Category: Who God Is

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Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. (emphasis added)

As a child I struggled with self-esteem issues a lot, which resulted in my being very introverted, or withdrawn socially. The core problem was I just couldn’t do some things very well (sports especially). Any attempt to do them just resulted in utter humiliation so I simply stopped trying.

Eventually this created a mindset of avoiding anything that could result in failure or embarrassment. As you can imagine this meant the list of things to avoid got extremely long.

Trying to avoid embarrassment is nothing new, in fact this was the first response of Adam and Eve after disobeying God. And since that moment shame has been a constant part of our lives.

The normal response is to avoid it like me, or cover up the weak and shameful parts of our lives. However by doing that we overlook the fact that shame is a gift from God.

Genesis 3:7 is an incredibly sad verse because it marks a huge change in the relationship between God and man:

1. Adam and Eve experienced the promised knowledge of Satan (3:5) but it only brought realization of their sin
2. They knew (experientially) that they had sinned against God which filled their hearts with shame [1].
3. Their nakedness here while physical, also illustrates their sinfulness in the eyes of God (they knew that they were wicked)
4. This led them to cover their nakedness (sin)

Obviously the idea of hiding sins from the God who made everything using leaves is ridiculous. But notice that the Lord doesn’t call Adam and Eve out on their sin right away.

Gen. 3:8   And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” (emphasis added)

As amazing as it sounds God allowed Adam and Eve to play “hide and go seek,” and then asks why they were hiding (even though He knew what they had done).

Why would God do that? Because He wanted them to willingly confess their sin.

The direct question God asked Adam in 3:11 was an opportunity to do the right thing and admit he had eaten the fruit, instead he blamed Eve (3:12) and in a way God [2] for the sin.

The point is shame or guilt after sin is a healthy thing because it leads us to a place of repentance and confession before God.

Confession is basically coming the Lord, admitting our brockeness (inability to save ourselves), and asking for His help.

Of course this is difficult since we will have swallow our pride and display weakness, which is why most of us (myself included) just cover up or hide our shame.

However in our busyness trying to make sure nobody sees our weakness we overlook an important point.

God sees it.

Oh in His Grace He gives us opportunities to repent and confess but make no mistake…He sees you behind the tree.

It’s interesting that shame fills a persons heart even if nobody ever finds out about their rebellion. The reason for this is somebody has already seen in it..the God who created them.

So the next time your shoveling another load of emotional dirt on that humiliating experience like me stop for a moment and ask yourself, why am I ashamed right now?

Then do yourself a favor and come out from behind the tree. Because it’s only then you will encounter a God who judges sin, but does so as a loving Father who wants us desire Him.

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Gen. 3:1   Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,

3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (emphasis added)

 

This passage is incredibly important for us to understand since following it the relationship between God and man was completely broken. Up to this point Adam and Eve had lived in a place of perfection [1] and friendship with God (Genesis 3:8). But following chapter three verse six we see them living very differently.

1. By hiding from God (3:8)
2. By refusing to confess sin (3:10)
3. By blaming others for their sins (3:11–12)
4. By experiencing the curse of sin (3:16–19)

It may seem strange that a temptation to sin against God is found in a perfect place. However even more confusing is the fact that God ALLOWED this to happen.

In Job chapter one we are told about a man named Job who Satan believed was serving God only because He was blessed by God. Because of this Satan came and ASKED PERMISSION to bring a judgment upon the life of Job (Job 1:8–11).

Notice God’s response to Satan

Job 1:12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (emphasis added)

We see this control from God over Satan as He gives permission to attack Job’s possessions, but not himself physically. Only after returning later did God get permission to do this (Job 2:1–7).

Of course this raises the question “why did God allow Satan to tempt Eve?”

The answer is to prove we cannot withstand those temptations.

Notice some things about this temptation to eat the forbidden fruit:

1. It came at Eve’s weakest moment (she was standing in front of the tree and possibly thinking about it, Adam wasn’t around, God wasn’t physically present)
2. It began as shock over the fact that God told them they couldn’t do something (3:1) [2]
3. A focus on the tree (one thing she couldn’t do) caused Eve to overreact to God’s command (3:2–3) (God never said they couldn’t touch it)
4. It promises the consequences for sin wouldn’t come (3:4) [3]
5. It promises they can do a better job of being God than God (3:5)

If Satan came along and told us to immediately rebel against the plan of God we would have little problem choosing to withstand him. But instead of this he comes to us quietly whispering “If God really loved you things wouldn’t be this way.”

That simple thought (God isn’t loving) leads us to openly rebel, and believe we can do a better job of being God than Him (Isaiah 14:13–15). Even when we don’t want to disobey our strength is no match for the temptation…

We are addicted to it (Romans 3:23).

The fact that God puts us in a situation we cannot win makes it easy to think Satan is right in saying He doesn’t love us (3:5). But instead this is what the Lord uses to crush the idea we don’t need Him.

We have already covered two ways this week the Lord shows us we are poor God substitutes.

1. Our inability to choose the right way (Genesis 2:15–17)
2. Our judgment from God when we rebel (Isaiah 14:13–15)
3. Now our inability to faithfully serve God is added to the list

In a time of need it’s easy to respond “Oh it’s okay God I’ve got this” instead of begging Him for help.  And the truth is our hearts crave that independence from God’s presence, which is why Eve ate the fruit [4].

But in those moments we forget that Satan is just playing with us.

We have no hope to withstand his temptations because Satan knows what we want more than anything in life…to be the one who makes the rules.

And with every defeat God allows a voice in our heart that says “there must be more to life than this” becomes louder.

 

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Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly

Isaiah 14:14 in the far reaches of the north;* I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

Isaiah 14:15 I will make myself like the Most High.’
But you are brought down to Sheol,
to the far reaches of the pit.

 

Editors Note: We will return to the book of Genesis tomorrow, but I believe it’s important to briefly discuss this section first since it gives some background to Satan and his temptation in our lives.

The book of Isaiah is a prophecy that includes judgment on many nations that had chosen to disobey God, or attack the Jewish people. This specific passage (Isaiah 14) is written as a “taunting song” (14:4–11, 14:12–21) directed towards the King of Babylon.

I don’t think this king literally believed he could go to Heaven and become God, but believed that he had complete control over his life [1]. So he expected to take the place of God (the one who has control) much like Satan told Eve she would become like God (Genesis 3:5) by deciding what was right or wrong.

This is slightly different from having free-will since in that situation God still makes the rules [2]. Here the king decides he will be the one who makes the rules.

Another issue in this passage is HOW the king decides he is going to do all of these things. The word “ascend” emphasizes climbing a ladder or mountain in a persons own strength.

So basically the king is saying here, “I will become the one who makes the rules in my own strength!” However instead of climbing up to the position of God we see this king brought down to Sheol (14:16) [3].

This passage teaches us a foundational truth about Scripture

1. There is one God
2. And you’re not him

Throughout the Bible those who tried to take the place of God (control) ended up facing terrifying judgments. The Lord doesn’t do this because He enjoys seeing us suffer, but because we make very poor substitutes for God.

Think for a moment about how the stress and drama of our lives overwhelm us from time to time, and then imagine yourself bearing the burdens of everyone in the whole world. If your anything like me you have enough trouble caring for your own problems!

Within each one of us is a Sin Nature (Romans 3:23). I will get into this more next week, but basically it’s a constant idea that we can do a better job of being God than God.  This is why God brings moments into our lives that give “perspective.” [4].

Another reason why people view this passage as important is it gives us a portrait of Satan’s rebellion against God [5].

For those of you who may not understand the Biblical view of Satan here is the main idea.

1. He was created as an Angel of God
2. Scripture states that he was one of the most powerful angels (possibly the most powerful)
3. At some point Satan gathered other Angels with him, and they tried to overthrow God
4. They were defeated and cast out of Heaven
5. Since that time Satan has tried to keep people from obeying the Lord
6. The Angels cast out with him became demons

Satan the moment he was cast out of Heaven began telling individuals that God was being dishonest or unfair (Genesis 3:4) because we are indeed proper replacements for him (Genesis 3:5).

Now of course none of us will have the arrogance of this king or Satan who proclaimed “I will be like God!” But we all “ascend” don’t we?

Ascending is about relying upon my own strength or wisdom instead of God’s. And when the Lord calls me to rely upon Him responds, “oh it’s okay God I got this.”

1. It’s refusing to ask for help when everyone knows your struggling
2. It’s refusing to confess our sins or rebellion
3. It’s looking for something (anything) to find our purpose in other than God
4. It’s covering up that weak or sinful part of our lives so nobody can see it

With every step God in love pleads with us to stop because He doesn’t want to judge us.

But eventually He must bring us down so that we can be reminded of our brokenness.

Yet there is hope in that…

It isn’t my job to take care of all the problems
It isn’t my job to meet all of the needs
It isn’t my job to make decisions
My job is just to obey God

Because there is only one God…and I’m not Him

Gen. 2:15   The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,

17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (emphasis added)

 

Genesis 2:16 is a very important passage since it marks a huge change in the relationship between God and man. Up till now all of mankind’s needs have been met by God.

1. A need for Blessing (1:26–27)
2. A need for Purpose (1:28–30)
3. A need for Physical Life (2:7)
4. A need for Food (2:8–9)
5. And a need for Companionship (2:18–23)

Suddenly in verse sixteen the relationship is changed as God gives a command.  Man receives his first responsibility, and consequences for disobedience

He was told (and it was later explained to Eve) that they could eat from any tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If he ate from it, God promised that death would be the result.

So now we see the relationship changed from one where God meets all of the needs, to one where man is responsible to obey Him or face consequences.

The question many people have about this is “why did God change that relationship?” After all human beings won’t be able to live a perfect life [2] and God knew this…Even while giving Adam this command He knew they would fail miserably.

God continues this kind of relationship (knowing men would fail Him) throughout the Old Testament. It usually looks something like this:

1. God gives a specific command
2. There are positive blessings attached to obedience (staying in Eden)
3. There are negative consequences for disobedience

We see this clearly in God’s relationship with Israel based on the Ten Commandments, and extensive blessings or curses that would be placed upon them in Deuteronomy 27–30 that the Jews would recite to one another publicly [3].

Later the challenge of obedience was given to kings, religious leaders, and prophets. But they all failed.

So why did God change the relationship?

because He wants us to choose Him willingly

In my opinion a big part of being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27) and having dominion over creation (1:28–30) is the ability to make our own decisions [4]. The Lord created us this way because He knew true glory would come from people who willingly chose to obey Him.

God could have forced us to obey but this wouldn’t bring Him glory since our motivation would be fear or complete control (we couldn’t choose anything else)this freedom allows us to obey out of love instead of obligation.

Of course it wasn’t quite enough for God to give Adam and Eve a free-will [5]. He had to also give them and OPPORTUNITY to choose Him or their own will.

“Okay I understand that” you might say, “but why give us commands when we can’t obey them? I mean God KNEW Adam and Eve would sin!”

This points to a deeper reason for God’s testing our obedience (giving us a choice). Primarily it’s so that we as Christians will serve Him out of love instead of fear or obligation. But the Lord also uses this to show us our brokenness (inability to serve Him on our own).

In other words on my own I will never truly choose God.

My brokeness (and the brokeness of all mankind) is extremely important because Satan wants us to believe we can do a better job of being God (making decisions) than God (Genesis 3:3–5). And today the voice of Satan hasn’t changed. It still whispers “Oh you don’t need God’s help, you’ve got this every moment.

This is why the Lord in love reminds me of my brokeness with every test that I fail.

God doesn’t do this in anger or to humiliate me…but instead those failures are a call to rely on Christ instead of myself.

To admit my brokenness and fall upon the one who can never be broken.

Gen. 1:26   Then God said, “Let us make man* in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Gen. 1:27  So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Gen. 1:28   And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

This passage has started lots of discussion over what the words “in the image of God” actually mean. And while this is a good thing, I personally believe that can detract from what God is actually saying in the passage.

In my opinion these verses are about the dominion (power) given to us by God and it’s purpose for His Glory.

The word “image” in verses twenty-six and twenty-seven being translated as resemblance (looking like God) [1] and it’s root Hebrew word being interpreted as a representative figure or idol[2]. The word “likeness” can refer to external appearance, or having the same qualities as someone else [3]

This is obviously confusing since we don’t look like God, and while Adam and Eve were perfect, they didn’t have the power of God either.

Because of this most Bible scholars take the view that being in the Image of God means that we are His “representative figures” or ones who rule in His place.

This idea is strengthened by the fact that we see the word “dominion” twice in this passage (three times if you include “subdue”) and it’s explained further in 1:29–30.

Here the word dominion clearly means power over all the rest of creation (animals, plants, trees) but I believe the idea goes much deeper than this.

You see God has given us (humans) abilities that no other creation can claim:

1. A soul that dwell for eternity in Heaven or Hell
2. Emotions [4]
3. An intellect that can rationally deal with problems
4. And above all other things the freedom to choose whether we will obey or disobey God

We will get into this tomorrow with Genesis 2:15–17, but the Lord always gives us a choice in life whether to accept or reject Him, and the freedom to choose the way we view as best. This is because He desires individuals who will choose Him WILLINGLY instead of obeying just because something bad may happen to them.

It’s important to understand this dominion (ability to choose, intellect, emotions) is given to us for a very specific reason. It’s so that we can represent God’s rule in Heaven with our use of power on the earth.

Of course it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out we don’t use our dominion to represent God:

1. We use it to control others
2. We use it to gain the approval of others
3. We use it to emphasize our own needs and completely ignore others
4. And above all we use it to choose our own way

The strange thing is no matter what we invest our dominion or choices in it still doesn’t bring satisfaction. Oh at first it brings happiness,but before long we find ourselves looking for another “fix.”

There’s a good reason for that

My dominion isn’t about me

It’s about glorifying God

So until the day I give control of my mind and will over to the Lord life will just be one empty purpose after another.

The good news is there’s more to this life than your own desires…and it’s as we embrace God’s purpose for us that we can truly know what it’s like to be fulfilled.