THE PROBLEM OF EVIL ---
A WAY OUT
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A Gift
There are many who feel that Jehovah is so high and dignified that it would be insulting on our part to assume that we could give him anything other than our unquestioning obedience. Scripture shows, though, that such is not necessarily the case. "Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me." (Proverbs 27: 11)
What Does That Reply Involve?
A reply? What is the question that he wishes to reply to? And how are we involved? Obviously, we can deduce from those words that he does want us to give him something. But what?
Most assume that it involves whether or not we will obey God's laws. Yet that question was answered long ago. We can't, because we are imperfect. In fact, that was the reason the old law covenant was replaced by the new; perfect obedience is impossible for us so we must rely on His undeserved kindness and love to make up for what we lack. Was that not the reason that Jesus came upon the earth, to atone for our sins because we can't?
This reply or answer must involve something else then. What?
Analysis of the Original Challenge
Well, let's go back and analyze Satan's original challenge a little more. (Genesis 3: 4, 5) First he says, "You positively will not die." That's calling Jehovah a liar (Compare Gen. 2: 17). It is also impressing upon Eve that actually, no, there is no punishment. Can you hear the implication in there: "For I will protect you"?
Then came the rest of it: "For God knows that in the very day of your eating from it your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like God, knowing good and bad." The unspoken import of those few words was phenomenal. We can break it down into three parts:
a. That Jehovah was being selfish and unloving in keeping the best parts for himself.
b. That there was a better deal that could be had.
c. That he, Satan, was going to be their advocate and make sure that they got everything they deserve.
In essence, he told them that they were being taken for suckers, but they wouldn't be if they followed him.
The Essence of the Challenge
Thus the question revolves around whom we desire to serve. Adam and Eve showed a distinct preference for Satan's leadership in this matter. Being free moral agents, they were perfectly free to make that decision. The results of that decision have been our inheritance.
Such a conclusion is strengthened by the face-off between Jehovah and Satan that is recorded for us in Job 1: 7-12. There Satan was implying that the only reason that Job served God was because his affections had been bought.
How Could Such a Challenge Be Answered?
There is a paragraph in a publication printed by Jehovah's Witnesses that is intriguing, for it touches on this subject. Let's quote it.
"Satan's false charges against God may be illustrated, to a certain extent, in a human way. Suppose a man having a large family is accused by one of his neighbors of many false things about the way he manages his household. Suppose the neighbor also says that the family members have no real love for their father but only stay with him to obtain the food and material things he gives them. How might the father of the family answer such charges? If he simply used violence against the accuser, this would not answer the charges. Instead, it might suggest that they were true. But what a fine answer it would be if he permitted his own family to be his witnesses to show that their father was indeed a just and loving family head and that they were happy to live with him because they loved him! Thus he would be completely vindicated. --- Proverbs 27: 11; Isaiah 43: 10." (The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, page 67, paragraph 7.)
This makes sense as far as it goes. But upon reflection one must realize that there had to be more to it than that. To let one's own family provide the answer would work only under the right conditions, otherwise Satan need merely claim that Jehovah had intimidated them into it. "Well, sure, they would say that. After all, if they say any different you will kick them out in the cold like you did Adam and Eve."
He could also claim that because Jehovah had poisoned our minds we are too frightened to examine the evidence impartially. Or he could say that we cling to Jehovah for the simple reason that that is all we know and that we would never stick to him if we were aware of all the wonderful things he (Satan) had for us.
The only way for such questions to be answered is for Satan himself to have access to us.
That Satan would use arguments like this is indisputable. Nearly every time the Bible records his speech some question like this is brought up. The creating of doubt and letting it just hang in the air seems to be Satan's modus operandi.
Therefore, our answer as human beings must contain two special elements. First of all, our testimony must be just that: ours, and it will need to be obvious to all that that is the case. Secondly, carefully memorized lists of "'sposed to's" and "not 'sposed to's" won't work, and neither will any careful repetition of dogma. If that were all that was needed, then Jehovah would have created us to be like glorified tape recorders, faithfully spouting only that which had been recorded.
What is important here is not that certain words are correctly said. Rather, our opinions and heart conditions are what count in answering such things.
Some Problems
In turn, this leads to some terrible problems.
How could God's family (mankind) give an answer to a question that they don't even know exists?
How could they gain knowledge of it when they are estranged from their creator by reason of their imperfection and Satan has firm control of the environment in which they live?
It is the solving of these two problems that has taken so long for the conditions here upon the earth to be cured. To hurry it without this preparation would mean that all human life would be wiped out right along with Satan and the demons.
Is There a Weakness In Satan's Plot?
It looks like it.
Satan, in the setting up of the conditions of this challenge, appears to have inadvertently put himself in a box. How? Because by the very rules of his own challenge, he has given us as human beings the ability to challenge him. Should we as individuals wish to stand up and challenge his contentions or even enter a contention of our own, to whit: that he is a damned liar; what can he do about it? Kill us? He certainly has the power. But should he give in to such an impulse, he loses his argument. Should he lose his argument, he loses the only thing that stands between himself and death as a traitor to his very creator. This puts Satan in his own trap, and we human beings control the trigger! What utterly delicious poetic justice!
Let's explain it another way. There is a law case in the heavenly courts. We are not the principals; we are only witnesses. But it is our testimony that is not only important to the case; it is the very core of the case. Even we lowly imperfect humans have laws against witness tampering!
What an exquisite light this throws on Proverbs 27: 11!
A Solution
This, our heart condition, is the very core of that heavenly court case. As such, every spirit creature in existence would have a deep and abiding interest in it. Satan and his followers for the reason that their continued existence depends upon our substantiating his allegations, and all the rest of them because they want to see Jehovah cleared, the hullabaloo over and for Satan, et al., to get their just desserts.
Only we can answer this question that is before the house concerning whom we wish to serve. Even then, we can only answer it under the circumstances mentioned above. This explains why Satan was allowed to test Jesus while he was alone in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:1-11) It also explains why we are all to be tested individually during the judgement day. Those answers must be ours, uninfluenced by anyone else.
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And now I'd like to pose a question.
Could it be that those of us who, even though we think we have lost faith in a loving God, yet by still clinging to the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount are actually giving a better answer now than we ever could in the Organization? What excuse can Satan give in this circumstance?
Think about it.
LoneWolf