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This is a serious and sincere question which has plagued many people since time immemorial. In fact, the inability to find an answer has driven many a soul away from God.

During World War 2 a bomb fell on a church in England while people were praying on their knees - Could God not have prevented this?

On a Sunday evening in July 1993, armed terrorists opened fire on a church congregation in Cape Town, South Africa, while they were singing a hymn. These innocent worshippers were singing the praises of their Saviour, when 11 people were mowed down in their church pews and many congregants seriously injured. Where was God during this attack? Could He not have prevented it?

Where was He when His 'Chosen nation' were led to the gas chambers during the Holocaust - the aged together with small children, the infirm - by a demoniac? Could He not have cut Hitler off in a wink?

There are many more questions like these that people raise - some have lost entire families and loved ones - unfairly, most of them believe. The answers are elusive and unprocurable for most.

But serious reflection on the alternatives, should reveal the intricate background to this stirring issue.

Reflect for a moment on how perplexing it must be for an all powerful God to have to be restrained from using His limitless Powers to protect and save, and to be witness to disasters He very well has the power to prevent or stop. This restriction is brought about because the full cycle of the Divine Plan has to be accomplished and in a fair and non-dictatorial way.

It is also clear from the Scriptures that the Divine rule of God is being challenged by Satan, the adversary of the God of Israel. Satan is an apostate angel who challenges the Rulership of YHVH and who has managed to win the support of a section of the angelic beings (Isaiah 14:12 - 15). Satan will therefore closely scrutinise every action of God and look for all possible reasons to negate the integrity of the Most High. In fact, the Book of Job offers a complete deliberation on this very subject (Refer to Job 1:6-12 and the complete book of Job).

In our modern world today, the idea of a living creature, Satan, who opposes the Divine Purpose and Plan of the Almighty, is not a popular or commonly accepted theme, even by religious believers of the world's largest Faiths. This, notwithstanding the fact that Satan is openly worshipped today in all its horrific inhumane forms. Even if we allow for his "non-existence", it is indisputable that, in order to put the Creator YHVH beyond any possible blame or accusation, the Truth regarding His total and perfect Integrity needs to be established once and for all time. A legal precedent needs to be established and a time dispensation was required for this. The practical outcome of this dispensation, without active interference or intervention by the Creator Himself, would yield the unchallengeable proof for good, that:
- YHVH does not pressurize anyone to obey His lifegiving Laws simply because He is all powerful, and He does not rule only through might;
- YHVH is not oppressive without giving others, even those opposing Him, an alternative choice - a free will;
- YHVH's Way is the only way for mankind, and the universe, for Peace and Happiness;
- YHVH is totally fair in all respects thinkable; He has not deserted mankind; He has no favoritism; He does not condemn without reason.

One should appreciate that, even for an omnipotent Being, in order to be perfectly fair and righteous, neither dictatorial nor partisan, the handling of such a matter as guiding an individual throughout life, or leading an entire nation or mankind as a whole, would be a formidable task. Consideration should also not be given to specific matters in isolation, but to the complete Divine Purpose in its entirety.

The God of Israel;, YHVH, distinguishes Himself as the unique Deity, totally unlike the idols and deities of the other nations. Had He only blessed His followers and not allowed disaster to also befall them, He would have been no different to all the other deities of history, who were generally envisaged as the 'protectors' of the worst undertakings of forceful rulers and of their evil accomplishments.

Scripture abounds with enchanting referrals to the Blessings and Joy that will befall those who are found to be on the side of the Almighty at the culmination of all, in His eternal Kingdom.

In short, the Almighty is no doubt infinitely more concerned and pained by the earthly conditions which He has to behold and endure without being able to use His caring and limitless powers. Will He not then use these powers to make up to His followers in the New World Order?

Surely, by the things they say and proclaim;
- by the way in which they do it;
- by the way in which they conduct their lives and affairs;
- by how they act in adverse circumstances;
- by how they treat others, their friends as well as their opponents;
- in short, by their actions.

Problem is - against which criteria do we match good or bad? It will be quite
useless to say: "Against God's Law" (although that IS really the way) - but in
answering your rightful question: "Who says God is 'Good'?"

We find ourselves in a cave somewhere, no electricity, no shops, no gadgets.
We have babies crawling around us in the dust. Out there in the woods, are
strong people looking to take the bit we have managed to accumulate around us,
with force for themselves. THAT is life out there!

WHAT would be good and bad for us in such basic life style - with no God around, whom we are aware of or being told of?

We can right a book in answer - but, in summary, I would suggest one
main factor - RESPECT; Respect for those babies crawling around, screaming and searching the interesting things in life, and for our fellows with us. Striving not to cause them physical or spiritual pain with words and deeds. Respect for
others out there in our 'little' world who may have more than us; compassion and kind assistance for those who have less than us, or who may be suffering from some adverse circumstances.

The underlying cause or purpose of all such actions should be our fight against self-righteousness - to put others interests above our own.

And if we agree on this, then we can now start 'measuring' the Creator God and His Intentions and Requirements, as proclaimed in the Book which claim to be inspired by Him, the Bible.

- What does He intend for mankind?
- What does He require from us?
- What does He plan for us in the future?
- How does He want us to live?
- Why?
- How does He treat mankind and the world - but here, we must indelibly
keep in mind that:
- He is not a manipulator;
- He is not dictatorial;
which means that He is limited in what and how He should act in situations where good and bad confront each other.

Yes, the Almighty God can be limited - not because He has not got the power or wisdom to react to certain circumstances, but because He has to be fair and, in short, 'good'. Much as adults have to react towards babies or those who are inferior to themselves in whatever way.

But, if He is so great and almighty - isn't it unfair from Him to expect us to be "like Him"? That is entailed in your next question, for which there is a magnificent all-conquering answer:

Q: "Nobody gave God a chance to sin. How could He create mankind to have freedom of choice if He never had the opportunity to make a wrong choice? He never had to achieve His level of holiness if He has always been Holy?"

This is a very valid question which can be projected to the time of the Great Judgment - when those who are found 'guilty' would have all the right in the world to turn against the Judge, Who claims to be Holy and Who expects His followers to be equally Holy: "How dare He judge us - when He Himself was never exposed to the temptations that we had to endure, and which were brought about by the circumstances of His Own Creation?"

This is where the Message, which this Web Site of "Bible Revelations" proclaims, fits in, namely, that YAHU'SHUAH the Messiah (Whom many in the world know by the pseudo name 'Jesus Christ' ) was, for some 30 years, the Personal Manifestation of the Almighty Creator God YHVH. (Refer our multiple studies on this Revelation at Section 1 of the On-Site Library). As such, no one would have the right to accuse the Judge of all the earth, that He is judging from an unfair base because this Judge is not only the Law Maker Himself, the Creator of all - but He also became man Himself! Those believers who insist that "God sent someone else to earth" (like Trinitarianism, Compound Unity, Two YHVH's) or those who claim that Messiah was not Deity at all - they have some explaining to do!

Because of this manifesting of the Creator God, taking upon Himself a human body as the Messiah, living amongst His own Creation, God did experience human life, first hand, as a 'son' born to an Israelite woman, 2000 years ago. He grew up as a Jew in a Jewish land, played with His mates in His Boyhood; worked as a carpenter in His Manhood; taught as a Rabbi amongst the Temple congregants and the secular Israelites of His Time.

He was tempted at His worst human moments:
- after a 40 days fast in the Wilderness, by Lucifer Himself - yet He did not use His Divine Creation Powers to 'conjure' food out of nothing;
- at His brutal Crucifixion, after 40 flesh cleaving lashes, hanging by the metal bolts thrust through His flesh; being fed vinegar to quench His feverish thirst - yet, He did not use His Divine Creation Powers to release Himself from the agony or to blow this earth into a puff of dust in the universe - which is what any of us would have done, given half the opportunity!

In fact, being Man-God and God-Man, to Him the temptation was immeasurably worse than for mankind. When you and I are hungry in the desert, we just have to suffer. However, He had to not only be exposed to the same fleshly craving, but, having the Power to make food out of thin air, He had to also battle against the human temptation to use these Divine Powers to satisfy His fleshly needs - and to not hit back in retribution at His murderers and scoffers in His dying agony!

Contemplate for a moment on this phenomenon in regard to His human relationship with women, for instance, and all the other areas of His human life on earth. The Bible tells us that He was blameless - who will dare to find hidden blame in a Man who's recorded actions were blameless?

In all fairness though, there are instances where a questioning finger could be pointed at God. How can He allow negative things to happen to people? Where is He today, when innocent citizens are chased out of their homes in Kosovo, sent into the unknown without food and shelter, and many being brutally massacred?

These are serious and sincere questions which have plagued many people since time immemorial. In fact, the inability to find an answer has driven many a soul away from God (Refer Why does God allow evil? )

Q: Why are there so many religions with so many different views and interpretations of the Bible, each claiming to be 'the Only True Religion'?

The reason for the thousands of varying religions, is simply this:
If God is true, then surely He has ONE System only - as with any decent living person who has a set and finely bordered lifestyle from which they try not to deviate. Every and each of these thousands of religions though, claim to be that One True Religion, while they differ substantially from each other.

Unless one discards the reality that there is an opposing force, Satan, commonly known as Lucifer, who vehemently opposes the Creator God and tries to prove Him wrong, then it is obvious that this powerful spirit being, the Opposer of the True Ruler, will do everything in his power to misrepresent the One True religion and to contort it, thereby withholding souls from it. Scripture confirms that Satan who was a leading figure of the Angelic court in heaven, rebelled against the Sovereignty of God, and that a third of the Angelic host of Heaven, sided with him. No small force to contend with therefore! (Isa. 14:12-14 and check related ref's).

Secondly, and probably even stronger than this opposing power, is the nature of mankind. Man (which includes woman for this discussion) was created a free moral being with a free Will, to choose his/her own destiny. The basic instinct of man, is self preservation and self interest. Because man has to choose his own way, he is not easily or willingly open for correction - for that would reflect negatively against him as error in his selection. Man is generally strongly bound to the ways and beliefs which he has selected at his own discretion. Man values his own discretion and strongly defends it until accepting correction - if ever. Man is also very strongly bound to the principles instilled in him since childhood by his parents and by those traditions practiced, accepted and believed on in his surroundings (as in national and cultural traditions). In short, man is very stubborn to correction and fearful of change, general.

So, man prefers to stick to the comfort zones of life - those things which he is accustomed to and which is commonly practiced around him. He therefore sticks to the religion which he is accustomed to, that which he grew up in, or which is commonly practised around him.

Truth, in essence (and in all matters on earth, not just religion), is in short supply. Only a minority find the secrets of Success in life. Thus also, it is with Religion. Truth therefore is controversial and against 'traditional' beliefs. And man does not like to make controversial decisions. The Scriptures tell us in:
2 Tim. 4:3 "... Far from being content with sound doctrine, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes, and then, in stead of listening to the Truth, they will turn to myths".

Thirdly, the very nature of Truth, is like precious metals - not abounding - this, by Divine election obviously. If Gold and diamonds were available around every corner, it would have no value at all. If God's One Only True Religion was without controversy and known to every one on earth, God's intended future Kingdom would be filled with non-committed citizens, the majority seeking 'a free ride'!

Conversely, and ingeniously, the Creator God Who is busy creating a Kingdom of genuine Peace, has installed a citizen election system which will certainly guarantee citizens with the following hard found qualifications in the current world system:
- subjected to His Will by free personal choice;
- dedicated, patriotic to His Principles and Wishes, again by personal choice;
- honest and of high moral standing;
- pure and honorable ethics;
- compassion towards all of His Creation - i.e. humans, animals and nature;
- striving after and eagerly open to whatsoever is Pure and Sacred to God;
- pursuing God's interest first, and their fellow citizens' interests before their own;
- open to and willing for correction;
- hardworking as ants, hardly resting - not for self enrichment, but for the Great Cause;

With citizens like these, who selected and dedicated themselves by totally Free Choice, it can but be Paradise Restored!

God has not left mankind without directives and directions to this idillic venue:

Firstly, His System and Requirements He has securely enshrined in His Torah, which He has revealed to Moses (Gen,; Exod.; Lev.; Numb.; Deut) and entrusted to the Jews to be the Carriers of, as a reference for all mankind. (Romans 2:12 to end of Ch 3; Acts 7:38; 1 Kings 6). This System was before any other religion of man on earth, for it stems right from the Day of Creation of man in the Garden of Eden - and it claims to be from Eternity Before.

Secondly, He has provided the Example of a Perfect Life Style by manifesting Himself in the form of a Human Being, born by Divine Edict from a Jewish mother in Israel 2000 years ago. This Human Form concurrently served to also bring non-Jewish people into the Covenant which He had concluded with the nation of Israel of old, by substituting the Torah required Sacrifice of a perfect lamb, with that of the Sacrifice of His Own Human Body, slaughtered by His Own Creation in pagan Roman execution style of brutal crucifixion on a wooden stake!

This leaves mankind without an alibi for not finding that One Only True Religion. God has provided both the written specifications as well as the perfect human example (which simultaneously serves as the 'visa on their passports' for non-Jews).

If Judaism were really the core of the One Great True Religion, then, for starters, it would require great compassion, understanding and forgiveness on the part of non-Jewish contenders for this Faith, to apply these supreme principles to the disliked Jewish community of this world. Loving and accepting them with all their grave noncompliance's (which God has to contend with also), is representative of loving, accepting and subjecting oneself to God's Culture (which He has exemplified in the Jewish nation - after all, He chose to be born a Jew in order to become the Messiah) and to God's 'Family'.

If Judaism were really represented this Core of the True religion (as God intended by entrusting it to them), then one sound question remains: How could one identify with the One True Religion of God (Divinely mandated by God to be represented in Judaism), by remaining opposed to Judaism or by rebelling against the idea of full identification with it by Conversion to Judaism?

The Choice remains with the individual personally - a Free moral agent with a Free Choice!

Q: Is God going to punish those who aren't part of the "right" religion? Since we are not all-knowing, we can not possibly know. What if we are all wrong?

Check the following for yourself:
"If you were going to start a business, community or a group - can you afford to have someone in that group who strongly opposes you and works against you?

If God has a 'Jewish System' (as Scripture confirms - refer "Is God 'Jewish'?") - what will He benefit by having people in His Kingdom one day, who rebel against the 'Jewish Laws'; against His Sabbaths, etc? Remember also that God's 'Jewish' Kingdom is open to all who wish to enter and abide by His 'Jewish' Rule.

There are not multiple ways - just One True Way ...
Eph. 4:4 "There is One body, One Spirit, ... One Hope ... There is One Lord, One faith, One Baptism and ONE God Who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all."

Erroneous understanding is fatal:
Jo 8:24 "If you believe not that I AM HE, you will die in your sins."

As far as finding the Truth is concerned. God promises in the Bible to lead us
into all Truth by His Spirit and Guidance. Many believers have experienced this throughout the ages.

Acts 10:34 "The Truth is ... that God has no favourites, but anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right, is acceptable to Him."

The supreme answer lies in His willing Sacrifice of His human Manifestation, the crucified Messiah, for the sole purpose of making it possible for human beings to enter His Eternal Kingdom. Rev. 5:9-b "... because You were sacrificed, and with Your Blood You bought men for God, of every race, language, people and nation and made them a line of kings and priests to serve our God and to rule the world."

Try it for yourself! Ask God to lead you unto all Truth. If you are sincere, you are guaranteed that He will do just that. The only thing that can keep you from finding the Full Truth is "rebelling against His Spirit and Guidance" - wanting YOUR way and not His.

In referring to the Pharisees' disagreement with Messiah's teachings, He declared:
Matt. 15:14 "They are blind leading the blind - and if one blind man leads another, they will both fall into the pit."

The onus is on the individual to find Truth - and this is backed by God's undertaking to lead any sincere seeker into all the Truth.

Jer. 29:13 "When you seek Me, you shall find Me; when you seek Me with all your heart - I will let you find Me"

This the one most difficult stumbling stone for believers to overcome. Every congregation has a 'powerful' person or spiritual leader whom they have been comforted, taught and influenced by. Such leaders generally have a vast track record of spiritual achievements. They are often seen as directly sent, influenced or favoured by God.

However much this may be true - for no person can find Truth, but by the Spirit of God - an unbiased consideration will show that something gravely must be wrong, in that these very 'prophets' differ vastly from each other - from one denomination to the other. Only a biased, protective, unteachable, unfair and unbalanced mind will turn a blind eye at this screaming inconsistency.

Scripture, as normal, has the true directive for any honest seeking believer - how to regard and measure 'prophets' or, for that matter, our spiritual leaders.

Deut. 13:2 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams rise among you and offers to do a sign or a wonder for you, and the sign or wonder comes about, and he then says to you, 'Come, let us follow other gods whom you have not known and serve them", you are not to listen to the words of that prophet or to the dreams of that dreamer. YHVH your God is testing you, to know if you love YHVH your God with all your heart and all your soul. YHVH your God you shall follow; Him you shall fear; His Commandments you shall keep; His Voice you shall obey; Him shall you serve; to Him shall you cling. That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, for he has preached apostasy from YHVH your God ... and he would have made you turn aside from the Way that YHVH your God marked out for you. You must banish this evil from among you."

The salient warnings of this portion of Scripture are:
- that notwithstanding the credentials and the validity of such leaders' words, we should not "turn aside from the Way that YHVH our God has marked out for us". Thus, accept their Truths, but evaluate their teachings by the Word of YHVH and discard that which does not belong. Trouble is, once human beings have faith in, and trust spiritual leaders. they regard them us infallible! This is the reason why there are so many variations of the Word of YHVH in the world today.

- a 'Prophet' that teaches against the Truth of YHVH, according to Scripture, should be "put to death" - a harsh punishment!. Truth, unfortunately is generally judged by which 'prophet' it comes from, whether it clashes with the Word of YHVH or not. Of course, the last thing that followers of these prophets can be convinced of, is that 'their' prophet could be wrong! Thus, the Word of YHVH takes secondary place to the word of the 'prophets'. Therefore, the word of the prophets, whether right or wrong, are put above the Word of YHVH. The prophets can not be wrong, in the estimation of their flocks.

This does not mean that we must discard and distrust our spiritual leaders. We should however take great care that we always stay within the Word of YHVH - whether our leaders proclaim it or not.

Isa. 8:20
"To the Law and to the Testimony ... if they speak not accordingly, it is because there is no light in them."
The law, needs no explanation - question is, how many popular and highly ranked modern-day prophets proclaim Law abidance? "The Testimony" is referred to in Rev 19:10 "The TESTIMONY of YAHU'SHUAH is the Spirit of Prophecy" - i.e. that which moved the Prophets (Jo 1:45), namely that He is YHVH in the flesh - our Redeemer. In the same way, Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the One True God - a Message destined to be reconfirmed just before the Return of Messiah as Judge and Universal Ruling King.

Law abidance, as foundation of the Renewed Covenant, and the Oneness Truth (i.e. that Messiah was YHVH the Creator in the flesh, that is the 'Testimony of YAHU'SHUAH") are the two-tier foundation pinnacles on which Eternal Truth rests. If someone does not teach accordingly, it is because "there is no Light in them". Let this be our two-edged sword to divide Truth from error.

Can you wonder why God allows them both to fall in the pit? - the prophets and their followers!

Q: "Is there not a contradiction in the following Scriptures, between being saved by 'works' or merely by 'God's Grace'?"

Rev. 20:12 "(In the Judgment) the Books will be opened which are the record of what they had done in their lives, by which the dead are judged".

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the Gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."

Your question reflects the expectations of the majority of Christian believers, namely, that one "just has to accept the Messiah's Offer of Salvation and then one is through - all the Way to the Kingdom and Eternal Life". The Law of God is done away with, they say. One is saved by Grace only.

Like all other Truths or Lies concerning "The True Way" - this concept or conclusion is based on the Truth wrapped in a Great Lie - or A Great Lie enwrapping the Truth.

Let us look at the Salvation Plan of God, the way Scripture seems to proclaim it, by way of an example: If you are pulled off the road in your car, by a traffic controller for committing a grave error, and after warning you, he lets you go, without prosecuting you - this does NOT mean that you may now continue breaching the Law and driving irresponsibly.

Messiah RELEASES us from certain Eternal Death which our Law-breaking life
style in the past will be earning us. This is awarded to us by an Act of Grace which only God can authorise, as it concerns breaking of His Law and the Divine Penalty decreed for such which is Eternal Death - banned from the Eternal Kingdom of YHVH. Through this Release, He reconciles us with YHVH and sets us up anew, gives us a new start. To continue ignoring and discarding His Law and System? Certainly not!

The Bible speaks of "The Book of Remembrance" which records all our deeds
(Rev. 20:12, Dan. 7:10) and which will be opened at the Judgment, to be used to judge us by. This Book will NOT reflect our misdeeds BEFORE our acceptance of His Grace Offer. But it will certainly reflect our deeds AFTER this, for our salvation or our condemnation!

The whole Salvation Plan is reflected in the seven Sacred Feasts of God - which
Christianity has lost most of. God's Intentions are also mirrored in the history of the nation which He has chosen for this purpose - Israel, the Jews.

Accordingly, the Israelites were led out of Egypt, their place of slavery and bondage (reflecting our bondage by sin). This great event of the Exodus occurred on the very day of God's first Sacred Festival - Pesach, The route was to lead to the Promised Land (as we are heading for). It led through the desert, where they were still receiving tribulation, even after their release from Egyptian slavery - so much so, that they often would have preferred to return to Egypt (as the 'saved' believer often returns to his/her old ways). On the 50th day after their release (A Sacred Feast day again - Shavuot or 'Pentecost'), they arrived at Mt Sinai where God RENEWED His Covenant with them and gave them His Law written on 2 tables of stone. Moses then was educated for 40 days by God Himself, in the rest of His Laws and Customs, with the purpose for Moses to teach the nation. For 40 years they wandered through the desert on their way, prevented from entering because of their invalidation. Even Moses was prohibited from entering the Promised Land and was only allowed to see it from afar! This point should be a warning to the 'Grace' teachers who proclaim such an easy Way of 'Only Believe'.

Significantly, Messiah (depicting our Pesach Lamb) was crucified on the Sacred
Feast Day of Pesach which is merely the first of seven Sacred Feasts - thus only the start of our Salvation, or our 'trip' to the Promised Land. By using the term 'only', it should not deflect from the mighty extent of this Divine Act, in which the human Manifestation of the Almighty Creator God was brutally slain by His own creation - by His own 'household'!

The Salvation Plan does not end with the Reconciliation depicted by the First Sacred Festival. It continues with phase 2 reflecting the onus of the believer, and phase 3 mirroring the Final Judgment and Rejoicing of the 'conquerors' (those who comply) with God in the Kingdom.

Phase 2
2nd Feast - Unleavened Bread (7 days following Pesach) - laying off of sin
(NB AFTER Release)
3rd Feast - Shavuot - Revelation of the Law

Phase 3
4th Feast - Rosh HaShana - the 'Start' of the time of our real Salvation
5th Feast - Yom Kippur - Judgment Day
6th Feast - Succot - Festival of Salvation
7th Feast - The Great Last Day - eternal life with God in His Kingdom

Festivals 1 & 2 fall in the FIRST month of the Sacred Feast Day Cycle, depicting RELEASE from bondage of sin, and the initial requirements placed on the reconciled believer.

Festival 3, 50 days later, signifies the Covenantal responsibility of the now progressing believer, empowered by the indwelling Spirit of God.

Feasts 4-7 fall in the 7th month (7 depicting perfection) and signifies the conclusion of God's Purpose on earth - the establishment of His Eternal Kingdom.

This Festival Cycle also follows the harvest time in Israel - the first month yielding the first wheat harvest, followed by the first ripe fruits. The 7th month sees the end of the fruit harvests.

Correct interpretation of Scripture has therefore no problem with contradiction. To cancel the Divine Decree of earning the Penalty of Eternal Death for not complying with His requirements, requires Divine Grace through a Divine Act of Reconciliation. The final lot of the reconciled and the unreconciled will be determined in the Judgment, 'according to their works'. (Rom. 2:5-24 - note verse 12 & 13).

Q: "If we believe in our hearts that Messiah died for us on the Cross, and we try to live our lives for Him, can we still go to Hell?"

In isolation, saying 'yes' to your question, obviously sounds very harsh. It is difficult to answer these questions without sounding judgmental. But let us look at the Plan of YHVH globally - as a whole:

God in the beginning created man and woman to 'be masters over His creation', to take charge and 'manage' it. They were the pinnacle of His Creation on earth, created in His Image (Gen 1:26,27).

There they were, having newly 'seen the light' - now receiving an awesome Divine mandate: "Take charge and manage it!" It must be like walking onto the estate of the richest man in the world and being appointed manager of his estate! Most of us just don't have the credentials to do so successfully. Yet, here was something more superior: a freshly created world - perfect, unpolluted. Made by the perfect Creator! Two 'newly-born' normal humans without any experience are put in charge. And they have a free will - to destroy or to maintain. Obviously they had to conform to His System and Rules - His Law which is pure, perfect and able to maintain Creation in a perfect condition. Just as we would have to work according to the rules and requirements of the rich man.

Later in Scripture, God selects Abram, a gentile, who knew about YHVH and followed His rules - so much so that God approached Him and made a 'deal' (Covenant) with him. "I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous." (Gen. 12:2). Next God promised Abram to give 'The Promised Land' unto his descendants (Gen. 12:7).

Most of the O.T. concerns God's dealings with these descendants of Abram, who's name God later changed to Abraham - the Israelites. God's purpose was to use this nation as an example to the other nations: of the Blessings He would bestow on them if they respected His Laws and System - but also as an example of the Curses He would allow to overcome them if they disobeyed His Requirements.

The rest is history. A clear Divine Example engraved in history and sealed by the blood and tears of Israelites throughout the centuries, culminating in the Death Camps of Israel! So horrific were these sufferings, that the next problematic question that we are faced with, is: "Where was God? How could He allow 'His own nation' to be suffering to that extent without helping them?"
This question is dealt with at:
http://www.revelations.org.za/Q&A4.htm#NEGATIVE

Many Christians will, in self-defense, cry out: "God deserted the Jews because
they crucified Messiah - they deserved it!". Forget! Long before Messiah walked this earth, the Israelites suffered brutally, time upon time, under the oppression of their conquerors - the Babylonian Captivity, to name but one - when they lost their country and were deported on foot to a strange land, much as we see happening in this very day in Kossoville, Yugoslavia, with the Albanians. This Babylonian Exile was for the very same reason: for not obeying YHVH fully.

The Sacrifice and Grace of Messiah is there, freely, to reconcile us with YHVH, notwithstanding the eternal condemnation that we have earned ourselves by our non-compliance until the time that we came to accept this Offer of Grace.

Why did He reconcile us? So that we could simply continue in our non-compliant lifestyle? If we insist to do so, we will simply earn eternal condemnation once again.

Consideration of YHVH's promised Eternal Kingdom should also confirm a 'yes' to your original answer. YHVH intends setting up an Universal Kingdom of Peace on earth. For this He requires rulers and citizens. He could have made us all perfect and set-up His perfect Kingdom. We would then all have been automated 'half-brain' beings. He therefore chose an infallible route: that of free choice of his individual created beings - to serve Him truly, or to reject Him. How ultimately superior will a Kingdom be, to have rulers and citizens qualifying by merit - who choose good over bad? Choosing God's interest over self-interest; finding the Truth in a diligent search for the True Way; being prepared to follow Him on His terms, not our own or our prophet or teachers terms? What would it benefit Him to have had a Kingdom with citizens who begrudge His Laws and Customs, who describe it as "Only for Jews" and "Done away with by the Cross"?

Rev. 22:12 "Very soon now I shall be with you again, bringing the reward to be
given to every man according to what he deserves ... Happy are those who do His Commandments, so that they will have right to feed on the Tree of Life and come through the Gates into the City (of Eternal Jerusalem)" (confirmed by KJV and Anti Nicean Fathers Tertullian (CE 208) and Cyprian (CE 251) and by the context of all the O.T.)

Matt. 22:29 "You err because you understand neither the Scriptures (O.T. only,
in His time) neither the Power of God."

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