Category: Genesis

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent…said to the woman, “Did God really say…?”
One verse earlier, Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed in the Garden. And just like that, the serpent introduced temptation. But the serpent is wily, just like temptation. He doesn’t try to convince Eve that she should eat the fruit. He just introduces doubt. “Did God REALLY say….” That doubt took hold and led to disastrous consequences. All the snake did was ask a very pointed question and step back to watch.
Gen 3:11-13 …”Who told you that you were naked?…” …”The woman You put here with me—she gave me some fruit….” … “The serpent deceived me….”
We all make bad choices in life, some more frequently than others. One thing that I know at this point in my life is that when I make bad choices, I need to take responsibility for those decisions instead of deflecting blame. No one in the Garden wanted to do that. Adam deferred blame to Eve. Eve pushed the blame onto the serpent. I’m sure the serpent would innocently claim all he did was ask a question. And yet, together, they brought about consequences for all mankind.
Gen 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, this reminder. Thank You that even when we are disobedient, Your loving care is still present. It boggles my mind that after You are directly disobeyed, after no one will take responsibility for their poor choices, after You have to clean up the mess that You had safeguards to avoid, after all of that, You still love and care for Your children so much that You make them garments to cover their nakedness. Thank You for Your fierce love and tender care, Lord. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Draw us closer. Amen.
Gen 3:19 …for dust you are and to dust you shall return.”
Have a blessed day.

Gen 2:2 …so on the seventh day He rested from all His work.
The beginning of Gen 2 caught my attention because the Creator of the universe took time to rest. It made me wonder how long it has been since I truly rested? Set all my cares to the side, put schoolwork and housework and any other work aside and just breathed? Honestly, I’m not sure I’ve ever done that. There is always something that needs doing, something that feels so pressing that it just can’t wait. Jesus, Help me.
Gen 2:25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
The end of Gen 2 caught my attention because of the lack of shame. Shame feels almost like a second skin in this life. I’m ashamed of my pudge and my stretch marks. I’m ashamed that I can’t accomplish everything I set out to in a day. I’m ashamed that no matter how good I try to be in my Christian walk, I fail daily, multiple times a day. Jesus, Help me.
Gen 2:7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that we are to rest in You, truly rest, to be still and grateful in Your presence. Thank You for calling us to feel no shame in You, even though we are so ridiculously human and fallible. I want more than anything to live a life that is pleasing to You, to shine Your light for all to see. I want others to see Your glory, grace, and mercy, and not my humanity. Show me how, Lord. Draw me closer. Amen.
Gen 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Have a blessed day.

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created….
I love the image of God as creative artist. In my mind, I see Him with a colorful artist’s smock and maybe a beret tipped rakishly to one side. Paintbrush in hand, loaded with color, He approaches His canvas with confidence. He is the Master. He is creating a masterpiece. In my mind’s eye, I see Him creating joyfully, with reckless abandon. He is having fun. There is joy in His brushstrokes. He is pleased with His work.
Gen 1:10 …And God saw that it was good.
I think about my own artistic attitude, so very different. I am hesitant, often reluctant. I don’t want to mess up the canvas. Instead of reckless abandon, I paint with trepidation and anxiety, and I’m creating a literal canvas, not the sweeping brushstrokes of the world. Regardless, I think He would want me to bring more joy to my work, more reckless abandon in the form of prayer and praise to Him. This isn’t a grim task set before me. It is a joyful opportunity.  
Gen 1:27 So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them….
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, this reminder. Thank You for Your joyful exuberance in creating and for wanting us to experience that same sense of joy and wonder. Help us to put aside all that hinders us and to completely and joyfully give ourselves to the tasks You set before us. Draw us closer. Amen.
Gen 1:31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good….
Have a blessed day.