The False Voice
1. Voice of the Enemy (Genesis 3:13 ESV)
13 “Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
2. Voice of the Flesh (Genesis 4:6-9 ESV)
The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted?And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for[b] you, and you must rule over it.” 8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?”
3. Voice of the Crowds (Genesis 6:5-8 ESV)
5 “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
Did you know that our greatest battle often takes place in our minds?
Our enemy, Satan, is constantly seeking to bombard us with destructive thoughts and agendas. The moment he succeeds in influencing our thinking, people suffer. Families suffer. Marriages suffer. Churches suffer. Nations suffer. Yes, God is sovereign, all-powerful, and Satan’s power is ultimately under God’s authority. At the same time, Scripture warns us:
“Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
One of Satan’s primary weapons is deception. He seeks to take our thoughts captive and use them to destroy the beautiful plans God has for our lives, our families, our spouses, our children, our churches, and our communities.
At the same time, we also battle our flesh. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish whether a destructive action originates from the enemy’s temptation or from our own sinful desires. Regardless of the source, when we listen to the wrong voices, destruction follows.
There are three classic examples in the book of Genesis that reveal how destructive voices can lead people away from God:
1. The Voice of the Enemy (Genesis 3)
2. The Voice of the Flesh (Genesis 4)
3. The Voice of Corruption and the Crowd (Genesis 6)
Let’s begin with the first voice.
1. The Voice of the Enemy - Genesis 3:13 (ESV)
“Then the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’” This is perhaps the greatest scandal in human history.
God had created Adam and Eve in His image. They were already blessed, already loved, and already complete in Him. Yet Eve began to believe that something better existed beyond God’s command. The grass appeared greener on the other side. Instead of trusting God’s goodness, she listened to the serpent’s voice and ate the one forbidden fruit.
The devil initiated the temptation.
How often does Satan come to us with similar lies? He whispers that we are unworthy, defeated, forgotten, or that God’s ways are not enough. His goal is always the same, to pull us away from God.
The devil’s plans are destructive. If we fall into his trap, we will eventually suffer the consequences, just as Adam and Eve did. They went from enjoying fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden to experiencing pain, toil, and separation from His presence.
That was never God’s desire for humanity.
God created us in His image so that we might live in the fullness of His purposes. His plans are good. Therefore, we must be watchful. Do not allow the enemy to sit at your table. Do not allow him to conquer your mind. We grow in discernment by knowing God more deeply through His Word, prayer, the fellowship of believers, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The more familiar we become with God’s voice, the easier it becomes to recognize the lies of the enemy.
2. The Voice of the Flesh
The account of Cain teaches us another important lesson. The text does not specifically say that the devil made Cain kill his brother Abel. Instead, God warned Cain about the danger that was already growing within his own heart.
Genesis 4:7 (ESV) “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
God gave Cain a warning.
In many ways, God gives us similar warnings today. He reminds us not to play with fire because we may get burned. He warns us not to entertain sinful thoughts because they can lead to destructive actions. Yet people often surrender to impulses such as jealousy, envy, bitterness, anger, and hatred. Cain did exactly that, and the result was murder.
Not all murder happens physically.
Sometimes people destroy another person’s reputation, calling, or identity through gossip and slander. Scripture does not call us to gossip about one another; it calls us to speak truthfully and lovingly. When jealousy and hatred take control, people can wound their brothers and sisters in Christ with their words. God hates both murder and malicious gossip because both destroy what He loves. After Cain sinned, he faced the consequences of his actions.
Genesis 4:13–14 (ESV) “Cain said to the LORD, ‘My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden.’”
The voice of the flesh always promises satisfaction but ultimately leads to regret.
3. The Voice of the Crowd
Perhaps the most dangerous voice of all is the voice of the crowd. As young men and women, if we do not surround ourselves with a Christ-centered community, we will naturally be influenced by voices that are not rooted in Christ. Standing against the crowd requires prayer, conviction, spiritual maturity, humility, and a deep commitment to God.
In Noah’s day, society became completely corrupt.
Genesis 6:5 (ESV) “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
And again: Genesis 6:11–12 (ESV) “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.”
This is one of the saddest realities in human history. The majority chose the voice of corruption rather than the voice of God. Yet Noah chose differently. He listened to God even when no one else did.
Genesis 6:8 (ESV) “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”
Genesis 6:9 (ESV)“Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”
While the crowd moved toward destruction, Noah and his family were preserved because they listened to God’s voice. Now, you may ask, how do we flourish and step into the purposes of God that bring life? It is simple: by being seated at the table with God, communing with Him, and allowing Him to lead us.
About God: We also need to be confident that God is a good Shepherd. God is good. God is just. God is faithful. God will take care of us. God has made us in His image. God has made us righteous through Christ. God loves us regardless of our failures. God does not condemn us. God forgives us. God gives us new life. Therefore, we will listen to God. We will listen to His voice, the voice that unfolds His best plans for my life. We will not listen to the voice of the flesh, the serpent, or the lost crowd. In fact, we will make every effort to tell the crowd to hear God, just as Noah did. Let us confess together: God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
