Why Did God Create Satan?

Zachariah (grade 4) asked,

“Why did God create Satan as an angel when he knew he was going to do bad?”

That’s a great question!

The Bible does not give us a direct answer to your question, but we can look to Scripture to help.

First, Genesis 1:31 tells us that God created everything during creation week to be very good, including the angels and Satan. Ezekiel 28:15 says of the devil, “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.”

God’s original world was very good. But God also created humans and angels with the ability to obey or disobey him. Sometime after creation week, some of the angels, including Satan, rebelled against God. God desires his creation to obey him, but because he is omniscient (knows everything), he was not surprised when Satan rebelled.

Our next clue comes from Colossians 1:16, which says, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (emphasis added). Even though God knew Satan (and later mankind) would rebel against him, he still made Satan (and you and me) because he wanted to. He loves mankind so much that even though we have all sinned by disobeying God, he had a perfect plan to redeem us and all of creation by sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for us and then raising him from the dead. Read more about God’s plan for salvation here.

Do you have a question about God’s Word or his world that you want us to answer? Is there a topic you want to learn more about? Ask your parents to help you submit your question today. Watch for our answer here on the blog or in Kids Answers magazine. We’d love to hear from you!