January 2, 2015

THE ORIGIN OF TRUTH VS. LIES

Genesis 3–5

Kyle Kaigler
Friday's Devo

January 2, 2015

Friday's Devo

January 2, 2015

Central Truth

Who we trust determines the course of our life and significantly affects others.

 

Key Verse | Genesis 3:1

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1)

 

 

 

Genesis 3–5

The Fall

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 1 3:1 In Hebrew you is plural in verses 15 shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 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.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 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, 2 3:6 Or to give insight she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool 3 3:8 Hebrew wind of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 4 3:9 In Hebrew you is singular in verses 9 and 11 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?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 The LORD God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,
    cursed are you above all livestock
    and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
    and dust you shall eat
    all the days of your life.
15  I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring 5 3:15 Hebrew seed; so throughout Genesis and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
    and you shall bruise his heel.”

16 To the woman he said,

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
    in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be contrary to 6 3:16 Or shall be toward (see 4:7) your husband,
    but he shall rule over you.”

17 And to Adam he said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
    and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
    ‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
    in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
    and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19  By the sweat of your face
    you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
    for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
    and to dust you shall return.”

20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 7 3:20 Eve sounds like the Hebrew for life-giver and resembles the word for living 21 And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Cain and Abel

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten 8 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? 9 4:7 Hebrew will there not be a lifting up [of your face]? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to 10 4:7 Or is toward you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain spoke to Abel his brother. 11 4:8 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate add Let us go out to the field And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” 10 And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 12 4:13 Or My guilt is too great to bear 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the LORD said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, 13 4:16 Nod means wandering east of Eden.

17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
    you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
    a young man for striking me.
24  If Cain's revenge is sevenfold,
    then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold.”

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed 14 4:25 Seth sounds like the Hebrew for he appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.

Adam's Descendants to Noah

This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man 15 5:2 Hebrew adam when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.

When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.

12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.

15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God 16 5:22 Septuagint pleased God; also verse 24 after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, 17 5:24 Septuagint was not found for God took him.

25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief 18 5:29 Noah sounds like the Hebrew for rest from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” 30 Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Footnotes

[1] 3:1 In Hebrew you is plural in verses 1–5
[2] 3:6 Or to give insight
[3] 3:8 Hebrew wind
[4] 3:9 In Hebrew you is singular in verses 9 and 11
[5] 3:15 Hebrew seed; so throughout Genesis
[6] 3:16 Or shall be toward (see 4:7)
[7] 3:20 Eve sounds like the Hebrew for life-giver and resembles the word for living
[8] 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for gotten
[9] 4:7 Hebrew will there not be a lifting up [of your face]?
[10] 4:7 Or is toward
[11] 4:8 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate add Let us go out to the field
[12] 4:13 Or My guilt is too great to bear
[13] 4:16 Nod means wandering
[14] 4:25 Seth sounds like the Hebrew for he appointed
[15] 5:2 Hebrew adam
[16] 5:22 Septuagint pleased God; also verse 24
[17] 5:24 Septuagint was not found
[18] 5:29 Noah sounds like the Hebrew for rest

Dive Deeper | Genesis 3–5

Genesis chapters 1 and 2 start us off on the right foot. God is at the center declaring who we are, where we come from, where we are going, and how we interact with Him. A perfect start! Heaven on earth! Livin’ the dream!

But in the opening line of chapter 3, everything changes: "The serpent was clever . . . ." (Genesis 3:1, MSG). Most of us are familiar with the story. The creation couple was walking intimately with the God of the Universe when some misinformation (lies) and half-truths (lies) delivered eloquently by the serpent caused the downfall of creation. Because of this cosmic collapse, humanity from then on would wrestle daily in trying to answer this critically important question: "Whom are we going to trust?"

a) The God of Genesis 1-2 who spoke all of creation into existence, made us in His image, called us special and a delight, and who has a unique plan for us.

Or

b) The enemy of Genesis 3 who cleverly tells us lies and half-truths about who we are, what’s best for us, and how we should live our lives.

In reading this Journey devotional, your choice seems obvious, but believing “truth vs. lies” in our world is extremely challenging. One of my current Genesis-1-versus-Genesis-3 struggles (“Whom am I going to trust?”) concerns my pace of life. I can quickly move into a tactical “to-do” list mentality and forget about abiding with God. To say it another way, I start to believe the lie that what I do for God is more important than who I am in God.

When I believe this lie, it leads to the prioritization of tasks and projects over prayer and people. Although some may view this false priority as a silent and socially acceptable sin, the effects when I don’t prioritize well are deadly, both for me and the people I love and lead.

So how do we allow the Truth of God to win out over the lies of Satan? A daily, desperate dependence upon God and His Word.

Here’s to praying that in 2015 the Bible you read becomes the Truth you believe!

Discussion Questions

1. Do you believe you have a "real" enemy (Satan) who has multiple schemes specifically ordered for your downfall (John 10:10)?

2. Can you clearly identify the areas of your life where you tend to believe the lies of the enemy over the Truth of God’s Word? What are they? Have you shared those areas with others who love and care for you?

3. Do you have a planned biblical response (Scripture hidden in your heart) to battle those specific lies that frequently cause your downfall? If not, start your own document identifying Satan's lies in your life contrasted against the Truth of God's Word.