What Eucherius has posed, in essence, is the "problem of evil," or theodicy. How can an omnipotent, omniscient, just God permit evil in our world--such as the terrible suffering of an innocent child? This question caused me to stumble greatly in my youth, many years before I discovered the true Church of the Orthodox. The answer to the question is simple, but profound.
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The Triune God saw that it was good to create a cosmos of beings in His own image and likeness, capable of exercising rational and creative capacities in freedom. He did not choose to create a cosmos of automatons, robots who would always obey His perfect will. Both the bodiless hosts (angels) and man were created with freedom of the will. This freedom was good in the sight of God, but also presented opportunities for the bodiless hosts, and man, to sin. Evil in the world arises from sin on the part of both men and bodiless hosts who have fallen from grace (i.e., demons.) There is also so-called natural "evil" (earthquakes, etc.) arising from processes inherent in the physical properties of the created cosmos, which can be influenced by spiritual forces if God so wills. Christ God, for example, was able to calm the Sea of Tiberias, and taught that even man "could move mountains" through faith.
With regard to the murdered child, recall the teaching of Christ God: "Offenses will come into the world, but woe to him by whom the offense comes!" Christ also said of those who abuse children, "It would be better for that man if a millstone were tied around his neck and he were cast into the sea...."
