Genesis 3

Warming up

No sin is any worse or better than the first sin. Tell Jesus about your sin- and let him forgive you.

• Sin. There are so many small things that never really get realized. A small lie here, a completely impatient frustrated yell directed toward my children, a covetous glance toward other women (either at church or elsewhere...) I think the biggest one is my impatience toward my children. They are only 1 1/2 and 3 1/2. They require ALL my patience and then some.
• It is too easy to respond in anger, spank and send the 3 year-old off to his room. I really need to respond with love even when he throws something across the room or smears poop across the wall. Again! I hardly ever pray in the moment. Jesus, forgive me for my anger and help me pray in the moment.

Discovering

How does Eve's answer misrepresent God's command? (2-3)

God never said anything about not being able to touch the tree. Only that they should not eat of it. She also did not name the tree: the knowledge of good and evil.

What statements does the serpents make about the purpose of God's command? (4-5)

• He says that she will not die. 
• That she will be smarter, wiser. 
• She will be like God.
• She will know good and evil. 

How have the serpent's words distorted Eve's thinking? (6)

She now thought that it was good to eat and that it would make her wise. We are ever trying to seek wisdom in our own ways.

How did Adam and Eve's sin affect their attitude toward themselves and God? (7-13)

• They realized their nakedness.
• They were afraid of God.
• They are also passing the blame for the sin.

Describe the judgements of the man, woman, and serpent. (14-19)

• The serpent is cursed. It is the lowest of all livestock. He will always be fighting with man, and ultimately, he will lose.
• The woman will have pain in childbirth. She will always answer to her husband.
• The man will have to work the ground hard in order to get food. Then when he is old, he will die.

What action does God take to end the era in Eden? (21-24)

He clothed his children. Then he sent them out of the garden so that they would not eat of the tree of life, lest they live forever in this state of sin and judgement.

Applying

Adam and Eve made several mistakes: they listened to a creature instead of the Creator, followed their own impressions against God's instructions, doubted his concern for their best interests and made self-fulfillment their goal. In what situations have any of these led you to disobey a command of God?

• Listening to a creation: All too often I go to friends or family with problems before discussing it with God.
• Following their own impressions: Oh, all the time! Listening to my emotions instead of listening to truth. I feel too tired to do a quiet time. I think I know enough to do "life" on my own. I'm too angry at my children to pray in the moment for peace.
• Doubted his concern for my best interest and made self interest my goal: Not sure about this one. I don't think I so much doubt his concern for me...I just forget to remember him in my selfishness.

What lesson have I learned that can help me resist temptation.

Let's see...don't talk to snakes, don't do what God tells you not to do, don't try to hide from God. I think I can do 2 out of 3 pretty well. But you know the verse about doing the thing that you hate, not being able to stop yourself? I get stuck there a lot I feel like. Anger with my children for instance, It is so much easier to give into frustration and yell, than it is to calmly state the problem and deal with it. I guess the lesson is to ask for forgiveness and move on, remembering that God always has his best for us.