Expert: Scott Talbot - 6/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: Ref. Matthew 2:16
Why did God allow the birth of Jesus Christ to cause the death of so many children?  How is it explained alongwith the good news of our Saviour's birth?

Lenin

ANSWER: Hi Lenin,

It's nice to hear from you.

Why did God allow the birth of Jesus Christ to cause the death of so many children?

God didn't kill these children. Herod did.

But why did God allow this to take place? He allowed it for the same reason He allowed the Holocaust to take place; for the same reason He allows serial killer to go on killing sprees; for the same reason He allows you and me to do bad things--FREE WILL.

God gave man free will. He gave us the freedom to choose Him. But He also gave us the freedom to reject Him, to reject God's ways, and to do terrible things.

Why did God give us free will? He gave us free will because, without it, there is no such thing as genuine, sincere love. Without it, we're robots.

Think about it. God was willing to pay a HUGE price--to allow His creatures to sin against Him and spit in His face; to allow such turmoil in this world (for the present time)--all for one reason. He loves YOU so much, that He wants to have a close, personal, intimate relationship with you, one characterized by genuine and sincere love rather than by control and manipulation.

Is it hard to understand? Sure, a little. But remember ... underneath all the evil that exists on this earth, there's a God who loves you, and who has a plan for you and for mankind. He definitely knows what He is doing.

Scott

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much.  It is definitely an answer for me.  However, this was a question from my wife to whom it won't make much sense.  She would rather need an answer that will show her some purpose behind God allowing this to happen.  Thank you again.

Sincerely,
Lenin

Answer
Hello Lenin,

I understand your wife's desire to learn God's purpose behind certain things that are difficult to explain and accept.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says "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."

Sometimes we may not fully understand what God's purpose is, or what He hopes to accomplish. It can be difficult to explain, leaving us with little more than speculation.

I suppose that's part of what makes God, God--His complexity and infinite wisdom that far surpasses our understanding.

Still, we can speculate. When I see some of the terrible things that happen in this world, I try to think why God would allow it. Romans 8:28 tells us that "all things work together for good to those who love God ...."

So here is some of the good that might arise from such tragedies:

1. Tragedy and disaster generally turn people's attention to God and force them to look to Him as the only genuine source of joy, happiness, fulfillment, and purpose.
2. The darker the evil, the brighter the light of purity and goodness is that we find in God.
3. Struggling with the evils of this world will make it so much more rewarding when Jesus returns and rescues this planet from sin and its curse.
4. The sins of mankind reveal the true value and extent of God's mercy, grace, and love as demonstrated by Jesus' death on the cross for us.

Perhaps you can think of some others.

I hope this helps. Feel free to write back.

Scott