March 14, 2006
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-9
Jim Shields, Sanctuary (Concord)
Read the passage and respond to these questions:
1. Compare God’s specific command with the woman’s later quotation and the serpent’s interpretation.
2. What was Eve’s fundamental problem with God’s instruction?
I’ll never understand God. He must love us with a love that is beyond our ability to comprehend. Which is absolutely true of course. Like the story found in Genesis, the book of Beginnings. What a start we got off too. He creates us, breathes His life into us and sets us in a garden ripe with amazing possibilities—all of this because He wants to be with us. Think about that. He wants to be with you. He created you so He could be with you.
And what do we do? Get tricked, that’s what. Thinking all the time we know more than the trickster. Read about it. The “more crafty” serpent says that we can be like God. And we fall for it. Being like God sounds so appealing that we willingly turn away from being with God. What a disastrous mistake. That is what sin does. It makes us hide from Him, move away and cover up.
Think about it, Adam chose to be his own “little god,” rather that being with God. And we still make the same mistake. There is no third option really. We cannot go into partnership, becoming “God and little god, Inc.” Nope, it is just you doing your own thing or you being romanced by Him. But it is always your choice, because He has already made His. And He chose you.
So this is where the need of His forgiveness comes in. Are you hiding? Have you moved away from Him? Showing up at church but still far away? Listen for a moment. He says, “Where are you?” All He needs is for you to answer Him. He will author the rest.
I will never understand God. I’m so thankful He understands me.
prayer
Gracious God, protect me from the trickery of the evil one and help me instead to trust your Word and walk in your way.