In Genesis 1:31, God declares His creation to be “very good.” This indicates that everything He made was perfect, without sin, suffering, or evil. The world was in harmony, reflecting God’s goodness and design.
However, in Genesis 3:1–7, we see the entrance of evil into human experience. The serpent (Satan in disguise) deceives Eve by questioning God's word and character, leading her and Adam to eat from the forbidden tree. Their choice to disobey God introduced sin, shame, and separation from Him.
This passage shows that evil did not originate from God but entered the human world through deception and disobedience. Evil was already present in the universe before humanity sinned, as suggested in Revelation 12:7–9, where a cosmic battle took place in heaven. Satan, a fallen angel, rebelled against God and was cast down to earth with his angels. This cosmic conflict explains why Satan was present in the Garden of Eden to tempt humanity.
These passages together reveal that evil began with a rebellion in heaven and later entered the human race through deception. This highlights the nature of the great controversy between God and Satan—a battle over truth, love, and obedience. It also underscores the importance of free will: both angels and humans had the choice to follow God or turn away. The entrance of sin into the world was not God’s doing but resulted from a misuse of the freedom He granted to His creation.
More: Sabbath School Lesson 9 - The Cosmic Conflict