Does Evil Disprove God? The David Hume Investigation | A Case for God Ep. 30

What if a question about God’s goodness also began with something you had actually suffered? Would a logical answer be enough?

Introduction

The philosopher David Hume gave lasting force to an objection that remains familiar: How can an all-powerful, good God coexist with evil? In Episode 30 of A Case for God, Tammy, founder of You Ministries, examines the argument from evil through Hume’s Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and asks how Scripture speaks about God’s character and a world marked by suffering.

This is a question people can ask from a classroom or from a hospital room. We should take both the reasoning and the pain seriously.

Why David Hume’s Investigation Still Matters Today

The argument begins with three claims: God is all-powerful; God is good; and evil exists. If God can stop evil and wants to stop it, why does He permit it? Hume puts pressure on any easy answer that says suffering is small or always immediately understandable.

There are two related ways people raise this concern. The logical version asks whether God and evil can exist together at all. The evidential version points to the extent and severity of suffering and asks whether belief in God remains reasonable. A response to one version may not fully answer the other.

Christians have offered possible reasons for God’s temporary permission of evil, including the role of human freedom. Such accounts do not explain every illness, disaster, or act of cruelty. They also must never be used to tell a person that their particular pain was required for someone else’s growth.

For believers, Scripture invites trust in God’s goodness and a promised future in which death and pain will end. That is a confession of hope, not a claim that we can see all the reasons behind today’s suffering. We can reason carefully, pray honestly, and offer practical care at the same time.

Key Scriptures for This Investigation

These three passages from the lesson focus on God’s constancy, His goodness, and His promised renewal. They provide biblical claims to consider alongside Hume’s challenge while leaving room for a person’s unanswered questions.

Malachi 3:6 (ESV)

“For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”

Connection: In its setting, God’s unchanging character grounds His faithfulness to His people. The verse is not a direct proof that no evil can occur, but it does call readers to consider who God says He is.

Psalm 145:9 (ESV)

“The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”

Connection: The psalm praises God’s goodness and mercy. Suffering can make these words hard to receive; the biblical claim deserves to be heard without dismissing that difficulty.

Revelation 21:4 (ESV)

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Connection: The vision faces tears and death directly, then promises their end. Christian hope looks toward God’s renewal without saying that grief is unreal now.

Together, these texts do not give a complete explanation for each painful event. They tell us what the Bible says about God’s character and the future He promises.

Key Takeaways from the Investigation

• Take the argument from evil seriously, including the lived suffering behind it.
• Keep God’s promised renewal in view while allowing honest questions in the present.
• Respond to someone’s pain with patient listening and tangible care.

👉 Watch the Full YouTube Lesson👈

Want the complete biblical investigation? Tammy walks through Hume’s argument, the logical and evidential forms of the problem of evil, the lesson’s key Scriptures, and ways Christians can respond with both thought and compassion.

👉 Watch Episode 30 on YouTube Here 👈

In This Episode, You’ll Discover

• 📖 How Psalm 145 and Revelation 21 speak of God’s goodness and future renewal.
• 🧠 How Hume presses the question of evil against belief in God.
• 🔍 Why the logical and evidential objections require careful attention.
• 🙏 How to bring unanswered questions to God.
• 💡 How to serve someone in pain while the questions remain.

Join the Conversation

Have you found that a question about suffering needed both thoughtful discussion and someone willing to listen? Share what you feel comfortable sharing in the comments on the YouTube lesson. Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to follow A Case for God.

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Conclusion and Weekly Reflection

Hume’s challenge asks believers to face the evil in the world while speaking of a good God. Scripture calls God faithful and merciful and promises a future without tears. Between those claims and today’s grief, we may still have questions. Faith can bring those questions into honest conversation with God and move toward a hurting neighbor with care.

This week, take an honest inventory of a question or pain you may have been avoiding. Ask yourself: Have I allowed myself to name it truthfully? Is there someone whose suffering I could meet with a listening ear or a practical act of help?

God’s promise points toward the end of death and mourning. In Christ, you are invited to bring your questions to Him and to share His care today.

Next Episode Preview

Join us next week as we examine Galileo Galilei and the Catholic Church and explore a new question: Are science and religion compatible?