The devil got his foot in the door immediately. Eve disobeyed, Adam followed suit. Death is ushered in. Murder quickly ensued (Cain slew Abel). By Noah’s time God repented that he had even created man, so He destroyed the earth and man. But it wasn’t long after that men set out to reach the heavens with a tower so God had to confound their language. God reached out to His people again and acted to deliver them from slavery in Egypt. He performed miracles to save them. He sent manna to feed them. But they complained vociferously. Even while He showed Himself to Moses on the mountain and gave a law for His people, they were at the foot of the mountain crafting false gods. A law was given that they couldn’t keep completely.
The devil was relishing all of this, having his way with man.
Judges were introduced to benefit His people, but they were not good enough for them. They wanted a king. So they got what they (and the devil) wanted. God’s people forgot Him over and over, time and again. God tried reaching them. God punished them. All to no avail. Yet He wouldn’t give up on them. He had one prophet after another speak of a Messiah that would come. They waited. And waited.
And then Messiah came. Regardless, King Herod and all Jerusalem was troubled when they learned of His birth, so Herod tried killing him at the very outset. The devil himself got in Jesus’ face and tempted Him. The religious leaders of the day, Jews, tried to entrap Him and make Him look bad. They envied Him and sought to destroy Him. Rome feared Him and would just as soon He went away. Judas betrayed Him; Peter denied Him. He was mocked and lied about. Jesus was sentenced to death for nothing He had done wrong, and a convicted and noted robber was let go free to ensure that He was crucified. He was hung on a cross surrounded by common thieves.
The devil had everything going according to plan, right? Sin ruled. Surely God would send a flood to wipe man away again.
Oh, God sent a flood alright — He flooded us with Grace, through Jesus and His resurrection! …But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21 NIV