“So Jehovah set up a sign for Cain in order that no one … would strike him.”

(Genesis 4:15)

”At times Jehovah permits one of his servants to die.” (The Watchtower, March 1, 1984, page 15) For example, God had foreseen that Cain was going to slay righteous Abel, but he did not protect Abel. (Genesis 4:6, 7) But for the murderer Cain “Jehovah set up a sign … in order that no one … would strike him.” (Genesis 4:15) The psalmist aptly described God’s attitude: “Costly in the eyes of Jehovah Is the death of his loyal ones.” – Psalm 116:15.

But why is that? Why does God like it when righteous ones perish? One reason is that he can not rightfully “eliminate the wicked world” if there are too many righteous people. (What Does the Bible Really Teach?, page 32) Otherwise, the people could follow Abraham’s example and say: “Suppose there are 50 righteous men within the … [world]. Will you, then, sweep them away and not pardon the place for the sake of the 50 righteous who are inside it?” (Genesis 18:24) If all righteous ones have already perished though, nothing can prevent him from destroying the remaining population.

But obviously there is another, even more important reason why God is happy when a righteous person dies. After all, he promised in the Bible: “Jehovah cares for the righteous.” (The Watchtower, July 15, 2004, page 30) As long as the righteous are alive, he must care for them – the fewer righteous are there, the better. For a dead righteous he doesn’t need to care. Furthermore, “the eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous ones,” and when all “righteous ones” are in one place – the grave – this is much easier as if they would be distributed across the earth. – 1 Peter 3:12.