September 17 | Genesis 3:16-20 |

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DAILY READING

Genisis 3:16-20

Consequences

by Kim Starr

Adam and Eve ate from the tree that God told them not to eat from, hid from God, confessed what they had done, and now God is meting out his punishment. First, he punishes the serpent, then Eve, and finally, Adam. Sin has consequences.

Prior to the fall, Adam and Eve would have been immortal and their continual life, health, and residence in the Garden of Eden would have depended on their obedience to God. Their “work” was to tend the creation, be fruitful, and multiply. After the fall, God’s punishments will make their lives more difficult and painful.

Adam was supposed to have been in charge of their work and Eve was supposed to be his helper; however, now Eve was told that Adam would rule over her. After her punishment, Eve would want to control their relationship and this would lead to irritation and resentment. The fall introduced frustration into the marriage relationship. Adam was told that his punishment was pain and trouble in work. The earth would no longer easily grow food and an abundance of thorns and thistles would make his work challenging. After working so hard, Adam would die and return to the dust of the earth.

By his punishments, God makes it clear to Adam and Eve that life is going to be hard. Work is going to be demanding and exhausting. Futility will often be a result of their efforts and they will see little return for all of the hard work that they put in. Their new state is not a place of satisfaction, and paradise has clearly been lost. God is revealing that life without him is going to be empty and hopeless. Rather than simply enjoying life with God in the Garden of Eden, humanity is going to end up returning to the dust from which it came.

PRAYER

Lord, we often think of being dust and being returned to dust on Ash Wednesday. We don’t often think about why being dust is our fate. Thank you for reminding us of the consequences of Adam and Eve’s actions. Thank you also for reminding us that our best course of action is to constantly seek you, fear you, and obey your laws. Amen

For an in-depth commentary on this Bible passage, see https://www.raystedman.org/old-testament/genesis/loves-disciplines

September 16 | Genesis 3:8-15

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DAILY READING

Genesis 3:8-15

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REFLECTION

Finger Pointing

by Pr. Dave Mann

The responses of Adam and Eve in verses 12 and 13 reflect the common response of all humanity when our wrongdoing is exposed.  When God asks Adam if he has eaten the forbidden fruit, does he own up to it?  No, he shifts the blame elsewhere.  The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.  When God asks Eve about the fruit, she follows suit and blames the serpent, one of God’s creatures.  The serpent deceived me, and I ate.  Both Adam and Eve point the finger at each other while also implicating God.

To this day, we have the same tendency to blame others and God.  Any parent has stories to tell about how their young children instinctively know how to blame others when found with their “hand in the cookie jar.”  But they must be taught how to accept responsibility, repent, and ask for forgiveness.  Adults are no better.  Whether young or old, we follow after our primal father and mother.

But that is not the end of the story.  After the serpent (Satan) is cursed, God announces in part the Plan of Salvation.  The Offspring of the woman – the One who will come generations later – the One born of sinful humans, yet without innate sin in Himself – that One will be wounded in His heel, but He will crush the head of Satan.  God does not wipe His hands of humanity and try again in another creation.  This fall into sin does not take God by surprise.  He is fully ready for this supposed setback.  He states clearly to the serpent in the hearing of Adam and Eve to give them hope of forgiveness springing from One of their descendants: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. 

Knowing that our sin is no surprise to God, the appropriate response is to agree with God, in two ways.  “Yes, God, you are right.  I disobeyed your commandment and did what you said not to do.  I justly deserve your punishment.  But I also agree with you that your Offspring, Jesus Christ the Righteous, took my place and bore my punishment.  I agree with your incredibly gracious plan to forgive my sin by his obedience.  I am forever grateful. Amen.”

September 15 | Genesis 2:4-7; 2:15-3:7 |

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DAILY READING

Genesis 2:4-7; 2:15-3:7

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REFLECTION

He's Lying - Don't Fall For it!

By Elaine Pierce

What part of this familiar passage grabs your attention the most? I could write a blog post about any one of these stories:

Verse 7 - the poetic story of how God created Adam

Verse 15 - the Garden of Eden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

Verse18, followed by verses 20b -24 - how woman was created

3:1 - the crafty serpent

3:6-7 - how quickly Adam & Eve fell for the serpent's lies and justified their disobedience

My Bible has two headings for these verses: "Adam and Eve" and "The Fall of Man." God creates humans, he gives them a perfect garden, and they quickly find a way to destroy the paradise in which they are living. Sounds about right, doesn't it? Paul expresses it well in Romans 7:15, 18-20.

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I not do, but what I hate I do.....For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me."

I don't think Eve set out intentionally to fall into the serpent's trap, but sin has a way of catching us unawares, doesn't it? What is the solution? Paul tells us that it's only through Jesus that we can truly live the life God intended for us:

"Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25).

Yes, God created a paradise for Adam and Eve. Yes, they blew it when they listened to the serpent rather than to God. But thanks be to God, there is a way out through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. The serpent is still alive and whispering lies in our ears, but God wins in the end. Take heart, and thank God for his grace, his mercy, and his forgiveness.

PRAYER

Lord, so often I turn my back on you and follow my own way. I don't trust you to provide, and I doubt that you have my best interests at heart. Forgive me, cleanse me, and fill me with your love. Send your holy spirit - it's in your name I pray, Amen.

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AUTHOR BIO

Elaine Pierce

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's

Word and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have 4 grown children and 9 grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, great things he is doing!