Artists’s rendition of Cain and Abel
Public domain per notice on Accuracy in Genesis
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
It was just yesterday, or perhaps the day before, that I was listening to a podcast. I did not catch the country, and it did not seem important at the time, but I suspect it was in the Middle East. It certainly came to mind today. Violence is so common in this unknown country that when a bombing happens, people pick up and then go about their daily lives as though nothing happened. Of course, it is a little different here in the US, but for how long?
This world is such a contrast to what we picture in the Millennium, which is symbolized by the Feast of Tabernacles. The contrast is much starker when these events take place in the fall near that time. The current world of violence butts up against the coming time of peace that is pictured by the Bible.
This is not now God’s world. There is an evil ruler in charge during this age, and he likes to wreck havoc.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Satan was the original murderer, or at least the first attempted murderer. He coveted God’s throne and tried to take God’s place!
When I was young and heard the following verse, I had something very different in mind. I don’t know what thoughts it evokes in you, but I used to think about wild parties and people more interested in pleasure than in doing what was right. There’s more to it, though. Once people cross a certain line, and it can be different for different people, frustration sets in for you can not always get what you desire. Therefore, the unrestrained person feels justified by taking it — by force if necessary.
No, these days this verse makes me think of 9/11, Columbine, the Boston Marathon bombings and many other such things. In spite of violence, the people pictured in this passage go about their daily lives after they pick up the pieces, for violence has become normal to them.
26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.