Family,

I am posting this both under "Biblical Questions" and "Prayer Requests" because both prayer and insight will help.

This question/need was sent via E-mail by a sister in Christ. It is obviously a very sensitive and tough question for many believers and unbelievers to ponder. This family needs prayer and could use some insight or encouragement on this question if anyone feels lead. -ST


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I need your help in explaining to my kids how and why God would allow his beloved kids to be beheaded by terrorists. I don't know how to explain it, because I don't understand it myself. The "doesn't interfere with free will" explanation is not computing to them.

One of my 14 year olds said it sounds more like a hidden message of "I don't care enough about you to bother." And that "there's no way He can love us and let us be hurt like that."

My nine year old raised the question "How can He say He loves us so much, and then let us be killed in such an evil way?" And "why are the good guys being killed and the bad guys are winning?"

Please help me answer these...as I don't really know...but I understand why they would ask, and be confused.

Thanks so much for your help.

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Lord we lift this mother and family up to You. God we ask that You give them the peace and understanding that You are everything You say You are in the Bible. That you are sovereign, holy, just, and merciful. We may not understand how you can be all these things, but we believe in faith that You are. Amen

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For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath. (Deuteronomy 4:31)
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(Romans 9:13-15)
13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." 14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
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O Sovereign LORD , you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. (2 Samuel 7:28)

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But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness., (Isaiah 5:16)

I think we have several issues involved here.

First, it is important to understand that only those who have accepted Christ are the children of God. This is an important distinction; because while God does rain on the just and the unjust alike, the ungodly do not share in the covenant nor the promises of God. Not everyone who is hurt has fallen under the protective covering promised to believers. We do not know the spiritual condition of those who have died. But, we know that God is merciful and if in His wisdom, He chose to allow their death, it was because it will work together with all things for good even though we cannot understand or comprehend how that is so.

Secondly, we might want to look at the flight on 9-11 that landed in the PA field. The Christian men on that flight chose to give their lives for the higher good. We do not know what these dear men who faced these recent brutal terrorist assults decided or chose. We do not know what they were or were not offered in exchange for their lives. It may be that they chose to keep their faith and therefore go to be with God. Paul said he was struggling with that very choice, and that as a result of his suffering many had become believers:

Phil. 1:12,
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
19Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body...27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

I think it's also important to remind the children and ourselves that this earth is only a bus terminal. It's not our destination. We are here for a short visit and we must be ready to move on at any moment by whatever means God chooses. The wicked are not promised the wonderful life with Jesus that is promised to the righteous. Their destination is destruction.

Psalm 5:4
You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell. Misery awaits the wicked often in their lifetime and certainly at the end of their days.

Psalm 34:16
the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

Psalm 34:21
Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

Psalm 36:12
See how the evildoers lie fallen- thrown down, not able to rise!

Psalm 37 talks about how David wondered at the seeming good that surrounded the wicked; and, he pondered their lives and their fate. His final conclusion is that their end is not secure. Their fate is to be separated forever from the love of God.

Psalm 37 Of David

1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD ;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret-it leads only to evil.
9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD , and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:
The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish-vanish like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.
23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.
27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;
29 the righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.
32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
seeking their very lives;
33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34 Wait for the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD ; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Finally, and I know this is long, the children may be afraid that their God cannot or will not protect them. This account of Jesus and the children may reassure them of the heart of God toward them:

Matthew 18
The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown in the depths of the sea.
7"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! ...
10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

My prayer for you is this: Father, bless this sweet mother with love and wisdom and insight so that she may comfort and guide her children to You in the face of the evil in this world. Lord, You alone know the full impact of these events on the children. Please minister healing to their hearts and minds. Soothe their troubled souls and grant them peace. May they rest in the knowledge that You are in control even when it doesn't appear that way: that You are working and acting in our behalf and that You will abide by Your promises if we stand upon them. Grant that they may begin to search Your word for strength and guidance until they feel certain that You do not desire evil; nor do You promote it; and, that someday we will understand it all when we see You face to face. We love You Lord and we entrust this family and ourselves to Your gentle care. In Jesus Precious Name we pray. Trustworthy is our God!