Biblical Answer

Understanding God's Sovereignty

When we ask why God allows evil, we must first consider His sovereignty over all creation. God is not limited by human understanding or causality. He is free to perform any action or refrain from performing one without any antecedent conditions or causal laws determining His decisions (Molina, 109). This means that God's actions, including allowing evil, are not bound by human logic or reason. We must acknowledge that we will never fully share God's wisdom (Rom. 11:33) and that there will be times when we cannot understand why God allowed something to happen.

God's Purposes and Our Limited Understanding

God's reasons for allowing evil may be seen as pointless within our limited framework, but they may be justly permitted within His wider framework. God may allow suffering to achieve His purposes, which may include our growth in purity, our dependence on Him, or our ability to empathize with others who are suffering. Our life with God may be right and our inner purity unblemished, yet occasionally our outer life may become spotted and stained. God intentionally does not protect us from every trial, but this is not because He is powerless or unable to prevent evil (Milton, Samson Agonistes 307-14).

The Ultimate Reason: God's Love

The ultimate reason for God's allowance of evil is not to justify evil, but to demonstrate His love for humanity. God's display of love on the cross, where Jesus suffered and died for our sins, is an overwhelming example of His love. This love is not limited by human understanding, but is a reflection of God's holy and perfect nature. Our inability to understand why God allows evil does not negate His sovereignty or love. Instead, it calls us to trust Him and go on obeying His will, even when we do not fully comprehend His reasons. By doing so, we can experience growth in purity, dependence on God, and empathy with others, all of which are part of God's purposes for allowing evil in our lives.