Genesis 6:11–12
Memory Verse
And the earth was in ruin before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth and behold it was ruined because all flesh had ruined its way upon the earth (Genesis 6:11–12).
Ruin is a word that conveys both physical and moral decay. Due to human wickedness, the earth was now in a state of ruin. All flesh had ruined its way, corrupting its genes by mixing with the fallen spirit beings who left their first estate (Jude 6). They not only sought to ruin the seed of the woman, but along with men, brought ruin to all flesh upon the earth (Genesis 6:2,4).
Along with their physical and moral decay came violence. This is not a type of violence that relates to wars and murder; rather, it is mercilessness, taking any opportunity to do wrong. Thus, an ethical wrongdoing, including robbery, extortion, false testimony, and may even extend to injury or oppression.
The corruption of the earth is still seen in the fossil record. Although it has been proven that most depictions of dinosaurs are based solely on artistic imagination, not on the actual appearance of the animals found, the bones show that the corruption was so extensive that it also affected all flesh.