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What has gone so terribly wrong? At the beginning, when Almighty God brought everything into being, there was no fault nor flaw. Why are we in this awful mess, morally, politically, psychologically, and in so many other ways, when we know the world was created in perfection, and that man was placed in a most beautiful environment, that knew nothing of suffering, pain and death?
An enemy of God came along according to what actually happened and it is all accurately recorded in Genesis Chapter 3. This enemy called Satan – a fallen angel – attacked a very vulnerable Eve. The start of this onslaught can be found in another article.
A battle began then, and it has continued since that day. The significance of the temptation was to get man to become totally independent of God.
When you read what was going on, you can hear what we have to wrestle with in our hearts and minds and lives.
"I am going to be independent of God – I am going to be free to go where I want – to decide how I want – to make up my own mind.
Satan actually does not do the dirty work. He leaves it up to Eve to do it. Did she feel like a liberated woman as she decides to "try it"! As soon as she realizes that she has done something wrong, she wants to drag someone else into it.
Have you ever noticed that? Someone does something wrong, and they immediately want to involve others. Drag in as many people as possible. Sin brings loneliness and isolation, so get as many people involved in your mess as you can.
Satan's lie was a half truth.
But, they were no longer the same one flesh, and sin does this in any marriage. There was something now to be hidden, and they are desperate. Can you imagine them trying to sew leaves together? Check out the actual text. Do not take my word for it.
When you sin you become desperate and you try to cover up. And men seek cover-ups! Have we not seen that in the political and commercial world in the past few months and years?
They made aprons – not hats or socks or gloves!
No it was not the apple on the tree that caused the trouble. There is no apple mentioned. It was the pair on the ground.
They were different now, and they realized it. What was pure and beautiful and innocent was now gone. As we read on we see that sin and death and pain and suffering and disease and corruption and warfare now come into the world as a consequence of disobedience to God.
There is only one way of being covered from our guilt and disobedience and rebellion. That is by being covered with the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God – and being protected by that precious blood – the most precious substance in the whole universe.
Jesus deals with disobedience and rebellion. When there is anything to hide Jesus can deal with that. Some people have been hiding things for years. In the next sentence Adam and his wife are hiding from their loving merciful Lord God.
The enemy's smooth talking had twisted the Word of God. Beware of that! He got the woman to question the Word, and persuaded her along with her husband to disobey the Word of God.
These words in Genesis Chapter 3 verse 6 describe it all so practically and appropriately and in a way we can identify with – pleasant, desirable, took and ate!
The fall of man is such a tragedy. Temptation came. Question God's Word. Then satan went on to discredit God himself by suggesting, "You have within you the potential to become something much higher – to be like God!" Then you will not need to be dependent upon God any longer.
Adam's fellowship with God was broken – and soon he was to be subject to corruption – disease – old age – death.
You can not reverse corruption. You can place a corrupt peach in the fridge – and the corruption will slow down – but it can never be reversed!
The Lord God comes and walks in the Garden. How do we react when God draws close? He loves to walk with the people He loves, and rather than run to Him for mercy and forgiveness – they hid. They are afraid – ashamed – guilty – separated.
In verse 9 we read, "where are you?" What a question – not physically but spiritually? God is trying to draw out something deeper. "Where have you got yourself to?" God is giving them the chance to come and repent and confess – the opportunity to sort things out and put things right.
They begin to answer and pass the buck, and blame others. Adam blames Eve. Eve blames the serpent. Adam really blames God, and we do this too. We ask why God allows wars – famines – floods – disasters! We do it legally – we call them on our Insurance Policies – Acts of God!
Next, we read of the Promise of Salvation. If all God wanted to do was reform man, then there would be no need for a Savior – no need for Jesus Christ to die. God wants to do more than make man better. God wants to save or rescue man from sin and its consequences.
And, God curses as well as blessings. When God goes into poetry, He is speaking from deep within His Heart. Prose is to the head – poetry is to the heart – and these words are given to us in the form of poetry. God is expressing His feelings and emotions.
What are your feelings and emotions as you read of this tragic incident, from which we are still suffering as well as recovering? And when God looks at you what kind of emotions and feelings are there within his heart? These are immense questions, but then we have a big God who come looking for people who so need Him.
We either present good leadership or bad leadership.
Sandy Shaw
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