Friday, December 31, 2010

Bible Verse and Hymn for Friday 31 December

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"

Yesterday in Genesis Chapter 2 we received more in depth information on the creation of mankind and how God created a partner for Adam.  Today in Chapter 3 we will read of the results of disobeying God.

Today's Key Verse: Genesis 3:9-10: "Then the Lord called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"  So he said, "I heard your voice in the Garden and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."

Personal Application: Sin does have it's consequences.  Only when we flee TO God and NOT FROM Him can we find the help that He will provide.

The innocence  and harmony of God's perfect creation are shattered when Adam and Eve choose to disobey God and thus the fall of mankind.

The fall of man is God's explanation in the Scriptures for the sin and evil that mars our society, corrupt people and international relationships and that also dooms us to a biological and spiritual death.   In Genesis 3:1-6 we see what the impact of sin has on our relationship with God.  In these verses we see where Satan in the form of a serpent approached Eve and was crafty and cunning in placing the temptation to Eve.  For the first time we see Satan's craft of lying when he boldly told Eve that "you will not surely die." The serpent in saying this basically called God a liar.

In verse 6 Eve saw the tree was good for food because it was "pleasant to the eye".  These words imply that this was the first time Eve considered disobeying God's command.  We see "she took" which was the first step in disobedience to God and then "she ate" which was the final step of disobedience To God. 

Once she took that final step the world was changed because of sin.  Because she did not die when she ate she then gave to Adam and he ate as well.  Adam has no excuse at this point because he knew as well that that fruit was forbidden and he was there with Eve when she ate and then gave to him.  

After eating there eyes were opened and they realized that they were naked and they covered themselves with fig leaves.  In verse 8 the scene is pathetic and sad.  Here comes the Creator looking for walk and talk with Adam and Eve but they have hidden themselves from the Creator of the Universe.  What would have been a perfect, shameless fellowship with God has turned into a fear of God and the terror of being discovered in the wrong.  

God in his mercy did not destroy them immediately.  God's mercy reaches further that we usually believe or else we would all be destroyed.  The Lord knowing what had happened called out to them, "Where are you" Adam replies "I heard Your voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself" (Did he realize, when he said this, that he could not hide from the Creator?) God then says to him, "How did you know that you are  naked?" Did you eat of the of the tree that I commanded you not to eat of?"  Then the blaming begins.  Adam who was there with Eve when she ate said to God, "The WOMAN WHOM You gave to be with me, SHE gave of the tree and I DID EAT."  Then God ask Eve "What is this that you have done?"  Eve then says "The SERPENT deceived me, and I ATE.

The Lord then turns to the serpent and brought judgment upon him first.  God would not excuse the woman for being deceived but He did bring the harsher judgment on the one who deceived her.  In this judgment on the serpent we see the first mention of a coming Messiah who would be the Lord Jesus Christ. 

God's judgment to the woman was that he would "greatly multiply her sorrow and her conception.  In pain she shall bring forth children; Her desire shall be for her husband, and he shall rule over her."  To Adam, God cursed the ground.  His life will be marked by toil, thorns, thistles and sweat and finally death.  With the word death here, we see that God's commandment to Adam "that the day that you eat of it you will surely die" comes to pass. 

In the final verses (21-24) Adam and Eve are exiled from the garden of Eden and God provides them with coverings of skin. This is the Scriptures first word of a forgiveness won through the shedding of blood. 

In closing Adam and Eve got what they wanted: an intimate knowledge of both good and evil.  They got it by doing what was wrong, and the results were disastrous.  Many people think that freedom means doing anything they want.  God says true freedom comes from obedience and knowing what not to do and then doing what is right.  The restrictions that He gives us are for our good, helping us to avoid evil.  We have the freedom to walk in front of a speeding car, but we don't, because we don't need to be hit to to realize it would be foolish to do so.  Don't listen to Satan's temptations.  Don't think you have to experience evil to learn more about life.

Tomorrow, God Willing, we will go into Chapters 4 and 5 of the Book of Genesis and see the first murder as recorded in Chapter 4.

All the railroad cars are empty, as they rattle down the tracks
In the newsroom no one watches, as machines type pointless facts
All the planes veer of their courses, no one sits at the controls
For the King of all ages, comes to claim eternal souls
Oh the King is coming, the King is coming
I just heard the trumpet sounding
And now His face I see, Oh the King is coming
The King is coming, Praise God He's coming for me

Heavenly Father,  As we read today, of how sin brought down the fall of mankind, we also read of the first promise from You, of the coming Messiah, Your Only Son that would come and bruise the head of the serpent thus opening the way for sinful man to come to you and be redeemed by the blood of Jesus.  Help us in our daily lives, to live our lives for You, and that in doing so we might sin against Thee.
                                                                     Amen

"For the Lord your God is a merciful God, He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.
                                                              Deuteronomy 4:31

May you have a God Filled and a Spirit Led Day and May God's Richest Blessings Be With All Of You.

Yours In Christ,
Cindi

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