Genesis 3. It’s one of the most pivotal chapters in the Bible. I’ve heard many people blame Adam and Eve (or simply Eve) for the state of man but, the fact is, Satan wouldn’t have given up if Eve had said no that day. As the population of earth grew, someone, somewhere would have one day given in to the temptation. It just so happened to be the first of us. God took a big risk creating us with free will, didn’t he?
Genesis 3:15 (GWT)–I will make you and the woman hostile toward each other. I will make your descendants and her descendant hostile toward each other. He will crush your head, and you will bruise his heel.
And just like that, in the instant after sin, there is Jesus. Oh, Satan. You may bruise Him, but He will crush you. God didn’t take a minute to count to ten. He didn’t rant and rave, then come back all calmed down and ready to give grace. In verse 13, he asks Eve, “What have you done?” and in verse 15, he redeems her. That fast. How can we possible look at God and picture Him as a mean, nasty judge waiting for us to mess up so He can smite us? It’s clear right here: He is grace and mercy and love. Look no further.
But if you need more proof? Six verses later, in 3:21, He’s taking care of the very children He just cursed. Did He lay down punishment, then storm away? No.
Genesis 3:21 (GWT)–The Lord God made clothes from animal skins for the man and his wife and dressed them.
Abba God. Still hands on. Still active. Still taking care of His children in spite of the fact that they just ruined everything and set into motion the plan that would ultimately lead to His Son’s suffering. Do you see it? Not only did He provide, He dressed them Himself. It’s almost tender.
That’s my God. Just. Powerful. Almighty. Demanding respect and obedience. Yet graceful. Forgiving. Loving. Tender.
Don’t miss it. He loves you that much.
-JB
Dawn Lucowitz says
Wow, there is so much going on in Chapter 3! The verse I picked out was 9 – But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
This is such a fatherly image to me. God knew perfectly well where they were hiding and why, but he asked anyway. He gave them the chance to own up to what they did. Until I read Jodie’s comment, I don’t know that I had noticed that God first came down on the serpent, then dealt with his children. I just picture a family where one of the “rotten” neighbor kids is encouraging the “good” kids to screw up. Those parents that I look up to and respect always deal with that “rotten” kid (when they are caught in the action), then send them home to be dealt with by their own parents and then they deal with their own children’s behavior and decision making.
Sandy Rosser says
Great point, Dawn.
Sandy Rosser says
Verse 24 spoke to me: After sending them out, the Lord stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And He placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
Sometimes, God just shuts the door to things in our lives that we can’t handle. No access, no problem. When we don’t accept the closed door is when we have problems because we try to “make” things happen. (Been there, done it a thousand times.)
I’m trying to recognize the “flaming swords” God puts out to protect me. It’s hard but in the end, I’ll be better for it.