14 GOD F O O T ================================
- H O L D
READING
14 GOD’S PLANS GET SPOILED
PRAY ‘Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer! … Take me to a safe refuge’ (Psalm 61:1,2) —————————————————————– READ Genesis 3:1-24. —————————————————————– THINK What do you discover in this story about individual people or human structures? Think of five adjectives that arise from this chapter to describe humans. —————————————————————– FOCUS REBELLION! For the past two days we have been reading about God’s creation. The wonder, the beauty, the order, the love … But, you say, it’s not like that. What about the chaos, the pollution, the hatred? Today’s reading explains why these happen. It marks a new stage in the relationship of God to the human race. Things got fouled up; people went their own way. Things could never be the same again (see Romans 5:12-14; 8:20-22). God’s plan for men and women was spoilt by sin. God cannot simply overlook sin; that would go against his whole character. So sin brings judgement and we can see here what that judgement involves. SEPARATION FROM GOD (8,23). this is the real tragedy of judgement. Man and woman were made to enjoy a close relationship with God. Because of our sin we can no longer talk easily and openly to God. We feel ashamed and lost for words. MISSING OUT ON GOD’S GIFTS. God had a wonderful future for Adam and Eve – a place to live, food to eat, beauty to enjoy. But pain and suffering spoiled the joy and work was no longer a pleasure but a chore. God’s plan was spoilt. REBELLION CRUSHED! However, verse 15 makes it clear that evil will not always have the upper hand. From our vantage point in history, we know that God has defeated evil and made it possible for us to enjoy a relationship with him despite our rebellion (see Romans 5:15-19). ——————————————————————
PRAY Praise God for his gift of forgiveness and reconciliation.