A Reflection on Division, War, and Human Hatred
I’m sharing this piece to explore a question as old as humanity.
Why now?
In a time marked by wars, unrest, division, and violence, it’s only natural to wonder: Why did God create human beings with individual will? If He is sovereign, wise, and loving, why allow people the freedom to hate, harm, and divide?
To answer that, we must return to the beginning.
It began in the Garden of Eden.
👉 Free Will: A Gift of Love ❤️
In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve a command, not because He wanted to control them, but because He gave them the dignity of choice.
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it…”
—Genesis 2:16–17 (KJV)
📌 God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27), with the ability to reason, feel, and choose. He desires a relationship with us, and relationships require freedom.
A relationship without freedom is not love, but control.
The freedom to obey or disobey was built into creation.
God, in His perfect love, did not create us as robots, but as beings who can think freely, make choices, and reach decisions.
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
—1 John 4:19 (KJV)
True love can only be given freely. That is why free will is not a creation flaw but a reflection of God’s love.
Love without choice is not love; it is coercion and cannot be genuine.
But love requires choice. And choice carries consequences.
👉 The Cost of Free Will
With free will comes the possibility of sin, and its consequences are evident throughout history and in today’s headlines.
Wars rage. Nations divide. Hatred grows.
Sadly, mankind has often chosen rebellion over obedience, self over God, and hatred over love.
We live in a broken world shaped not by God’s lack of control, but by humanity’s misuse of freedom.
James 4:1–2 gives a sobering insight:
“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”
—James 4:1 (KJV)
God did not create violence. We did. He did not design division. It flows from the choices we make apart from Him. Yet He allows it—not because He is indifferent, but because He values our freedom so deeply.
He established freedom. However, when that freedom is misused, sin comes in, bringing suffering along with it.
The brokenness we observe is not God’s desire; it stems from the inward turning of human will.
👉 God’s Sovereignty and Human Choice
Even as we exercise our will, Scripture teaches that God remains sovereign. He can work through human decisions—both good and evil—toward His greater purposes.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
—Romans 8:28 (KJV)
This does not mean God causes evil, but that He redeems even what is broken.
A perfect example is found in the life of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers—an evil act. But Joseph later tells them:
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good…”
—Genesis 50:20 (KJV)
God works to redeem and restore even in betrayal, loss, and conflict.
👉 A Call to Use Our Will for Good
Our will is a gift, and with it comes responsibility. The choices we make shape not only our lives but the lives of others. In a world where many choose hatred, fear, and power, we are called to choose differently.
“Choose you this day whom ye will serve…”
—Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
Peace, compassion, forgiveness, and truth—these are not forced upon us. They are chosen. And through those choices, we reflect the image of the One who made us.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
—Matthew 5:9 (KJV)
👉 The Hope Beyond the Brokenness
Though our world is marred by suffering, God has not left us without hope.
Though free will has brought pain into the world, it also opens the door to redemption. Jesus Christ came not to remove our ability to choose, but to offer a new path—to transform our will by His Spirit.
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
—John 10:10 (KJV)
Through Him, we are not just forgiven—we are empowered to live differently, to choose love over hatred, forgiveness over revenge, and hope over fear.
In the end, every act of faith, every step toward justice, and every expression of mercy is a decision- a use of free will aligned with God’s heart. When we choose rightly, we bring a glimpse of His kingdom into a hurting world.
📍Conclusion
Why did God give us individual will?
Because love demands freedom, and freedom allows both brokenness and beauty.
While we may not understand every reason behind today’s pain, we can be sure of this: God is still present, still sovereign, and still inviting us to choose Him.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
— Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV)
In a world divided, our choices matter. Let us use our will not to tear down but to build up—to be peacemakers, bridge-builders, and bearers of hope.