Last session we started part IV of Multiply by Francis Chan, which took us back to the beginning of it all, Genesis chapter 1. We took in the reality and magnitude of God and us. We learned about who God is by what He did; how He set everything into motion.
This week we hit the famous and devastating chapter 3 of Genesis, where humanity changed eternity. Even as we sit here today going through this session we felt the result of Adam and Eve’s sin. We can’t go 5 minutes without encountering the effects of the fall. Every aspect of God’s creation has beeen in some way tainted or distorted by sin. Everywhere we look we see pain, rebellion, brokenness, hopelessness and despair.
Even in our own hearts, we see the influence of sin. We are in a battle, and we feel it every day. No matter how badly we want to honor God, sin screams at us from all sides, begging us to rebel against God and pursue our own desires. We struggle with temptations, and we have a hard time making sense of the things we see happening around us.
A bad turn
The initial two chapters of Genesis paint a picture of earth as a paradise, the world as God intended it to be. Everything good; no sin, no sorrow, pain, or death. Humanity living in perfect harmony God, each other, and with the creation.
Then everything changed. God gave Adam and Eve every perfect thing they needed, He was the ultimate provider, and protector. The serpent comes and puts a spin on things in his classic style, he points out what they did not have, what they could not have and entices humanity. This tactic is so classic, yet so productive it is in use today in profound ways. Shifting their focus from all that they had to what they did not have or could not do. He wanted them to feel that God was depriving them of something. He told her that eating the forbidden fruit would open her eyes so that she would be like God. He promised her good things. Which is crazy in itself, since the garden was full of good things. But the promise was that you could have good things without God, that you could be like God, and things have never been the same.
Read Genesis chapter 3
Based on the first three chapters of Genesis, why was it such a big deal for Adam and Eve to east from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?
Notice Satan’s tact is unlike humanity. He does not show up dressed in a red cape with a pitchfork saying “I am Satan, and I am here to destroy you. Follow me.” He actually uses our own personal desires against us and God.
We also have to understand that Satan entered the story as part of God’s creation, just like us. That means that he is not all powerful. He is only alive because God gives him life. He is a deadly deceiver, but his power is infinitely less than God’s power. This means we should not be terrified of Satan’s power, but we do need to be wary of his lies and manipulation.
Analyze the sin in your life in light of the rebellion of Adam and Even in Genesis 3. Do you see the same tendency toward independence and rebellion in your actions? How so?
We continue to see where to see the impact of chapter 3 as we continue through Genesis Suddenly people find themselves separated from God, those around them, and the creation. Adam and Even had it made, then by their own decisions, they now hid from God in shame and were sent out of the garden. Their once perfect relationship with God and each other were shattered. Their relationships were filled with shame, distrust, and blame.
The first sin was rebellion, idolatry, treason, and pride all rolled into a single bite. Adam and Eve made a conscious choice to rebel against their Creator and live on their own terms. And we imitate their decision every time we choose our desires over God’s
Think back to the world of Genesis 2. Imagine what our world would look like without sin, if everything had stayed the way God intended it to be.
Now consider the ways that sin has affected our world. How is our experience of the world shaped by the fall? Be specific and describe how it affects you today.
From Cain to Babel
In our daily readings this week from 3 through 11 (it is beneficial to utilize the reading plans) we see the effects of sin continuing to play themselves out. First we see Cain act in jealous passion and kill his brother Abel; then Lamech writing the first poem recorded in the Bible in order to brag about being more vengeful than Cain. Clearly the trend has begun in the wrong direction.
The fact is that it does not take very long at all in the story before we get to the point where God felt the need to destroy the whole world. This is a clear reminder of the devastation that so quickly comes upon us when we live independently of God.
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. – Genesis 6:5 ESV
At this point the creature whom God created into His image, to be His representative of the earth had now become so twisted that his mind and will were described as “only evil continually”.
God punished them for their rebellion. He sent a flood that destroyed every person on the face of the earth with exception of Noah and his family. You would think that the horror of the flood would cause Noah’s descendants to live in obedience, but soon after the flood we find humanity joined together in rebellion of God once again.
God continues to engage, upholding his covenant, and this time He confused their language and scattered them across the face of the earth. As we come to the end of Genesis 11, humanity’s ability to accurately represent God on earth, to live as His image bearers, is in serious question.
Think about the current state of the world. In what ways is humanity still caught in the rebellion that led to the flood and the tower of Babel?
In what ways are you involved in this rebellion?
Sin is not the end of the story
Thankfully, after sin enters the world, the story does not end. We need to understand that the Bible could have ended at Genesis 11. God could have have been completely fair and loving to end the human race right there. But in His perfect wisdom, God kept the story in motion. Now the stage was set for God’s plan of redemption. God gave humanity a responsibility, but they completely failed, and how they needed someone to redeem them.
We see snapshots of God’s willingness to rescue and redeem. The significant covenant that God makes with Noah in Genesis 6 and 9. The promise from God, and agreement and commitment from God that He will bless them in accordance with certain terms. God continues His relationship with humanity even after the rebellion. Covenant upon covenant. Noah’s was about saving a people for Himself (God). He called out a people by His grace and promised to preserve His creation.
As we think back over Genesis 1-3, and even chapters 4-11, describe how these chapters lay the groundwork for what is to come in the bible story.
How should our understanding of the first chapters of the Bible affect the way we view ourselves and the world around us?
Next week…
We learn about the next major character, Abraham, and God’s covenant. Read part IV, session 3, using the following reading plans during the week….
Genesis 12, 13
Genesis 14, 15
Genesis 16, 17
Genesis 18, 19
Genesis 20, 21
Genesis 22
Here is the supplemental video to lead you into the next session.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 6:5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.