Who is God: Genesis 3

In Genesis 3 a problem arises, the biggest problem the universe has ever known. Man disobeys God and as a result all of creation is cursed by sin. God is not taken by surprise when this happens; He isn't caught off guard or thrown into confusion. When man sins, God acts, and when God acts it is to begin bringing about restoration.

God always had man's best interest at heart. God created man for perfect fellowship with Him, and God would meet with man everyday to walk through the garden. When man sinned, he forfeited this intimacy with God, but God did not reject man. He gave man dignity, offering them the chance to own their sin. After this, He passes judgment, telling them the consequences of their sin. The things that took place as a result of Adam and Eve's act of disobedience were not God's doing, but the result of their sin. The results of broken relationship and unsatisfying toil, the feelings of shame and pain are not God's design, but the reality of sin twisting that which God made good, true, and beautiful. The state of this world is not God's design, but the result of sin.

In spite of disobedience, God shows mercy. He does for man what they cannot do for themselves and covers them with garments that will last. However, He does not relent on His judgment of sin. Adam and Eve are sent out of the garden, away from God's paradise and His presence. Man took perfection and ruined it (we really can't have nice things).

In Genesis 3 we see that man sinned, but we also see that God redeems. God had a plan for restoration, and that plans goes into effect immediately after the first sin is committed. The rest of the Bible tells of God's work of restoration. In Genesis 3 man is driven out of the garden, but the rest of the story tells of God's work to bring man back to the garden. God's work is bringing us back to Eden, that is where we were created to live, and that is where God is bringing us back to, paradise where we can walk with Him.

One day the whole world will be like Eden. One day we will be able to walk with God in the cool of day. That was His original intention, we just have to take the long way there.


Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!