Episode 10 - Is It the Worst It’s Ever Been?
In every generation, people say the same thing: “The world has never been this bad.” But Scripture says something different: there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
In this episode, we look at how cultures throughout history have normalized what God calls evil, why you cannot trust culture to define what is good, and why believers have always been called to live counterculturally. This truth brings unexpected peace to parents, survivors, and anyone trying to follow Christ in a confusing world.
We also wrestle with a difficult and deeply personal question from an early reader: If God has a plan for our lives, did He mean for abuse to happen?
Today is part history lesson, part theology, and part practical encouragement. The answer for believers is not fear of culture, but faithfulness to God’s Word.
Scriptures:
Genesis 6:5 (Noah)
Genesis 11 (Tower of Babel)
Genesis 12 (Sarai and Abram)
Genesis 18 and 19 (Sodom and Gomorrah)
Genesis 22 (Isaac, Abraham's faith that God would provide v8)
Genesis 50:20 (What you meant for evil)
Leviticus 18:3, 21, 27, 29 (Do not do as they do)
Numbers 11:29 (Moses's wish)
Deuteronomy 12:4, 8, 30-31 (Do not do as they do)
Judges 17:6 (no king, everyone did as they saw fit), 18:1 (no king), 19:1 (no king), 21:25 (no king, everyone did as they saw fit)
1 Kings 16-21 (Jezebel)
Job 38-41 (God speaks)
Proverbs 14:12 (There is a way that seems right, but leads to death)
Jeremiah 17:9 (Heart is deceitful)
Daniel 1-6 (Daniel in Babylon)
John 17:17 (God's Word is Truth)
Romans 8:28 (The good of those who love Him)
Romans 9:20-21 (Clay to Potter, also in Isaiah 45:9, Jeremiah 18:6)
Ephesians 6:4 (Bring them up, also in Proverbs 22:6)
James 1:13-15 (God is not tempted by evil, nor does he tempt us with it, we are enticed to sin by our own evil desires)
1 John 4:4 (Greater is the One in you)
June's statement, "God hates evil acts against children, and human to human:
Matt 18:6 says better a millstone around your neck and drowned than to cause a child to sin.
The seven things God hates: Proverbs 6:16-19 (arrogance, lying, murder and violence against the innocent, malicious intent or evil schemes, feet swiftly running to evil, maligning character falsely, and causing strife in relationships).
Kayla quoting, "They couldn't control Christ's birth or death."
Christ's birth, God was sovereign and in control:
Christ's line (Matt 1) was repeatedly threatened:
Abram & Jacob both gave wives under false pretenses
Abraham and Jacob's wives had them both sleep with concubines (Gen 16 & 30)
Judah's sons and Tamar (Gen 38)
Boaz had to say yes to Ruth (Ruth 3)
Solomon's women from other nations (1 Kings 11)
Couldn't kill Him when they wanted to:
Matthew 2:1-23, Matthew 12:14-15, Luke 4:28-30, John 8:59, John 10:39, John 11:47-53
Couldn't stop Him from dying in His sovereign timing:
Jesus repeatedly foretold His death and resurrection, knew when it was His time (Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; John 13:1-4) Jesus had the power to avoid death, instead gave His life willingly, in fulfillment of God's eternal plan (Matthew 26:53; John 10:17–18; Acts 2:23-24; 1 Peter 1:20).
The Ecclesiastes section:
*Kayla accidently said Ephesians at one point, but all Ecclesiastes
Solomon tries it all:
2:1-11
Solomon declares vanities:
1:2, 2:2, 5:10
Solomon's conclusion:
12:13-14, with a small teaser in 2:24-25
RESOURCES:
Article by Jenna Ross
Timeline
Greece: 800 BC–146 BC
Greco-Roman influence: 500 BC–400 AD
Rome: 753 BC–476 AD
Vocabulary
Erastes (lover, older man)
Eromenos (beloved/younger)
Proaulia (pre-wedding rites)
Coemptio (marriage by purchase)
Usus (marriage by cohabitation)
Manus (father’s hand to husband)
Mythology Mentioned
Zeus & Ganymede, Artemis, Aphrodite (Venus), Athena, Hera, Adonis
Article about the festival of Adonia:
Recommended Resource on God's sovereignty:
Chapter 9 of "Consider the Lilies" by Jonny Ardavanis
YOU ARE WORTH what IT takes to heal,
AND you are NEVER ALONE,
June and Kayla