Pastor Josh explores Genesis 3 to help answer the difficult question of why evil and suffering exist in a world created by a good God. He explains that the fall of humanity begins with deception, as the devil questions both God’s commands and His care. Although Eve initially resists, both she and Adam eventually disobey God, and sin enters the world. With sin comes shame, fear, and separation from God, as well as humanity’s instinct to try to fix things through their own efforts, something Pastor Josh makes clear can never truly deal with sin.
He begins addressing the “problem of evil” by highlighting the first key truth: evil was not part of God’s original design. God created a world that was beautiful, intentional, and entirely good, without pain, suffering, sickness, or death. The fact that evil troubles us so deeply, points to a shared inner knowledge that the world is not as it was meant to be.
Pastor Josh emphasises that the fall was not a one-time mistake but a repeating pattern throughout human history. Using examples from Genesis and elsewhere in Scripture, he highlights the recurring cycle of seeing, desiring, and taking. This pattern, he explains, is repeated every time people choose to trust their own way over God’s. As a result, evil exists not because of God, but because of ongoing human rebellion, a truth that challenges us when we question why God allows evil while forgetting our own complicity in it.
Pastor Josh reminds us that evil is not the end of the story. Even in Genesis 3, hope and grace are woven throughout the narrative. God’s first response to human failure is not anger but a question: “Where are you?”, revealing His desire to restore relationship. He points to God’s promise that a descendant of Eve would ultimately defeat the devil, describing this as the first glimpse of the gospel. He also explains how God clothing Adam and Eve foreshadows the sacrificial work of Jesus.
Finally, he looks ahead to Revelation, reminding us that evil and suffering are temporary. A day is coming when God will make all things new, wipe away every tear, and restore creation fully. This future hope is what sustains us through life’s darkest moments.