BOLD Week 1: The Hidden Battle – Genesis 3
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When we read the creation narrative of Genesis 1 and 2, we hear over and over again the declaration, “and it was good.” This means that everything God made was according to His grand and divine design and fulfilled His grand and divine purpose.
There was nothing that God intended to accomplish in creation that was left out. There was nothing lacking. God had created the world and everything in it in a way that resulted in man’s good and God’s glory, exactly as God intended.
God’s greatest provision for man was the provision of Himself. God is what man needed most, as man’s ultimate source of life and fulfillment. Here in 2015, it’s still the same issue – we need God.
This is why God told man that to disobey God’s command would result in death. Adam and Eve didn’t physically drop dead when they disobeyed God’s command. However, they became cut off from their source of life, God Himself, which resulted in spiritual death. How do we know that?
They doubted God’s Word (v.1-3)
God had clearly revealed Himself and communicated His requirement for obedience to Adam and Eve. He didn’t leave out anything that was necessary for them to trust and obey Him. Satan, however, immediately worked in their lives by introducing doubt about God’s Word: “Did God really say . . . ?”
The only right response would have been to quote God’s exact words to them (as Jesus would later do when Satan tempted Him). But, rather than responding in that way, “Eve blew-off the privileges, added to the problem, and weakened the penalty – all seen by contrasting her words (Genesis 3:3) with God’s original commands (Genesis 2:16-17).
We all face temptation – that’s why we all mess up. But when facing temptation, our greatest source of wisdom and direction is the Bible. To even begin to doubt God’s Word is to start toward a messed up journey in this life!.
So look at this – Are you standing firm on the truth of God’s Word, or have you begun to entertain the thought, “Did God really say . . . ?”
Adam and Eve Doubted God’s Word, but they also…
Doubted God’s Goodness (Genesis 3:4-6)
After introducing doubt, Satan’s next step was to blatantly deny God’s integrity. He basically says, “God has lied to you. Further, God has been holding out on you.” Everything about the way God created the world in Genesis 1 and 2 screams “God is good.”
He had graciously provided everything that man and woman needed to live the full life God intended, in fellowship with Him. Despite God’s gracious provision, Eve began to believe the lie that God had withheld something needful from her.
The Bible reminds us that God has given us everything we need for life (2 Peter 1:3). And, He has done that through His provision of Himself, through the death and resurrection of Jesus and through the leaving of His Holy Spirit. Do you really believe that God is good and that He is enough? Or, are you living as though God has been holding out on you, keeping from you something that you really need if you are to live a full life? They doubted God’s Word, Doubted God’s Goodness and they…
Disobeyed God’s Command (Genesis 3:6-7)
When we doubt God’s Word and His goodness, it is an easy next step to disobey God and seek self-sufficiency. Eve, and Adam right behind her, believed Satan’s lies rather than God’s Word, and sought, then, to be their own providers
They didn’t see what they expected to see.
Disobedience to God’s command doesn’t bring abundant life and greater freedom. Instead, it brings spiritual death and slavery.
Today – let’s ask this question – Have you believed the lies that God’s Word is not true and that God is holding out on you?
Have you allowed those lies to lead you to disobeying God’s commands and following instead your own will and your own plan for life?
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they lost not only God’s provision of the Garden, but more importantly, God’s provision of freedom, fun and friendship with Himself, our only source of life and fulfillment.
Paul writes to the Ephesians that God has given us a chance to become a full member of His family and a heir to his kKingdom – But this is so cool – He allows each of us to choose. Our way – Or His way. You choose today!