Why Was Satan Allowed In The Garden of Eden?

Why Was Satan Allowed In The Garden of Eden?

This week’s question for the Straight Truth Podcast deals with why God would allow Satan to enter the Garden of Eden. Dr. Josh Philpot reminds Dr. Caldwell and listeners that we have previously dealt with the question of why God created the Devil. Because numerous Scriptures tell us that God created everything that exists, all that is and ever will be, we know God created Satan. And because God is omniscient, all-knowing, He knew that this spiritual being would rebel. Sometime after this, we also know that God created Adam and Eve in His image and gave them a beautiful home in Eden. God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. But then, somehow, Satan gains access to Adam and Eve. Why would God allow the Devil to enter this paradise garden after he rebelled? Why would He do this, knowing Satan would tempt Adam and Eve by using a crafty, shrewd creature, which God had also created? Why would God do that?

Dr. Caldwell reminds us that there are things that God has revealed, and there are things that He has not. There are things that He has told us that He wants us to know, and there are things that we will never know. One of the greatest disciplines we will learn as Christians is to be content with what God has revealed. Taking the testimony of the Scriptures, we can say that God does everything for His glory – for His name’s sake. That is the answer that is revealed to us from Genesis to Revelation. When we say for His glory, we are speaking about God making something known about Himself that wouldn’t be possible apart from the creation, a fall, and redemption. As Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us, the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever. There are a myriad of things that God is doing and a myriad of decisions wrapped up in all He does. We are creatures created by God for His glory. We are finite and not meant to get our minds around everything He has done or does. Therefore, we ultimately need to be willing and content to leave these things that He has not given us an answer to with God. However, we can say that it’s for God’s glory that the glory of God is put on display through all the events that take place according to His plans and purposes.

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Dr. Caldwell says it is by faith that we need to embrace these things. He shares that the WSC tells us that the chief end of man is to glorify God. It also answers, with – and to enjoy Him forever (see Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 1). Dr. Caldwell points out the importance of why these two things are tied together. Man’s true joy in his existence is found when God’s glory is given the import of preeminence. When the glory of God is that which matters most to us, we will find the greatest joy in our life. When that is the aim and delight of our hearts, we can know true joy in our souls. This comes into play in all sorts of issues in life. Dr. Caldwell says it is the one with a childlike simplicity that says, I’ll be content with what you tell me about these things. These deep and mysterious questions we have to which God does not give us clear nor direct answers are for God’s glory, and that’s enough.

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Dr. Philpot shares that this reminds him about Job and all that Job goes through. God permits things to come about in Job’s life that Job has no answers for. The book of Job has almost 42 chapters of endless speculations going on. But finally, when God speaks to Job, Job basically says, I shut my mouth. For; Job says, “I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful to me.” Dr. Philpot says this may be instructive for us. It seems as though these endless speculations over these sorts of questions do not lead us to the lasting joy that we ultimately seek.

Dr. Caldwell says that this is so wise. While God allowed these things to take place in Job’s life, it isn’t that God delighted in what He allowed, in and of itself. God does not delight in evil, but He has a reason to decree the things He has decreed. There is a greater end beyond the thing itself, and it is that in which God does delight. And through that process, God’s glory will be put on display. In that, we too can delight, even in the difficulties we face.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
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