12 Jan - Genesis 3

Today we’re reading Genesis chapter 3 together. Here are a couple thoughts on it:

1. First off, talking snakes? Trees that fruit gives you knowledge of good and evil? Trees that make you immortal? Yep, all of that is in this chapter and yes is sounds kind of crazy to us. Clearly things were very different for Adam and Eve at the beginning of creation. And then it all changed. 
2. Let’s talk about that part first . . . the change. Before the snake (who was Satan in disguise) tricked Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit there was no sin. No one had done anything wrong. God only had one rule for Adam and Eve; don’t eat fruit from one tree. Then they did and everything changed.
3. The interesting thing is “why” they ate it. They ate the fruit because the serpent (Satan) told them if they did they would be “like God.”
4. You may be thinking so what’s the big deal they ate some fruit? The big deal is God gave them  only one rule, don’t eat from that tree and they did. You may be thinking, so why did God even make the tree if he didn’t want them to eat from it? Good question. God created that tree and gave Adam and Eve one rule so they had the freedom to choose. God doesn’t want us to have to have a relationship with him. God wants us to choose him. It’s not love if someone is forced to love you and God refuses to force us. 
5. Adam and Eve ate the fruit for the same reasons we rebel against God; we want to be God. We want to be the god of our lives. We don’t want to listen to someone else. We want to call the shots. That’s basically why Adam and Eve sinned and by eating the fruit threw all of creation into a messed up spiral that God has been working towards redeeming.
6. It’s kind of crazy when you think about it, God gave humans the ability to choose to disobey him; the freedom to love him or not. That’s really cool isn’t it? God loves us so much that he won’t even force us to love him back. He gives us the freedom to choose. So what’s your choice? Have you chosen to have a relationship with God? If so, are you giving God 100% or still holding back some? If you’re answer is no, why? Doesn’t the simple fact that God gives you the freedom to choose him or reject him tug at your heart a little? It’s something to think about.
7. Where in your life are you trying to be “god”? Adam and Eve hid from God when they sinned. Where are you hiding from God today? 
8. In our reading today we read that God sought Adam and Eve out and then restored their broken relationship. That’s exactly what he wants to do with you and I as well. Wherever you’re hiding God wants to reconnect with you despite your past. Ask God to show you where you’re hiding and give you the courage to stop hiding.