Thursday, September 22, 2005
Genesis 3
Genesis 3
“The Fall of Humanity”
In quoting the great King Solomon of Israel, “there is nothing new under the sun”. We find that to be as true today as it was 3000 years ago when it was written. It seems that we often see today what has happened time and again in the past.
Genesis 1 and 2 shows us how we were created to be from the beginning. It also shows us the plan of intimacy for our lives. However, in Genesis 3 we see how we tend to all foul up the plan.
Vs. 1 “did God really say...”
How many times have people fallen prey to this type of question? The evil enters when humanity begins to question God. Do we get the right to question the boundaries set in place by the God that created us? Since God created us, and God loves, which is what Genesis 1 is about; and God has an intimate plan for our lives, which is what Genesis 2 is about… then God gets to designate all the boundaries, since He knows what is best for us. As soon as we begin to question God, we are looking at the beginning of the end. Now this does not mean that we are to go blindly into obedience. God wrote the entire Bible to answer the questions we have, but to actually question the Creator of the universe on whether or not He is right is a dangerous venue.
Vs. 4 “you will not surely die”
Now the narrative moves us from questioning God, to outright denying the truth of God. How often we think we know better than the One who created us. IF we decide that God is wrong, then we have inevitably placed ourselves above our Creator in authority. WE decide, WE choose what is right or wrong, then WE act on it as WE have decided to. Our historical parents decide to buy into the belief that they know better than God.
Vs. 6
Disobeying God always has a pleasing look. If it didn’t we would never choose to disobey. Vs. 6 says that the fruit “looked pleasing to the eye”. This one bite will turn out to be the most bitter decision ever made by these two people. Yet, it looked to be so sweet.
Vs. 7
This verse takes us back to the end of Chapter 2 where it says “the man and woman were both naked, and they felt no shame” (Gen. 2:25). The essence of being naked shows innocence, just like an infant or toddler will often run around naked and feels no shame, because there is innocence there. Here in chapter 3 we see the first couple feel shame, and it is recognized in their seeing themselves as naked for the first time. So they tie fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Vs. 10-13
With the first disobedience come the first desire to not take the blame or accountability that come with it. The man blames the woman, the woman blames the manipulative serpent. It is a never ending cycle of “it’s not my fault”.
Vs. 19
The most sorrowful verse in the bible is here where death enters into humanity. We were created to live forever in worship of the God who created us, but death entered in with disobedience.
Vs. 20
Adam learns his lesson, as does Eve. The very next verse we see is Adam naming Eve. Just as it was designed to be, Adam takes his place of leadership and names his wife. Today we see this played out as people get married. The woman traditionally gives up her maiden name, and takes the family name of the man. It is a symbol of her giving her allegiance to her husband, and he taking his place of leadership in his new family. The image of the family is beginning to be restored.
Vs. 21
Since the time of the fall, Adam and Eve were covering their own shame with fig leaves. God now enters in and claims His place of authority by teaching the early parents that they were not able to cover their own shame. So God kills an animal, and covers the two in the skins. God teaches a lesson that day to the reconciled people, God covers our sins, we cannot do it ourselves.
So how does the story end?
Are we no longer created in God’s image?
How are we ever to reconcile with God?
Does God no longer care about His creation?
The story is forever changed, but it doesn’t end here. In fact the first promise for the future is in the middle of all the negative part of Genesis 3.
Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
We have the promise that Jesus will come, and we will be restored to God. God continues to care about us, and desires to see us walk intimately with Him.
“The Fall of Humanity”
In quoting the great King Solomon of Israel, “there is nothing new under the sun”. We find that to be as true today as it was 3000 years ago when it was written. It seems that we often see today what has happened time and again in the past.
Genesis 1 and 2 shows us how we were created to be from the beginning. It also shows us the plan of intimacy for our lives. However, in Genesis 3 we see how we tend to all foul up the plan.
Vs. 1 “did God really say...”
How many times have people fallen prey to this type of question? The evil enters when humanity begins to question God. Do we get the right to question the boundaries set in place by the God that created us? Since God created us, and God loves, which is what Genesis 1 is about; and God has an intimate plan for our lives, which is what Genesis 2 is about… then God gets to designate all the boundaries, since He knows what is best for us. As soon as we begin to question God, we are looking at the beginning of the end. Now this does not mean that we are to go blindly into obedience. God wrote the entire Bible to answer the questions we have, but to actually question the Creator of the universe on whether or not He is right is a dangerous venue.
Vs. 4 “you will not surely die”
Now the narrative moves us from questioning God, to outright denying the truth of God. How often we think we know better than the One who created us. IF we decide that God is wrong, then we have inevitably placed ourselves above our Creator in authority. WE decide, WE choose what is right or wrong, then WE act on it as WE have decided to. Our historical parents decide to buy into the belief that they know better than God.
Vs. 6
Disobeying God always has a pleasing look. If it didn’t we would never choose to disobey. Vs. 6 says that the fruit “looked pleasing to the eye”. This one bite will turn out to be the most bitter decision ever made by these two people. Yet, it looked to be so sweet.
Vs. 7
This verse takes us back to the end of Chapter 2 where it says “the man and woman were both naked, and they felt no shame” (Gen. 2:25). The essence of being naked shows innocence, just like an infant or toddler will often run around naked and feels no shame, because there is innocence there. Here in chapter 3 we see the first couple feel shame, and it is recognized in their seeing themselves as naked for the first time. So they tie fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Vs. 10-13
With the first disobedience come the first desire to not take the blame or accountability that come with it. The man blames the woman, the woman blames the manipulative serpent. It is a never ending cycle of “it’s not my fault”.
Vs. 19
The most sorrowful verse in the bible is here where death enters into humanity. We were created to live forever in worship of the God who created us, but death entered in with disobedience.
Vs. 20
Adam learns his lesson, as does Eve. The very next verse we see is Adam naming Eve. Just as it was designed to be, Adam takes his place of leadership and names his wife. Today we see this played out as people get married. The woman traditionally gives up her maiden name, and takes the family name of the man. It is a symbol of her giving her allegiance to her husband, and he taking his place of leadership in his new family. The image of the family is beginning to be restored.
Vs. 21
Since the time of the fall, Adam and Eve were covering their own shame with fig leaves. God now enters in and claims His place of authority by teaching the early parents that they were not able to cover their own shame. So God kills an animal, and covers the two in the skins. God teaches a lesson that day to the reconciled people, God covers our sins, we cannot do it ourselves.
So how does the story end?
Are we no longer created in God’s image?
How are we ever to reconcile with God?
Does God no longer care about His creation?
The story is forever changed, but it doesn’t end here. In fact the first promise for the future is in the middle of all the negative part of Genesis 3.
Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
We have the promise that Jesus will come, and we will be restored to God. God continues to care about us, and desires to see us walk intimately with Him.
