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Genesis 3 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Fall

¹ Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” ² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, ³ but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” ⁴ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

⁸ And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” ¹⁰ And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” ¹¹ He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”¹² The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” ¹³ Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

REFLECTION

The first two chapters of Genesis speak of God’s amazing Creation.  Chapter 3 speaks of the rebellion of humankind.  This rebellion against God is called sin. As sin entered the beauty of creation, destruction followed. Though we see judgement from God, we are see His mercy in sparing the lives of Adam and Eve. We know that it is from this point, that the Bible details God’s intricate and loving plan to redeem, restore, and, reconcile creation back to himself after what happened in this chapter.

God knows everything and yet He still called out to Adam asking, “Where are you?”  Do you hear God calling you today? When are the times you most tempted to hide just like Adam?  Is it comforting or dreading that God’s calling you at such times?  Why?

PRAYER

Lord, I realize that though I have not sinned as Adam and Eve has, however, there have been numerous times in the past where I actively disobeyed you just as Adam and Eve have. I have sought to experience life on my terms.  By Your grace, I acknowledge this sin of pride and ask you to be the Lord of my life. Cleanse me of all that is contrary to Your purposes and character so that Christ may be all in all. Amen.