The Source and Means of Evil

By Pastor Tim Howard, M.A.H.S.

“The devil made me do it.” Most of us don’t mean that literally. We usually mean it secondarily—that there was an influence, a push, a suggestion. And in that sense, the devil does deserve blame. Scripture is clear: he introduced rebellion into God’s good world. Yet Scripture is just as clear that evil did not spread because humanity was overpowered, but because humanity agreed.

The serpent tempted; the man and the woman chose. Evil entered the world not merely through deception, but through consent. Humanity accepted doubt, embraced self-glory over God’s authority, and relinquished its God-given dominion. What began as temptation resulted in alienation—from God, from one another, and even from the ground itself.

But this raises an important question: Can one fallen spiritual being really account for the depth, breadth, and persistence of evil throughout human history? Scripture suggests the answer is no.

The devil was not alone—and never has been.

Who Is Responsible?

The serpent represents the first rebellion, and arguably the most influential. Yet Scripture points to a second rebellion, one that dramatically expanded the reach of evil in the world.

Genesis 6 introduces a troubling episode:

“The sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.” (Genesis 6:2)

These “sons of God” are not presented as ordinary human beings. Some argue they were merely the godly line of Seth, but that interpretation struggles to account for how Scripture consistently uses the phrase sons of God elsewhere.

Throughout the Old Testament, the phrase refers to divine or spiritual beings who belong to God’s heavenly family:

• Job 1:6; 2:1 — the sons of God present themselves before the LORD

• Job 38:7 — the sons of God rejoice at creation

• Psalm 82 — God judges the gods, called sons of the Most High

• Psalm 89:6 — the sons of God in the heavenly council

• Deuteronomy 32:8 (LXX / DSS) — the nations allotted according to the number of the sons of God

In contrast, Scripture also uses son language for Israel and later for believers, but in a covenantal and redemptive sense:

• Israel is called God’s son (Exod. 4:22; Hos. 11:1)

• The Davidic king is called God’s son (Ps. 2:7; 2 Sam. 7:14)

• Believers are called sons of God through Christ (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 3:26)

This raises an important theological question:

Why does the language of “sons of God” shift from heavenly beings, to Israel, to followers of Christ?

Rebellion, Judgment, and the Transfer of Authority

The sons of God were created as part of God’s spiritual family and entrusted with real authority—particularly authority connected to the nations. But like the serpent, some rebelled.

Psalm 82 pulls back the curtain and shows us a divine courtroom:

“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment.” (Ps. 82:1)

These beings are rebuked not for lacking power, but for abusing it—for ruling unjustly, protecting the wicked, and failing the vulnerable. The verdict is severe:

“You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” (Ps. 82:6–7)

They lose their immortality and their right to rule. Authority is revoked.

This judgment explains the biblical storyline that follows. At Babel, humanity once again rebelled—attempting to reach heaven on its own terms. God responded by confusing the languages and dispersing the nations. Deuteronomy 32 explains what that dispersal meant spiritually:

“When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance… he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.” (Deut. 32:8)

God disinherited the nations, but He did not abandon His plan. He kept Israel for Himself (Deut. 32:9), intending that through Israel—and ultimately through Christ—the nations would be reclaimed.

Israel, however, also rebelled. Kings failed. Priests failed. The law exposed sin but could not heal it. The story demanded a faithful Son.

That Son was Jesus.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus disarmed the rebellious powers and reclaimed their authority:

“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame.” (Col. 2:15)

Now, astonishingly, believers are called sons of God—not by nature, but by adoption. And Scripture says they will one day participate in judgment:

“Do you not know that we are to judge angels?” (1 Cor. 6:3)

The Ongoing Influence of the Evil Sons of God

While demon possession is real, it is not the preferred strategy of evil. Influence, not invasion, has always been the primary method.

Deception and Distorted Truth

Evil powers specialize in lies—not creative lies, but twisted truths. They cannot create; they can only distort. Like the serpent in Eden, they introduce doubt, redefine good and evil, and encourage humanity to exchange truth for comfort.

Paul describes this clearly:

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie.” (Rom. 1:25)

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers.” (2 Cor. 4:4)

False ideologies, corrupt moral frameworks, and cultural narratives that normalize sin are not accidental. They are systematic.

Authority Structures and Systems

Evil embeds itself in systems—political, economic, religious, and social—until it feels normal. Paul reminds us:

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood…” (Eph. 6:12)

The true conflict is not primarily interpersonal; it is spiritual. Scripture consistently links idolatry with nations because spiritual rulers influence cultures and institutions. Evil is not random—it is targeted, strategic, and persistent.

Idolatry and Misplaced Allegiance

Idols are not merely statues. Idolatry occurs whenever loyalty, identity, or trust is placed in something other than God. Paul warns:

“What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God.” (1 Cor. 10:20)

Whatever you worship will shape you. Whatever shapes you will eventually rule you.

Modern idolatry often hides in plain sight—wealth, power, sex, ideology, nationalism, even religion itself. These systems can become conduits for spiritual influence that distances people from God while appearing respectable or even virtuous.

Hope, Victory, and Vigilance

As sobering as this is, Scripture never leaves us in fear.

Jesus has already won.

“He disarmed the principalities and powers.” (Col. 2:15)

These beings have influence only where truth is abandoned. The church is now the means by which God’s wisdom is displayed—even to the spiritual realm:

“So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 3:10)

Spiritual warfare is not primarily about dramatic encounters. It is about discernment, obedience, truth, prayer, worship, and love.

The most powerful spiritual declaration a believer can make is simple:

“Jesus is Lord.”

What if we are fighting the wrong battles?

What if our real struggle is not against people, but against unseen powers?

What if outrage, hatred, and division are tools meant to distract us from our true calling?

What if humanity is playing into the hands of a sinister plan to divert them away from what truly matters?

What if the hate born from slander, offense, and difference of opinion are merely a tool of the enemy used to drive a wedge into the bond of humanity?

What if every act of dehumanization serves an agenda far older than politics or culture?

What if every dart of hate thrown at another human is handed to us by a decisive entity whose sole desire is to destroy humanity?

What if that dart is attractively decorated with revenge, retaliation, and a false sense of justice?

What if we are feeding the monster instead of fighting the real culprit?

What if we are being played at a level beyond human reality?

What if we are all pawns in a supernatural battle?

What would happen if we refused to throw the dart?

What would happen if we resisted the desire to destroy others?

What if refusing to hate is an act of spiritual resistance?

What if loving without condition is the most subversive act imaginable?

What if we remembered that evil only holds power when we give it permission?

What if we simply refuse to obey the voice that persuades us to condemn and judge others?

What if we chose truth over outrage, love over condemnation, and allegiance to Christ above all else?

That is not weakness.

That is victory.