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.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.