Peace to you!
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Replying to post 1 by FarWanderer]
Why does God allow suffering?
Because we can (and do) learn from suffering. Some may be made perfect
through suffering.
(even though mankind's own choices are most often (if not always) the cause of our own or others' suffering)
So suffering serves a purpose.
Why did God, omnipotent, rest on the 7th day?
Christ said that His Father was still working.
"My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working." John 5:17
So
perhaps it means only that His creation work was complete. I see no reason to think it means that God rested because He was
tired.
Why does God create souls that he knows are bound for Hell?
He does not.
For one, hell (as a place of eternal torment) does not exist. It is a doctrine of men. The world of the dead (hades/sheol - which words are translated as 'hell') is a resting/holding place of the dead, those who await the resurrection of the dead (some to life, some to judgment and the lake of fire - which lake of fire means the second death aka annihilation).
Why was Jesus's sacrifice necessary for an omnipotent God?
All powerful does not mean that God will do wrong or break His word. God gave the world to
Adam to govern; Adam subjected this world and the life in this world (including his own offspring) to Death. God purchased us back from Death with His own Son. Christ was a ransom sacrifice; His life for ours.
(His sacrifice accomplishes other things as well).
Why did God let things get so bad that he had to flood the whole world? Why didn't he intervene earlier?
Earlier or later might not have taken care of the problem. Too soon or too late, and He might have harmed those He meant to protect. God acted according to the wisdom and timing HE knew would accomplish His ends.
Why did God allow Satan into the Garden of Eden?
The Garden of Eden represents the spiritual realm. "Satan" is an angel/a spirit being. He was already in the spiritual realm. He was also supposed to be a guardian in the garden, which makes what he did so reprehensible.
Why does God only reveal himself to very select people in very select times?
Perhaps because only very select people in very select times are willing to hear Him, to know Him, to do what He has said they must do if they wish to know Him?
For example, God was going to reveal Himself (in person) to Israel, but they were too afraid. They were too afraid to see or to hear Him. They wanted a mediator instead and sent Moses to God, and said that they would listen to Moses instead.
"This is according to all that you asked of [the LORD] your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of [the LORD] my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.' (Deuteronomy 18:16)
Today we have Christ instead of Moses, and Christ has said,
"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
Why did Jesus's Resurrection have to happen 3 days after his death?
Because that is the sign of Jonah, and also because Christ had gone to Sheol and preached there as well.
Why wait for it to happen behind closed doors?
I have received from the spirit that this would protect people from the dynamic power/energy that would be present at His raising. Unlike Lazarus and others, Christ was not just raised back to his previous flesh and blood body, but was instead raised with the new body (the white robe).
Why is the talent distribution among humans so seemingly arbitrary?
What 'talent' are you referring to?
If you are referring to the parable of the talents (beginning at Matthew 5:14), people were given according to God's wisdom (as to what they had shown they could handle), and then given even more if they 'spent' (put to good work) what they had been given.
Why did God test Job? Why would he make a bet with Satan?
God did not make a bet with Satan. Satan made an accusation of Job - that Job would 'curse God and die' (deny God, turn his back on God, renounce God) if God stopped protecting and providing so much to Job.
God drew back His hedge of protection and allowed Job to be tested (by Satan; God knew His servant Job already), so that Job could answer that accusation for himself and prove both the accusation and the Adversary (the one called Satan) wrong.
Satan also makes this same accusation of us. Just as he made it of Christ; hence the temptation and testing of Christ in the desert.
Why does God use Scripture to spread his word, instead of speaking to us directly?
He does not use scripture to spread His word. He used prophets at one time (who wrote the scripture, but who spoke what was given them to speak). Today, God speaks to us by His Son.
However, many people walk by sight, and not by faith (or perhaps they walk by sight until they learn to walk by faith). So scripture may be an allowance made to help with that.
Why did God permit slavery?
Perhaps because it saved lives (at one point) rather than destroyed lives. If a person was poor (as in destitute, no money, no food, no home, nothing) they could sell themselves to a master for a period of time (or even a lifetime if they loved their master and did not want to be set free), to have a home and food and perhaps even a family. Or to pay off a debt that they owe. Or to keep from being killed outright in battle.
Are there better ways to handle poverty and debt? Perhaps. (but there are plenty of people out there today, who are holding up signs that say they are willing to work for food. They might 'sign on' for just a day, but if possible, some might 'sign on' for much longer, just for food, and what if they were also offered a place to live? Some of them might have willingly become a bond-servant if it meant food and shelter, perhaps even love and companionship.)
Peace again to you, and to your household,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy
