A higher form of life already existed​—“godlike ones,” spirit creatures, also called angels.​—Psalm 8:5.

One of these “godlike ones,” of whom there are millions, saw his opportunity to become a real god-ruler for the first man and woman, instead of Jehovah their Creator. Using his free will, he deliberately lied to the woman to induce her and, through her, her husband to be disobedient to God. He implied that God was a liar and a deceiver. He told her that independent thinking and acting would not lead to death, as God had stated, but asserted: “You are bound to be like God, knowing good and bad.”​—Genesis 3:1-5.

By his course of action, this godlike one started a rebellion against God’s rulership​—a rebellion witnessed by millions of angels. In this way the exercise of rightful sovereignty became a universal issue. That opposing angel became God’s adversary, which from Hebrew is translated “Satan.” By putting in doubt God’s truthfulness, Satan also became the first slanderer, which from Greek is translated “Devil.” This initial rebellion triggered the chain of events that has led to mankind’s sufferings.

Why didn’t Jehovah nip the rebellion in the bud by destroying Satan back there in Eden? As the Almighty, he certainly had the power to do it. However, Satan had not challenged God’s power but, rather, his way of exercising it. By arguing against God’s stated law, Satan in effect claimed that God’s way of ruling is wrong and not really to the benefit of his creatures. He also argued that under test humans would not remain loyal to God. (Job, chapters 1 and 2) How could the challenge be met and settled once and for all?

Perhaps we can compare God’s way of dealing with wayward humankind to the prodigal, or wasteful, son in one of Jesus’ parables. Jesus told of a man with two sons, the younger of which demanded his share of the inheritance while his father was still alive. He wanted to be independent, to leave home and prove he could make it alone. The father could have taken swift action by refusing the son’s request and by locking him up in a room so that he could not escape. Would that have served any lasting purpose? No, because the son would then have stayed against his will. Furthermore, it would have denied him the exercise of his free will. So what did the father do?

Jesus explained: “The father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.” Things got so bad that this Jewish son had to hire himself out as a herder of swine. Even though there was food for the pigs, there was none for him. Jesus continued: “Then he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger!’” So, what did he do? He decided to go back home in repentance and throw himself on his father’s mercy.​—Luke 15:11-32, The Jerusalem Bible.

Now, what had it taken for that young man to come to his senses? Time and experience. The father had not taken drastic action but had allowed time for the son to see the folly of his ways. True, the boy suffered during the experience, but it brought him to his senses.