Why Did God Allow the Holocaust?
Few questions pierce the human heart like the question of why God allowed the Holocaust. The murder of six million Jews under the Nazi regime, along with millions of others, was one of the darkest episodes in human history. It raises not only emotional grief but theological questions: how could an all-powerful, all-loving God permit such evil? From a biblical perspective, this cannot be answered in isolation but must be understood within the larger framework of sin, the fall, and God’s sovereign purposes in history.
1. The problem of evil and the fall
The Bible consistently frames human suffering and atrocity within the context of humanity’s rebellion against God. From the first act of disobedience in Genesis 3, creation was subjected to futility and curse (Genesis 3:17–19; Romans 8:20–21). When humanity rejected God, the very source of life, it plunged itself into death and darkness.
Sin affects every dimension of human life: physical, emotional, and mental.
Estrangement from God produces estrangement from one another: Cain’s murder of Abel (Genesis 4:8) sets the trajectory for human history.
The Holocaust reflects the full depth of this fallenness: human cruelty magnified by modern machinery and ideology.
The Holocaust was not an accident in history; it was the fruit of human sin and rebellion, carried to its horrifying conclusion.
2. The darkness of human depravity
Events like the Holocaust reveal the terrible truth about the human condition. Scripture testifies that apart from God, people are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9).
The Holocaust was a chilling embodiment of this:
Devaluing of human life – When God is rejected, humanity loses its grounding for dignity (Genesis 1:27).
Idolatry of race and power – Ideologies that exalt nation or ethnicity above God lead to oppression and violence (Romans 1:21–25).
Absence of divine light – Sin creates a world of perpetual night, where evil appears unchecked until God’s appointed end (John 3:19).
The twentieth century’s genocides, from Armenia to Rwanda, remind us that where God’s truth is denied, cruelty flourishes.
3. God’s sovereignty and the mystery of suffering
The Bible never portrays God as absent in the face of human evil. Instead, it teaches that God remains sovereign even when His purposes are hidden (Isaiah 55:8–9). He can permit great evil without being its author, and He uses even what humans mean for evil to accomplish His greater plans (Genesis 50:20).
The Holocaust raises questions we cannot fully answer, but several biblical truths provide guidance:
God permits evil but restrains it: History shows that evil has limits, boundaries set by God’s providence (Job 1:12).
Suffering often serves to awaken hearts: Times of horror remind humanity of its desperate need for redemption (Romans 3:23–24).
Judgment and hope coexist: Even when entire nations are swallowed by violence, God’s plan to renew creation remains unshaken (Habakkuk 1:5).
The Holocaust was not outside God’s control, even though its horror defies human comprehension.
4. Israel, the church, and history
The Holocaust particularly raises questions about God’s people Israel. Scripture makes clear that Israel’s history is inseparably tied to God’s covenant promises (Deuteronomy 7:6–8). But those promises are fulfilled in Christ, who is the true Israel (Matthew 2:15; Galatians 3:16).
The Holocaust should not be reduced to a dispensational scheme of preparing for a future earthly kingdom.
Instead, it reminds us of the covenantal truth that apart from Christ, both Jew and Gentile alike remain subject to sin and death.
Yet in Christ, all the promises of God find their “Yes” and “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Thus, even in such immense suffering, God’s redemptive plan moves forward toward its fulfillment in Christ’s eternal reign.
5. The cross as the ultimate answer
Ultimately, the question of why God allowed the Holocaust must be answered at the cross of Christ. Jesus, the innocent sufferer, bore the full weight of sin and death. He entered into the world’s darkness, experiencing betrayal, injustice, and death.
Christ identifies with suffering: On the cross, He echoed the cry of forsakenness (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46).
Christ conquers suffering: Through resurrection, He triumphed over death and every power of evil (Colossians 2:15).
Christ offers hope: The cross shows that even the worst evil cannot thwart God’s purposes but instead becomes the means of salvation (Acts 2:23–24).
The Holocaust exposes humanity’s need for a Savior who can deal with both sin and its consequences. The Gospel promises that in Christ, suffering is not the last word.
6. Awaiting God’s final resolution
The Holocaust stands as a sobering reminder that history is still awaiting its final resolution. Scripture promises that Christ will return to judge the living and the dead, bringing an end to sin, death, and evil (Revelation 20:11–15).
Until then, the world remains scarred by tragedy. Believers groan with creation, waiting for the redemption of their bodies (Romans 8:22–23). The Holocaust, like every atrocity, points us to the hope of new creation, where God will dwell with His people and wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4).
Conclusion
Why did God allow the Holocaust? The Bible does not give us a simple answer. But it frames the Holocaust within the broader reality of sin, the fall, and God’s sovereign purposes. It reminds us of the darkness of human depravity, the mystery of God’s providence, and the hope found only in Christ. The Holocaust forces us to confront the seriousness of sin and our desperate need for redemption.
God does not promise to explain every tragedy, but He does promise that through Christ, evil will be judged, suffering will end, and His people will be restored to everlasting peace.
Bible verses related to the Holocaust
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19)
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8)
“Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)
“If we endure, we will also reign with him.” (2 Timothy 2:12)
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed.” (Romans 8:18)
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 21:4)
“Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)
