WHY DID GOD CREATE SATAN, KNOWING SATAN WOULD SIN?

Here is another question one of my young Sunday School students asked: “why did God create Satan, knowing Satan would sin?”  Of course, it is an interesting question to ponder.

Let’s begin by asking this:

Is it true that God knew Satan would sin?  YES, of course!  God, undoubtably knew Satan would sin and even created him anyway.

(If you look back at my February 18, 2023, post, “Did GOD Know it Before it Happened?”  You will see how the Bible demonstrates that God is omniscient—that is, He is ALL knowing.  There is nothing new to God.  His wisdom and intellect are beyond measure, beyond comprehension.  He exists outside of time and can see from the beginning to the end.  All things are finite, but God is infinite and everlasting (Psalm 90:2).)

Let me make something clear first: as I stated in the last post, it was technically Lucifer who was created before he became Satan.  His transformation to Satan was a resultant of Lucifer’s transgression or rebellion, by, what I’d refer to as, a perversion of pride.

Lucifer was wonderfully created by God, exactly the way God intended him to be.  He was an anointed Cherub with great integrity, upright in truth and undefiled by sin, without blemish and perfect in wisdom. 

Ezekiel 28:12 says he was perfect, rather complete in beauty.  One can’t be any more beautiful.  The implication is that he was the most beautiful of all God’s Cherubs. He was Lucifer—son of the morning, states Isaiah 14:12.

The English name Lucifer (Strong’s number H1966 hay-lale') shows up one time in the King James Bible.  It means “brightness” as it relates to the morning star, according to the Strong’s Concordance. 

It comes from Strong’s number H1984, haw-lal', a primitive root; meaning to be clear (originally of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show; to boast; and thus, to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively to celebrate; also, to stultify.

Strong’s definition makes total sense when you contrast it with the passage in Ezekiel regarding the precious metals, jewels, and stones by which God had adorned Lucifer in the day in which he was created. 

His brightness must have been overwhelmingly beautiful, beyond imagination.  What’s more, he was created with instruments of music within him, which I could only imagine would’ve generated the most pleasant, joyous instrumentals ever captured by the human ear.

Ezekiel 28:13

“Thou hast been in Eden (this can’t be the king of Tyrus noted in Ezekiel 28:12) the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.”

Ezekiel 28:15

“Thou wast (past tense) perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, TILL (before) INIQUITY (evil—unjust, unrighteous perverted thoughts) WAS FOUND IN THEE.”

As soon as Lucifer allowed his heart to be lifted up because of his unmatched beauty, and determined in his heart—not even spoken audibly—that he would be “like” the most high God (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28:17)—that is when his wisdom became corrupt, sin was for the first time instantly present in him and he was from then on called Satan.

(See my post “SATAN—How Did He Get His Name?”) 

God obviously had created Lucifer with freewill, based on Lucifer’s instant conversion to sin due to pride.  God created him with the ability to sin.  And that’s exactly what happened, as the Bible demonstrates.  But understand this: God did not cause him to sin—it was Lucifer’s choice.  God simply knew it would happen.

SO WHY DID GOD CREATE LUCIFER IF HE KNEW LUCIFER WOULD REBEL? 

The Bible does not give a concise direct answer; but rather, we can deduce a logical explanation through proper study (2 Timothy 2:15).  But to provide a thorough comprehensive answer covering all possibilities, this post will become too in-depth, detailed, and long-winded.  Thus, I will do my best to keep it short.

I believe the short answer is that God purposed within Himself, before the world began, to use Lucifer’s anticipated rebellion (which is sin) as a component of God’s overall plan of creation to glorify His Son. 

His creation of the heavens and the earth and all that’s within them is designed to glorify His Son Jesus Christ—Lord of the universe—in which He is heir to (Hebrews 1:1-2).  Within this creation it is God’s desire to manifest Himself through Christ (1 Timothy 3:16) to redeem mankind (Titus 2:11-14).

Hebrews 1:1-2

“GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS SON, WHOM HE HATH APPOINTED HEIR OF ALL THINGS, by whom also he made the worlds;”

 

1 Timothy 3:16

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH (God was IN HIS SON), justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

 

Titus 2:11-14

“For the GRACE OF GOD that bringeth SALVATION hath appeared to ALL MEN,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST; (notice God and Saviour are one in the same.)

Who GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Consider this:

Evil is not good, but it is good (in a sense) there is evil—and in particular, SIN (I say this carefully).  WHY? Because God’s goodness, Holiness, righteousness, justice, sinlessness, love, grace, and forgiveness is demonstrated and magnified in contrast to sin.  Therefore, sin has a purpose—a purpose in Satan and a purpose in Adam and Eve.

Look at it this way:

Could you imagine if there was no sin—period?  It never existed. 

How would one comprehend the beautiful attributes of God and His Son aforementioned, and know His love and grace, and appreciate the selfless gift of His dear son to pay for YOUR sin debt by His shed blood at that cross of Calvary? 

Without sin, there would be no need for a Savior.  Without Lucifer’s fall to Satan, would man have sinned?  Maybe, maybe not.  We don’t know for sure.  But we do know one thing for certain, God used Lucifer’s rebellion as part of His plan to redeem mankind.

I pray this short study has been thought provoking and a blessing to you.  If you have thoughts, objections, etc., please let me know.  I’d love to hear them.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!

Be blessed!  

Brother Michael