Jesus Suffered Them

Luke 8:32 KJV

And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

Barnes has an interesting observation in answer to those who object to Jesus "suffering" the devils to enter the swine and kill them. It isn't an answer that is easy, but it is one that brings forth reason for thought. He reminds us that God "suffers" evil of all kinds on this earth today.

• He suffers the conflicts that are taking place in the Middle East where right now they say the Syrian government is killing one hundred or more of their own people per day.
• He suffered Josh Powell to kill himself his own children by first hacking them with a hatchet and then blowing them up in a fiery inferno last weekend.
• He suffers unbelieving men and women into government offices where they have now legalized gay marriage; a lifestyle that is overtly anti biblical.

Why would God suffer such wickedness when He has the obvious ability to prevent it?

The answer is in the eternal plan of God for a people who are redeemed not of coercion but out of pure love for Him. I do not pretend to understand God's plan but I have just enough of a grasp of it to know that even the evil Satan inflicts (God doesn't inflict evil, but only "suffers" Satan) will be turned for good and will, in the end bring glory to God.