Genesis 8:21And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. ”
This verse struck me as I read. God chose to make this promise and seal it with the rainbow, but how sad for God to say that man’s heart is evil from his youth. It just reaffirms that our sin nature unchecked will always lead to death, violence and destruction. If we want to know why evil is happening so often these days it is because man has chosen not to resist the evil in his heart. Left to our own, we are self seeking, prideful, arrogant and want our way above all. It is only when we train our hearts and minds to think of others and love selflessly that we will see peace. God punished all of the earth, the ground and animals the first time. He will not do that again by His promise but man will suffer the consequences of his sin.