the philosophical level and at the personal level.
a. Philosophical
We see evil and suffering around us all the time. There is evil and suffering because of men, e.g. wars and murders. There is also evil and suffering that is not because of men, e.g. natural disasters.
This creates the philosophical problem of evil and suffering.
1. Since God is all powerful,
2. and God is good
3. yet evil and suffering exists
Putting the 3 statements together, it must therefore mean God doesn't exist, does He? Why does evil and suffering exist if God exists?
b. Up close & personal
But the evil and suffering doesn't just present at the philosophical level. It also presents at the personal level.
Some of us may have had a loved one raped or murdered, and some of us ourselves may even have personally suffered assault or loss.
Too often has one cried out, 'Why God? Why me?'
2. Evil & Suffering
a. Good God
In the first 2 chapters, we have seen how God is good.
b. Serpent
In verse 1 of chapter 3, we are introduced to the serpent. We are told he is a created creature of God. Therefore Christianity is not dualism, where God and the devil are equal and opposing forces of light versus darkness. The serpent was a good creature, for in chapter 1 and 2 we saw that God declared all things He created good. Somewhere between chapter 2 and 3, or even in chapter 3 itself, He turns against God. In Revelation 12:9, the serpent is called 'the great dragon', 'the devil and Satan', the deceiver of the whole world. He is thrown down to the earth from heaven with his angels. 2 Peter 2:4 also seems to be referring to the same thing, that these angels sinned and were cast into hell. It is likely that Satan used to be an angelic creature who rebelled against God. The serpent is the deceiver of the whole world - he opposes mankind with his lies.
c. Temptation & sin
There are 5 key points to note about the account that is recorded in chapter 3.
i. doubt
The serpent casts doubt on God's goodness. He makes God seem as if he's trying to keep something good from Adam and Eve.
He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Gen 3:1-5)
ii. true lies
It is a half truth. They didn't die immediately and it was true that their eyes were opened - however, there is much shame in their relationship, and they are later cursed to die.
iii. sexy apple?
v6 - There is no mention of what fruit it is that they ate. The fruit is not sex - sex was part of God's good creation (Gen 2:25). The type of fruit doesn't matter. What matters is that the fruit is from the knowledge of good and evil.
What is it?
Is it about awareness of good and evil?
No. In chapter 2, Adam and Eve already know what is good and evil. For example, they know that eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is wrong.
Is it about experiencing good and evil?
No. For that would imply God gets into hanky-panky Himself -- that He has tasted evil and thus knows that it is bad.
Rather, the fruit is about being like God (3:5). God decides what is good and evil. He doesn't need to Google or taste what is good and evil to know what is good or evil. The fruit symbolises wanting to be like God, the arbiter of rules, the law-maker, the one who decides what is good or evil.
iv. reversal
There is a complete reversal of the order God intended.
God
Man - Woman
Animals
becomes
Animal
Woman - Man
God
The serpent deceives Eve, who leads her husband into temptation. The husband abdicates his leadership and listens to his wife (he was standing next to her while the conversation between Eve and the serpent was going on - 3:6). And both of them together try to overthrow God
v. naked fear
Upon eating the fruit, Adam and Eve recognise they are naked and try to hide from God. There is much guilt and shame for what they have done.
d. Confrontation
But God confronts them. Could they really have hidden from an all-knowing God? (3:9)
Adam has to take responsibility - God calls out to him instead of to Eve. Adam is in charge. He has to bear responsibility, even though Eve was first deceived.
He has been found out (3:11). Yet, the first thing he does is to blame someone else. Shockingly, Adam not only blames the woman, but also has the audacity to blame God for giving him the woman (3:12). Eve shifts the blame as well - she blames the serpent (3:13). This is classic sinful human nature at play.
e. Curse of God
So begins 3:14 to the end of the chapter, which are possibly the saddest verses in the entire Bible.
i. serpent
ii. woman
God punishes the woman in her sphere of life (3:16). There is much pain in child-bearing, not just in bringing forth children, but also in bringing up children. In addition, her 'desire would be for her husband' -- this phrase repeats itself only in one other place in the whole Bible -- in Genesis 4:7, where sin's 'desire is for you'. Part of God's curse is for the woman to want to rule over the man, the the man will win out in the end. In other words, there will be much conflict at home.
iii. man
God also punishes the man in his sphere of life. The earth is now cursed as well. Work is now frustrating (3:18-19).
In addition, both the man and woman are cursed to die (3:19)
iv. banished
Death is not natural. We were not meant to die (Gen 2).
Adam's sin is not just a historical event. It is what all of us do. But worse than death is being driven our of God's presence (3:22-24) - a way of saying eternal death.
3. How did I get here?
a. ambiguous mess
Genesis tells us there is evil and suffering, because we turn against God. It is written in symbolic language. Genesis does not answer questions such as 'did snakes have legs previously?' 'did snakes talk?', or 'where is the Garden of Eden?'
Genesis speaks the truth of history. It tells us the beginning of good and bad in our world.
b. Who's to blame?
Adam? But Adam represents all of humanity. We are in Adam, in humanity.
Serpent? Eve tried to blame the serpent as well. Yes, there is an external force. But in the end, we are responsible.
God? Adam did that too. No, we are to blame. That's why we live in a world that is fallen and cursed - fit for sinners like us.
4. The Solution
a. Problem with "the problem"
Going back to the philosophical 'problem':
1. Since God is all powerful,
2. and God is good
3. yet evil and suffering exists
There are a few problems with this philosophical problem.
1. God is summarised in 2 quick sentences. Can he be summarised in 2 quick sentences?
2. The argument assumes we have a static view of God. But he has not finished with this world yet. We should not be judging God on just what we see now.
3. If there is no God, there is no evil. Everything that seems 'wrong' e.g. natural disasters, would not be 'wrong'. For there to be meaning and purpose, God must be there.
b. Serpent Crusher
There will come a time with the offspring of the woman will crush the serpent. It was fulfilled when Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross (Rev 12:9-11). Jesus is the solution - God has already done something about the evil and suffering in the world!
But God hasn't done a final clean up yet. He is giving us time to turn back to him by believing in Jesus, before He does the final clean up of evil and suffering!
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