02.13.12 “Where we went wrong”

Scripture Reading: Genesis 3:1-6

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

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Reflection Questions

The first two chapters of Genesis narrate for us the story of the world’s creation. They not only provide a detail of “how” God created, but more importantly, they also reveal the “why” of creation. In this story, we see God developing a sacred relationship with the world that he brings into being and the human beings created in God’s image who were designed to partner with God in the management of this new world. Genesis 3 is the point where humanity takes a wrong turn.

• In this series, we have said that our goal should be to live according to the idea that “God is in control. I am not, and I am happy about that.” How do the actions of Adam and Eve in today’s text conflict with this way of understanding life?
• How are their actions a reflection of their desire to control?

Weekly Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.