I've started reading Fear and Trembling by Kierkegaard which I think is going to link well with the topic of evil and suffering. I'm finding some of the language and how it's laid out a bit hard to understand but I think it will start to be easier as I keep reading. The beginning of the book tells the story of Abraham who is asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac in order to prove his faith. When Abraham is about to carry out with the sacrifice, God calls out to him and tells him that he doesn't need to harm his son as he has proven his faith through being willing to do it. After reading this I did some research into the story and found the original passage. In my opinion the story is one of the more controversial bible stories as it depicts a God who is willing to trick his followers and risk their happiness which goes against the idea of an omnibenevolent God. In Fear and Trembling Abraham is described as (before preparing to sacrifice Isaac) pretending to Isaac that he is not his father and is sacrificing him because he wants to, not because it is God's will. He is written as thinking 'Lord in heaven I thank Thee; it is after all better that he believe I am a monster than he lose faith in Thee'. This variation on the story suggests that Abraham himself is aware that the action God is requesting he carry out is immoral and wrong, and that if Isaac or others become aware that it it's God's will then their eyes will be opened to his true nature which isn't that of an all loving God. Stories such as this exist in the Bible, along with the story of Job and others which hint at God being willing to  make a bet with the devil, trick his followers, make them ill, kill their children and lose their friends simply in order for them to further prove their faith to him seemingly contradict the fact that the God of Abraham is defined as omnibenevolent, however accepting that he isn't infact all-loving provides a possible explanation as to why he allows so much evil and suffering in the world.