God’s design in the general permission of evil throughout the ages was and is the same as in the case of Job. He created Adam a perfect human, in his own image. Being in the image of God implied an ability to reason. “Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?” (Job 38:36) It was the Creator. This was in contrast to what we call instinct, which had been given to the lower animals.

God did not desire his human creation to be like robots, without a sense of understanding. So man was given the ability to learn, and was free to govern himself by the knowledge he attained. What man would do with this knowledge was ultimately to determine his eternal destiny.

Man acquires knowledge through his five senses. He learns from observation by exercise of his sense of sight, and by information from what he hears. Man feels pain when he comes in contact with boiling water, and learns by experience to temper the water he uses. Man smells the fragrance of a rose and is delighted by it, but turns in revolt at the presence of unpleasant odors. Man appreciates the taste of wholesome food, but learns to avoid unpalatable things, even though they may appear beautiful.

Thus we see that in the exercise of his five senses man learns from observation, information and experience.

If man was to continue as a faithful child of God it was essential that he receive a knowledge of evil as well as of good, that he might be able to make an intelligent choice between the two. God does not desire blind worship, but a fidelity to and trust in him which is based upon understanding and appreciation. God desires those to worship him who “worship him in spirit and in truth,” Jesus said. (John 4:23,24) To accomplish this for Adam and his offspring is one of the major objectives of the permission of evil in the great divine plan of human salvation from sin and death.