Why does God let little children and babies suffer? The person I am witnessing to keeps asking me this question. I would like to hear how you would answer this question.
Alfred
He doesn’t let them suffer. Pain and suffering of the innocents isn’t Gods will. Mankind was born under the curse, and that was of man’s own doing, not Gods. The minute we’re born, we begin to die and suffer because of mans own sin nature. Disease, Poverty, Pestilence, Greed, Envy, Strife, Murder, and any of the other things that make our life unpleasant are the product of sin. I know that it’s hard for some of us to look at the little ones and believe that there is sin about them, but they’ve inherited it from us. To understand the curse, read Genesis 3.
As I said, we’re born dying. We’re perishing because of the curse! Tell your friend that there’s a way out of that curse! Jesus Christ. He took that old sin nature of mans and placed it on his bleeding, lacerated back and took it to the cross. So now, if we believe that He did this for us and accept it, we’re free from the punishment that’s ours because of the curse. He paid the price.
Now consider this. Every time that there was a great persecution of the children, God moved! When the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt and Pharaoh heard that there would be a deliverer (Moses) he started killing the children. God moved in delivering the children of Israel and plagues came upon Egypt. Exodus 1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwifes, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 1:16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 1:17 But the midwifes feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
When the birth of Christ was foretold, Harrod proclaimed that the children were to be killed just as Pharaoh had done in Egypt, and God Moved. Matthew 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. He came forth and brought the Messiah! That same Messiah made it possible to finally be free from the total payment of the curse.
Explain to this person you’re witnessing to that the persecution and suffering of the children certainly will not last long as far as Gods time clock is concerned! God will deal with it in his way and be assured that it will be the right way. God loves us even though we’re contained in the body of sin. His judgment is the ultimate justice. I can’t see that He will allow the murdering of unborn babies, the child pornography, the child abuse, and the suffering of the innocents to last very much longer! He’s a Just and Holy God.
Children are held in high esteem by the Lord in the fact that we’re to use them as our model when coming to the Lord for salvation! If the Lord holds them in this high of esteem, we know that He’s not going to let their suffering continue! Mark 10:13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 10:16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
And also using them as an example calling someone who is one of his own a child or little one, the Lord warned what would happen to them who offended or hurt them. Luke17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Hmmm, I hope you don’t mind if I offer another perspective. I personally believe we are born with free agency. We were given this life as a test to see if we are truly worthy to be with our Father in Heaven in the next life, and as a result he allows us to make our own decisions and choices here on earth. Unfortunately some people make poor decisions, or choose evil with their free agency which can affect others, even little children. An example of this is 911. How people ask, did God allow that to happen? He didn’t allow it. Some people just made bad choices, therefore sealing their own fate in the afterlife, and taking innocent people with them who will find themselves with God again. I know it doesn’t explain things like famine and disease etc. but I believe God will answer these questions too one day, in the meantime we need to choose wisely and live the best life we can.