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Previous
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Next
Is This What God Purposed?
CHAPTER 1
What Is the Truth About God?
CHAPTER 2
The Bible—A Book From God
CHAPTER 3
What Is God’s Purpose for the Earth?
CHAPTER 4
Who Is Jesus Christ?
CHAPTER 5
The Ransom—God’s Greatest Gift
CHAPTER 6
Where Are the Dead?
CHAPTER 7
Real Hope for Your Loved Ones Who Have Died
CHAPTER 8
What Is God’s Kingdom?
CHAPTER 9
Are We Living in “the Last Days”?
CHAPTER 10
Spirit Creatures—How They Affect Us
CHAPTER 11
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
CHAPTER 12
Living in a Way That Pleases God
CHAPTER 13
A Godly View of Life
CHAPTER 14
How to Make Your Family Life Happy
CHAPTER 15
Worship That God Approves
CHAPTER 16
Take Your Stand for True Worship
CHAPTER 17
Draw Close to God in Prayer
CHAPTER 18
Baptism and Your Relationship With God
CHAPTER 19
Remain in God’s Love
APPENDIX
The Divine Name—Its Use and Its Meaning
APPENDIX
How Daniel’s Prophecy Foretells the Messiah’s Arrival
APPENDIX
Jesus Christ—The Promised Messiah
APPENDIX
The Truth About the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
APPENDIX
Why True Christians Do Not Use the Cross in Worship
APPENDIX
The Lord’s Evening Meal—An Observance That Honors God
APPENDIX
“Soul” and “Spirit”—What Do These Terms Really Mean?
APPENDIX
What Are Sheol and Hades?
APPENDIX
Judgment Day—What Is It?
APPENDIX
1914—A Significant Year in Bible Prophecy
APPENDIX
Who Is Michael the Archangel?
APPENDIX
Identifying “Babylon the Great”
APPENDIX
Was Jesus Born in December?
APPENDIX
Should We Celebrate Holidays?
READ IN

English
What Does the Bible Really Teach?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Why Does God Allow Suffering?

00:0019:30
Has God caused the suffering in the world?
What issue was raised in the garden of Eden?
How will God undo the effects of human suffering?
1, 2. What kind of suffering do people face today, leading many to ask what questions?

AFTER a terrible battle in one war-torn land, the thousands of civilian women and children who had been killed were buried in a mass grave surrounded by markers. Each marker bore this inscription: “Why?” Sometimes that is the most painful question of all. People ask it sadly when war, disaster, disease, or crime takes their innocent loved ones, destroys their home, or brings them untold suffering in other ways. They want to know why such tragedies befall them.

2 Why does God allow suffering? If Jehovah God is all-powerful, loving, wise, and just, why is the world so full of hatred and injustice? Have you ever wondered about these things yourself?

3, 4. (a) What shows that it is not wrong to ask why God allows suffering? (b) How does Jehovah feel about wickedness and suffering?

3 Is it wrong to ask why God allows suffering? Some worry that asking such a question means that they do not have enough faith or that they are showing disrespect for God. When reading the Bible, however, you will find that faithful, God-fearing people had similar questions. For example, the prophet Habakkuk asked Jehovah: “Why do you make me witness wrongdoing? And why do you tolerate oppression? Why are destruction and violence before me? And why do quarreling and conflict abound?”—Habakkuk 1:3.

Grieving people around a small casket in a graveyard
Jehovah will end all suffering
4 Did Jehovah scold the faithful prophet Habakkuk for asking such questions? No. Instead, God included Habakkuk’s sincere words in the inspired Bible record. God also helped him to get a clearer understanding of matters and to gain greater faith. Jehovah wants to do the same for you. Remember, the Bible teaches that “he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) God hates wickedness and the suffering it causes far more than any human does. (Isaiah 55:8, 9) Why, then, is there so much suffering in the world?

WHY SO MUCH SUFFERING?
5. What reasons are sometimes offered to explain human suffering, but what does the Bible teach?

5 People of various religions have gone to their religious leaders and teachers to ask why there is so much suffering. Often, the response is that suffering is God’s will and that he long ago determined everything that would ever happen, including tragic events. Many are told that God’s ways are mysterious or that he brings death upon people—even children—so that he can have them in heaven with him. As you have learned, though, Jehovah God never causes what is bad. The Bible says: “It is unthinkable for the true God to act wickedly, for the Almighty to do wrong!”—Job 34:10.

6. Why do many people make the mistake of blaming God for the suffering in the world?

6 Do you know why people make the mistake of blaming God for all the suffering in the world? In many cases, they blame Almighty God because they think that he is the real ruler of this world. They do not know a simple but important truth that the Bible teaches. You learned that truth in Chapter 3 of this book. The real ruler of this world is Satan the Devil.

7, 8. (a) How does the world reflect the personality of its ruler? (b) How have human imperfection and “time and unexpected events” contributed to suffering?

7 The Bible clearly states: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) When you think about it, does that not make sense? This world reflects the personality of the invisible spirit creature who is “misleading the entire inhabited earth.” (Revelation 12:9) Satan is hateful, deceptive, and cruel. So the world, under his influence, is full of hatred, deceit, and cruelty. That is one reason why there is so much suffering.

8 A second reason why there is so much suffering is that, as discussed in Chapter 3, mankind has been imperfect and sinful ever since the rebellion in the garden of Eden. Sinful humans tend to struggle for dominance, and this results in wars, oppression, and suffering. (Ecclesiastes 4:1; 8:9) A third reason for suffering is “time and unexpected events.” (Read Ecclesiastes 9:11.) In a world without Jehovah as a protective Ruler, people may suffer because they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

9. Why can we be sure that Jehovah has a good reason for allowing suffering to continue?

9 It is comforting for us to know that God does not cause suffering. He is not responsible for the wars, the crimes, the oppression, or even the natural disasters that cause people to suffer. Still, we need to know, Why does Jehovah allow all this suffering? If he is the Almighty, he has the power to stop it. Why, then, does he hold back? The loving God that we have come to know must have a good reason.—1 John 4:8.

A VITAL ISSUE IS RAISED
10. What did Satan call into question, and how?

10 To find out why God allows suffering, we need to think back to the time when suffering began. When Satan led Adam and Eve into disobeying Jehovah, an important question was raised. Satan did not call into question Jehovah’s power. Even Satan knows that there is no limit to Jehovah’s power. Rather, Satan questioned Jehovah’s right to rule. By calling God a liar who withholds good from his subjects, Satan charged that Jehovah is a bad ruler. (Read Genesis 3:2-5.) Satan implied that mankind would be better off without God’s rulership. This was an attack on Jehovah’s sovereignty, his right to rule.

11. Why did Jehovah not just destroy the rebels in Eden?

11 Adam and Eve rebelled against Jehovah. In effect, they said: ‘We do not need Jehovah as our Ruler. We can decide for ourselves what is right and what is wrong.’ How could Jehovah settle that issue? How could he teach all intelligent creatures that the rebels were wrong and that his way truly is best? Someone might say that God should simply have destroyed the rebels and made a fresh start. But Jehovah had stated his purpose to fill the earth with the offspring of Adam and Eve, and he wanted them to live in an earthly paradise. (Genesis 1:28) Jehovah always fulfills his purposes. (Isaiah 55:10, 11) Besides that, getting rid of the rebels in Eden would not have answered the question that had been raised regarding Jehovah’s right to rule.

12, 13. Illustrate why Jehovah has allowed Satan to become the ruler of this world and why God has permitted humans to govern themselves.

12 Let us consider an illustration. Imagine that a teacher is telling his students how to solve a difficult problem. A clever but rebellious student claims that the teacher’s way of solving the problem is wrong. Implying that the teacher is not capable, this rebel insists that he knows a much better way to solve the problem. Some students think that he is right, and they also become rebellious. What should the teacher do? If he throws the rebels out of the class, what will be the effect on the other students? Will they not believe that their fellow student and those who joined him are right? All the other students in the class might lose respect for the teacher, thinking that he is afraid of being proved wrong. But suppose that the teacher allows the rebel to show the class how he would solve the problem.

A teacher allowing a rebel student to show the class a supposed solution to a difficult problem
Is the student more qualified than the teacher?
13 Jehovah has done something similar to what the teacher does. Remember that the rebels in Eden were not the only ones involved. Millions of angels were watching. (Job 38:7; Daniel 7:10) How Jehovah handled the rebellion would greatly affect all those angels and eventually all intelligent creation. So, what has Jehovah done? He has allowed Satan to show how he would rule mankind. God has also allowed humans to govern themselves under Satan’s guidance.

14. What benefit will come from Jehovah’s decision to allow humans to govern themselves?

14 The teacher in our illustration knows that the rebel and the students on his side are wrong. But he also knows that allowing them the opportunity to try to prove their point will benefit the whole class. When the rebels fail, all honest students will see that the teacher is the only one qualified to lead the class. They will understand why the teacher thereafter removes any rebels from the class. Similarly, Jehovah knows that all honesthearted humans and angels will benefit from seeing that Satan and his fellow rebels have failed and that humans cannot govern themselves. Like Jeremiah of old, they will learn this vital truth: “I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”—Jeremiah 10:23.

WHY SO LONG?
15, 16. (a) Why has Jehovah allowed suffering to continue for so long? (b) Why has Jehovah not prevented such things as horrible crimes?

15 Why, though, has Jehovah allowed suffering to go on for so long? And why does he not prevent bad things from happening? Well, consider two things that the teacher in our illustration would not do. First, he would not stop the rebel student from presenting his case. Second, the teacher would not help the rebel to make his case. Similarly, consider two things that Jehovah has determined not to do. First, he has not stopped Satan and those who side with him from trying to prove that they are right. Allowing time to pass has thus been necessary. In the thousands of years of human history, mankind has been able to try every form of self-rule, or human government. Mankind has made some advances in science and other fields, but injustice, poverty, crime, and war have grown ever worse. Human rule has now been shown to be a failure.

16 Second, Jehovah has not helped Satan to rule this world. If God were to prevent horrible crimes, for instance, would he not, in effect, be supporting the case of the rebels? Would God not be making people think that perhaps humans can govern themselves without disastrous results? If Jehovah were to act in that way, he would become party to a lie. However, “it is impossible for God to lie.”—Hebrews 6:18.

17, 18. What will Jehovah do about all the harm that has resulted from the rule of humans and the influence of Satan?

17 What, though, about all the harm that has been done during the long rebellion against God? We do well to remember that Jehovah is almighty. Therefore, he can and will undo the effects of mankind’s suffering. As we have already learned, the ruining of our planet will be undone by the turning of the earth into Paradise. The effects of sin will be removed through faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, and the effects of death will be reversed by means of the resurrection. God will thus use Jesus “to break up the works of the Devil.” (1 John 3: Jehovah will bring all of this about at just the right time. We can be glad that he has not acted sooner, for his patience has given us the opportunity to learn the truth and to serve him. (Read 2 Peter 3:9, 10.) Meanwhile, God has been actively seeking sincere worshippers and helping them to endure any suffering that may come upon them in this troubled world.—John 4:23; 1 Corinthians 10:13.

18 Some might wonder, ‘Could all this suffering have been prevented if God had created Adam and Eve in such a way that they could not rebel?’ To answer that question, you need to remember a precious gift that Jehovah has given you.

vicchi12:


The answer is sooo simple! Can't believe no one's been able to tell you a straight answer. Well, it's because God can not and doesn't destroy his creations. Just like he gives you and me free will, he does same with Satan. It's Satan that doesn't give a damm and wants to destroy right away. Satan presents you with no choice

he doesnt destroy his creature but he will destroy u and i because we didnt do his will

AlanSugar:


Is he now Satan, else why are you equating him with satan? The question borders on Satan and why God didn't neutralise him for the sake of peaceful coexistence between you, me and the op? Pls pay attention to details.

Same question goes back to uuuu! pls pay attention to my details before quoting someone else's to be satan. If my answer pain u plsss waka pas for Christ sake.

AlanSugar:


Is he now Satan, else why are you equating him with satan? The question borders on Satan and why God didn't neutralise him for the sake of peaceful coexistence between you, me and the op? Pls pay attention to details.

Same question goes back to uuuu! pls pay attention to my details before quoting someone else's to be satan. If my answer pain u plsss waka pas for Christ sake. them no dey carry 1st position for comments.

gabazin080:
though am a christian because i was born into a christian home. but some of this things now makes me start doubting God.
¤ Why didnt God kill satan from the beginning since he can see the future and knows satan is only going to bring trouble into the world and steal God'S people

¤ why did he put the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden when he knows its not good.

¤ why would an all loving God create hell when he asked us to forgive our offenders

How can a being that is immortal like God be killed?

muyoge:
The Bible says God has made all things for Himself even the wicked for the day of evil.(Prov 16:4

A lot of us would never appreciate God if there were no devil.

If there were no diseases,how would we know God can heal? If there were no death,how would we know God can raise the dead?


The existence of satan makes us appreciate God more because He is ever there to save us from the devil and when we are saved, a stronger love and bond is built between God and us.


Whether the devil exists or not,that doesn't matter anymore since there is that great love and bond between God and us.

Correct

AlanSugar:


Is he now Satan, else why are you equating him with satan? The question borders on Satan and why God didn't neutralise him for the sake of peaceful coexistence between you, me and the op? Pls pay attention to details.

Same question goes back to uuu! Pls pay attention to my details before quoting someone else's to be satan. Well u just called him one sha and not me! If my answer pay u plsss waka pas for Christ sake. Dem no dey carry 1st position for comment...

simply because you were not meant to live in peace.

LifestyleTonite:
The purpose of banishing him to earth is for him to rule it so that the entire universe can see how much of an awful ruler he would have been if he were to rule heaven.

the universe, I hope you know the earth is nothing compared to the universe. For me, I don't think ur explanation actually explains the question. There is more to what happened that's not recorded in the Bible to give us humans a clear picture why D earth is the destination for the devil to be thrown to. What's so special about the earth? It's it because of humans, could it be there is no other life form on this vast universe except us?

hungryboy:
Oga why actor go kill badman before film end nah?,
Nobody go dey pay to watch him movies again nah
Badman must dey alive, without that,
There will be no need for actor nah

excellent explanation

kodded:
why did He allowed His Son to die on the cross ?
you ask stupid question

Religious ignoramus. People like you are gullible. I see say your question make plenty sense...Anamu like you..

If you need to comment pls apply wisdom...I found your story quite interesting until I got to a point where u mentioned muslim's propaganda of having claimed that mary wore Hijab...I found that irrelevant to this topic and see it as blesmphy at its peak. Abeg bro be more conscious and inteligent when addressing other people's religion next time.thanks@ OP

LifestyleTonite:
@OP

You've asked a very vital question that over 70% of Nigerian Christians and Muslims can't answer cos they don't have none for it.

Satan rebelled in heaven. He was able to deceive one third of the angels in heaven to follow him. That's about several billions of angels. He questioned God's authority and lied to the angels that they were better of on their own than with Yahweh. He led a revolution against God and wanted to usurp God and mount the throne. He wanted to rule.

Isaiah 14:13-14

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."


Many angels believed in his words as he promised them better than what God gave them. That was how he was able to pull some of them to his side.

Revelations 12:3-4
Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.

After he succeeded in pulling those stars to his side, he launched his rebellion.

Revelations 12:7-9

"Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

Hmmm....this brings another question to mind
"If angels had their freedom in heaven, does it mean there can still be sin in heaven?"

I'm just asking for the fun of it

It is a very nice questions that many pple want to know but for the sack of time and resources I will you to get answers from any Jehovah's Witnesses nearest to you or visit our website jw.org

The biblical story is just like a moonlight story.

There's a Yoruba proverb that is translated that the earth was formed on a platform of good and evil. Killing Satan would have made God biased towards goodness, especially as He gave man the ability of freewill, to choose either good or evil.
It's quite simple, there cannot be good without evil as there cannot be light without darkness. One is meant to swallow up the other.

I've just been here watching and reading people's trash. This is the same question that almost made me repeat my ss2 because I was too curious and went searching to the answers of this mystery. There are some truth or ans in the books of the apocrypha left out of the Bible cos they contain hard knowledge and are not inspiring to the Christian race.

The Sweet truth is there's no answer to this We weren't made to know much. People will say all they can, God is love and Lucifer was certainly his favourite and somewhere I read he was close to becoming one of the Trinity (whatever) The overfamiliarity lead him to rub shoulders with God. This is a clear truth that jus like drama and other activities ensues on earth, so it does in heaven. Me too, I also feel that Even if God didn't kill Satan, he should had made him rot in he and let his creation live in peace...
I do question God a lot why he would let human go thru all dis suffering for Lucifer's carelessness?!? Let jus leave it that He's got some sort of plans. Does it matter anyways, you turn ur back on him u rot in hell, you don't have a choice!!

sirusX:


Hmmm....this brings another question to mind
"If angels had their freedom in heaven, does it mean there can still be sin in heaven?"

I'm just asking for the fun of it

You're on point mehn. Its a good question. Lucifer converted 1/3 of heaven's entire angels it should mean they got feelings and emotions too of sort like humans. But we can't tell if toasting female angels is allowed

A thread by an ignorant person for ignorant ppu
Is Satan a mortal you think you can stone to death?
Go kill am now
I blame NL for this nonsense

gabazin080:
though am a christian because i was born into a christian home. but some of this things now makes me start doubting God.
¤ Why didnt God kill satan from the beginning since he can see the future and knows satan is only going to bring trouble into the world and steal God'S people

¤ why did he put the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden when he knows its not good.

¤ why would an all loving God create hell when he asked us to forgive our offenders

¤● God did not kill Satan from the beginning because He is merciful and want to prove to mankind something about Satan. Satan boasted to lead mankind astray, but God told Satan that he will not succeed with His sincere worshippers.

¤● God did not put the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden without clear warning to Adam and Eve. He also warned them about Satan the great deceiver. God want to test man's loyalty and appreciation for all He has provided for man sustenance in the garden. You should therefore ask yourself why can't man be contented with all God has provided him in the garden and avoid the one He has CLEARLY warned against!

¤● God did not only created Hell he also created PARADISE. Indeed God is all merciful and forgiving. God created hell for those who are ungrateful to Him and they deserve it, just as He created Paradise for the grateful ones. God asks us to forgive our offenders, but not in all cases. Remember that Jesus beat the hell out of those traders and money changers in the Temple and he cursed a fig tree that has no fruits when he wants to pluck and eat some while hungry!

You need the Qur'an to help you understand better these puzzles. Pick up an English translation of the Qur'an and you will understand the mystery of creation and the afterlife with great satisfaction. The Qur'an reveals it all more than ANY other 'Holy' Book.

You make your God sound like an ordinary man, why in the world would your God Need people's appreciation?
Other gods especially buhdism are more loving than your god

lastbaff:

Bro, the simple answer to the first and second question is that God wants to test mankind.

For the third question.... The test will be worthless if those who obey God aren't rewarded and those who disobey aren't punished.

A good government loves and protects its citizens and provide their essential needs. Yet, it builds prison to be used by the same citizens. Why do you think it does that?

According to your Bible your god already knows the future and the past, why waste his time and our time in this pointless experiment?

jay5iveee:
If you need to comment pls apply wisdom...I found your story quite interesting until I got to a point where u mentioned muslim's propaganda of having claimed that mary wore Hijab...I found that irrelevant to this topic and see it as blesmphy at its peak. Abeg bro be more conscious and inteligent when addressing other people's religion next time.thanks@ OP

Mary was a Jew and it's a tradition in those days for Jewish women to cover their heads and even now..... Islam and Judaism are related because they originated from thesame region and it's not surprising to see them practice the same traditions.
In fact all abrahamic religions are the same because of they started from the same region

I think it is healthier to work your way to heaven by GRACE and stop asking Celestial Questions that allows the devil to seduce his opinion into your mind.
Remember; whatever we think, God is still God.
'while the Pharasees were there living their faith in doubts ...Zacchaeus and Other task collectors were there making their ways to heaven'

No body question God.

gabazin080:
[b[though am a christian because i was born into a christian home[/b]. but some of this things now makes me start doubting God.
¤ Why didnt God kill satan from the beginning since he can see the future and knows satan is only going to bring trouble into the world and steal God'S people

¤ why did he put the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden when he knows its not good.

¤ why would an all loving God create hell when he asked us to forgive our offenders

The bolded doesn't make you a Christian. No wonder you asked irrelevant questions.

You can as well asked why he allowed Stephen to die?

Why he allowed Cain to kill Abel?

Why he allowed John the Baptist beheaded?


NOBODY QUESTION GOD!

gabazin080:
though am a christian because i was born into a christian home. but some of this things now makes me start doubting God.
¤ Why didnt God kill satan from the beginning since he can see the future and knows satan is only going to bring trouble into the world and steal God'S people

¤ why did he put the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden when he knows its not good.

¤ why would an all loving God create hell when he asked us to forgive our offenders

To ur first questn, God wants to prove to satan dat certain human could still be loyal to him, killin Satan will prove dat God is wot Satan proclaimed him to be. 2 question, Ans , God did not create humans as robots but as free moral agents, he gave us d freedom of choice. Lastly, Hell is not a place of torment but Grave. God is not a wicked God. Contact me for more explanation plz.

eph12:

Do you see me asking questions upandan? You are the questionnaire. Am only pointing you in the right direction

femi4:
The bolded doesn't make you a Christian. No wonder you asked irrelevant questions.

You can as well asked why he allowed Stephen to die?

Why he allowed Cain to kill Abel?

Why he allowed John the Baptist beheaded?


NOBODY QUESTION GOD!

u just shot yourself in the leg with the examples u wrote up there.
how will u win souls if u gave this examples, who will accept God who watch and allow evil happen to his people and not help save them from the evil

okowande:
To ur first questn, God wants to prove to satan dat certain human could still be loyal to him, killin Satan will prove dat God is wot Satan proclaimed him to be. 2 question, Ans , God did not create humans as robots but as free moral agents, he gave us d freedom of choice. Lastly, Hell is not a place of torment but Grave. God is not a wicked God. Contact me for more explanation plz.

he is not wicked but saved job, saved the isrealites from pharaoh and watch john the baptist beheaded, watch stephen stoned to death.
what pleasure will he derive from seeing his people killed

gabazin080:
though am a christian because i was born into a christian home. but some of this things now makes me start doubting God.
¤ Why didnt God kill satan from the beginning since he can see the future and knows satan is only going to bring trouble into the world and steal God'S people

¤ why did he put the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden when he knows its not good.

¤ why would an all loving God create hell when he asked us to forgive our offenders

PLEASE take time to read this (it took a lot of time to type it...lol)

I'll answer just one of your questions, cos each one of them would take soooo long to answer. I believe if u understand at least one of them, you'll know that God had/has a very good reason for everything He did/does.

Before I answer, something helped me when I had so many questions about God and His word too, and that was that, I realized early that the Bible is complete! And that if I studied it well enough with the help of the Holy Spirit, I'd get answers to MOST of my questions, and the few others that I didn't understand would be answered either by the church(especially my pastor or teacher-that's why God put him in the church), or by God when I get to heaven. So I'd like you to have this mindset too, and not doubt God. (I'll talk about that later).

Now to the question I'll answer (Question 2).
God placed two special trees in centre of the garden- the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen 2:9). Then He commanded Adam not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because if he did, he would DIE. Something that should quickly flash to your mind is, what if Adam ate from the Tree of Life first. Would he still die if he ate from the other tree? I don't think he would have.
See, God is a God of order. He doesn't just do things anyhow. He has placed certain laws in place, that even He wouldn't break, because He honors His word so much.

I believe that God intended that man should eat of the Tree of Life first and eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil later at an appointed time. This way, man would have 'grown' and 'developed' to be able to control his knowledge of good and evil, and ALWAYS choose good naturally. Man wouldn't have been swayed by the 'evil' as he was when he ate the forbidden fruit. Let me give you a lil proof of this.

In 1 Corinthians 6:3, Paul told the Corinthian Church that "...Do you not know that we will judge angels?..." Meaning that after this life, Christians would be the ones to judge angels. But I believe God ORIGINALLY intended that the whole of mankind would be the ones to judge angels (but since man fell and some have refused to believe in Jesus, only we who believe would have this inheritance).
Now, if man would judge angels, don't you think he would require the "Knowledge of Good and Evil" in doing so? Of course he would. This proves that God originally planned that at a point in man's life, he would have developed enough and he would be able to "wield the power" of the 'forbidden' fruit. At that time, man would be allowed to eat of it.
When Jesus was tempted, the devil said He should bow and worship him, and he would give Him all the kingdoms of the world. If Jesus had done that, the devil would have given Him the world, but Jesus would have been subject to the devil. But since Jesus passed the test, we realize that God has now given Him all power in heaven and earth(Matthew 28:18). So I believe if Adam had simply obeyed God and refused to obey the devil, in the fullness of time, God would have given him what the devil tempted him with and man wouldn't be subject to the devil like man was when he fell.

Another question that might arise is, why didn't God wait till when man needed to eat the fruit before planting it?
Understand that God gave man the power of CHOICE. The devil (Lucifer) was a Cherubim (a high-ranking heavenly being), who obviously had the power of choice. He CHOSE to rebel against God (Ezekiel 28:15) and he 'invented sin'. And some heavenly beings also followed him, showing that they also had the power of choice.

Now God didn't want man to be a zombie/robot. He wanted His children who would do His will naturally, although they had the choice to do otherwise. We wouldn't have any moral right to judge angels if we ourselves had never been tested. Remember that Jesus Himself was led of the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil in the wilderness. And that was the beginning of His ministry.(Matthew 4:1-11)

Imagine this. You have a son, and you made perfectly sure that he has never seen or handled or even heard of money before in his entire life. Would it be just for you to boast to someone else who probably stole money, that your son has never stolen money? Of course not. But if he has seen and spent a lot of money, and yet, never stole a dime, then you have the moral right to use him as an example to others. This is what God did with Adam, and Adam failed. He did the same with Jesus (the second Adam) (1 Corinthians 15:45) and Jesus passed excellently.

So instead of blaming God for putting the tree in the garden, maybe we should 'blame' Adam for failing the test and thank God for providing a way out through Jesus Christ.

Finally about your emerging doubts about God... U see, whether we like/know/accept it or not, "diaris God" (lol). We don't see the air, but we know it exists. We've heard of air poisoning, carbon monoxide and other hazardous stuff about the air, but this can't make us deny the existence of the air. It only makes us study more about the air and how to relate with it (not burning bushes and stuff). I believe that's a little like God too. There are stuff we don't understand about Him. I mean, that's the way it should be na. Since He's God, He should be so big that we can't fully understand him with our small minds, right?
Study your bible, listen to messages, pray for understanding.
Go beyond knowing God cos u were born into a christian home. Have a personal relationship with Him. Jesus loves you.

Shalom