“Why?” is a natural question for a person to ask when tragedy strikes. How happy we are that the Bible offers clear answers to that question!

1. How did Satan introduce evil into the world?

Satan the Devil rebelled against God. Satan wanted to rule over others, so he influenced the first humans, Adam and Eve, to join him in his rebellion. Satan did this by telling Eve a lie. (Genesis 3:1-5) He made her think that Jehovah was wrongly withholding something good from her. He implied that humans would be happier if they did not obey God. Satan told the first lie by telling Eve that she would not die. Thus, the Bible calls Satan “a liar and the father of the lie.”​—John 8:44.

2. What did Adam and Eve choose to do?

Jehovah was very generous to Adam and Eve. He said they could eat from every tree in the garden of Eden except one. (Genesis 2:15-17) But they decided to eat the fruit of that tree anyway. Eve “began taking of its fruit and eating it.” Later, Adam “began eating it.” (Genesis 3:6) They both disobeyed God. Because Adam and Eve were perfect, it was natural for them to do what is right. But by willfully disobeying God, they sinned and rejected his rulership. That decision caused them great suffering.​—Genesis 3:16-19.

3. How has Adam and Eve’s decision affected us?

When Adam and Eve sinned, they became imperfect, and they thus passed on imperfection to all of their descendants. Regarding Adam, the Bible says: “Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men.”​—Romans 5:12.

We suffer for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we suffer because of bad decisions we make. Sometimes we suffer because of other people’s bad decisions. Sometimes we suffer because we are in the wrong place at the wrong time.​—Read Ecclesiastes 9:11.

 DIG DEEPER

4. The one who is responsible for our suffering

Many people believe that God controls the whole world. Is that true? Play the VIDEO.

Read James 1:13 and 1 John 5:19, and then discuss this question:

• Is God responsible for suffering and evil?

5. Consider the results of Satan’s rulership

1. Adam and Eve were perfect and lived in Paradise. But they listened to Satan and rebelled against Jehovah

2.   After the rebellion, the world became filled with sin, suffering, and death

3. Jehovah will end sin, suffering, and death. Once again, humans will be perfect and live in Paradise

6. Jehovah cares about our suffering

Is God indifferent to our suffering? Consider what King David and the apostle Peter wrote. Read Psalm 31:7 and 1 Peter 5:7, and then discuss this question:

• How does it make you feel to know that Jehovah notices and cares about our suffering?

 SUMMARY

Satan the Devil and the first two humans are mainly responsible for the evil in the world. Jehovah cares deeply about our suffering, and he will soon undo it.

Review

• What lie did Satan the Devil tell Eve?

• How has Adam and Eve’s rebellion affected all of us?

• How do we know that Jehovah cares about our suffering?