Year in the Bible Daily Reading:
Gensis 3-5; Mark 2 Listen to Today's Reading
Genesis 3:8-15
When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man (Adam) and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike (bruise) your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:8-15 (NL)
Hiding, blame, and punishment.
Have you ever tried to hide from someone—maybe a parent—because you knew you had made a serious mistake? It is not a good feeling.
Adam and Eve tried to hide from God, though hiding from God is impossible. God found them, questioned Adam, and reminded him of the command not to eat from that one particular tree. They could eat from any other tree in the garden, but not that one.
How does Adam respond? He blames “the woman you gave me,” shifting responsibility to Eve and, maybe a little, to God for giving her to him. When the Lord questions the woman, she blames the serpent.
The serpent, apparently once a creature people could speak with freely, is cursed by God “more than all animals.” From then on, there would be enmity (hostility) between the serpent and humankind.
Questions for Reflection:
- Does this story remind you of anything in your life?
- Have you ever tried to hide from God? Did God find you? Did you find God?
Prayer:
Dear God, we know that is not the “rest of the story”. We are living it. We all sin. We all fall short. We pray for forgiveness and salvation. Thank you for your mercy and for sending your Son, Jesus. Amen
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