The second thing revealed to Israel early in Genesis: evil's power. Evil ruptured the relationship God wanted between Himself and humans [who were created in His own image and likeness]. Evil made the consequences for human choices necessary. Evil made the perversion of God's "very good" physical creation necessary. Evil so influenced human choices that people become completely evil, totally alienated from God, and devoted to evil.
Evil's effectiveness in deceiving people is seen in two incidents. The first is the interaction of two brothers, Cain and Abel (Genesis 4). Significant facts: (1) each son came from the same parents. (2) Both parents knew the quality of human existence when evil was not a part of that existence. (3) Both parents experienced relationship and communication with God when evil was absence. (4) Both parents experienced evil's consequences in the most striking contrast possible. The contrast was this: a world in which evil was not involved in human existence compared to a world in which evil is a part of human existence. (5) Cain and Abel's parents clearly understood the consequences of evil's deception, more so than any person who has lived [with the exception of Jesus].
In spite of Adam and Eve's knowledge and experience, in spite of the lessons Adam and Eve learned about the consequences of evil, Cain killed Abel. Information given about Cain's murderous act does not place its responsibility on the weakness and failure of Cain's parents. Responsibility for the murder is placed on Cain's self-centered arrogance. Before and after the murder, Cain is more concerned about himself than his motives or act. Cain rejected God's sovereignty because Cain was convinced it was in his best interest to do so. Cain was willing to give God sacrifices honoring God's sovereignty only if God served Cain's self-seeking role and purposes. In his thinking, God existed for Cain's purposes instead of Cain existing for God's purposes.
In Cain's murderous act, Israel was introduced to a new human attitude. Cain's act of murder plunged human rejection of God's sovereignty to a new low. People could not murder God, but people could murder other people, people made in God's image and likeness. Evil people can so despise God that they want nothing to do with Him or the people who honor Him. Cain deliberately tried to separate himself "from the presence of the Lord" (Genesis 4:16).
Seth was born to Cain's parents. As a person, Seth was in complete contrast to Cain. Cain tried to remove himself from God's presence. Seth was the origin of people who "began to call upon the name of the Lord" (Genesis 4:26).
The second incident centers on the descendants of Cain and of Seth. Through these two men from the same parents, we are introduced to (a) the beginning of a people who wanted nothing to do with God and (b) the beginning of a people who honored God.
At some point those who sought to honor God married those who had no concern for God. A disturbing parallel exists. Eve fell to evil's deception and influenced Adam to join her rebellion against God's sovereignty. In similar manner, the merging of these two groups is depicted as "the sons of God" marrying the "daughters of men." [Jesus said angels are sexless and marriage does not exist in the celestial realm (Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25; Luke 20:34-36). Genesis 6:3 indicates those born of these marriages were human. In this lesson, the sons of God marrying the daughters of men is understood to be marriage between peoples who had a different focus in life, not marriage between angels and humans.]
The sons of God took wives from the daughters of men because they regarded those women as beautiful. This group practiced indiscriminate marriage. Their search for wives used the criteria of physical desire. Evidently they did not seek women who shared their focus on God. Again, evil became the dominant influence.
Evil was the dominant influence when Eve was tempted. Evil was the dominant influence when Cain killed Abel. Evil was the dominant influence when the sons of God married the daughters of men. How dominant was evil's influence? The moment came early in human history when God saw that human wickedness on the earth was great. When was that? It occurred when God noted that every intent of humanity's thoughts in their hearts was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5).
Also notice God's response to human evil progressively escalated. With Adam and Eve, the response was (1) pain, (2) an increase in pregnancies, (3) struggles in caring for physical survival needs, and (4) a forfeiture of an ideal living situation. With Cain, God's response was condemnation to the life of a vagrant wander who carried an indelible mark. With the evil people of Noah's day, God's response was a "blotting out" of people.
God was so grieved, so distressed by people's wickedness that He wished He had not created humans. The incredible potential for good God placed in humanity did not dominate people's hearts, minds, and actions. When given a choice between honoring the God who created them or being destructively deceived by evil, people consistently chose destructive deception. Evil's deceptions captured humanity and placed them in a downward spiral, and PEOPLE DID NOT REALIZE WHAT EVIL WAS DOING.
God's response to the situation of total human evil was a progressive response. (1) God could not continue in relationship with people who dishonored Him and rejected His sovereignty (Genesis 6:3). (2) God set a time frame for human repentance (Genesis 6:3). When human wickedness continued to control people's emotions, thoughts, and intents, (3) God was sorry that He created people (Genesis 6:6). That resulted in His grieving. (4) God planned the destruction of humanity (Genesis 6:7).
One person found favor with God. One person was a man of integrity. One person would listen to and respond to God (Genesis 6:8,9). With that one person, Noah, God began again. That seems to us a "wise and practical" approach. Destroy all the evil people. Make a covenant with the man of integrity who listened to God (Genesis 9:9-17). Begin again with the one person who would listen to God and obey. Surely the result would be a humanity with integrity.
However, that was not the result. The man who listen to God got drunk (Genesis 9:20-27). His drunkenness compromised his integrity and created opportunity for evil. When a significant population existed again, people arrogantly rivaled God and challenged His sovereignty (Genesis 11:4). Beginning again by physically destroying evil people was not the answer. God's sovereignty was not reestablished by imposing physical consequences.
Thought question: Why are people so susceptible to evil's deception?
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 3