December 1, 2020
Contentment? Nope! Accountability? No way!
Genesis 3:8–15
Kelsi Wolf
Central Truth
Adam and Eve try to take life into their own hands, and they create a separation that will affect all of humanity for the rest of time as a result. Although they deny responsibility and immediately blame each other and the serpent Satan, God promises forgiveness and a rescue plan for all of humanity.
Key Verse | Genesis 3:11
He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
Genesis 3:8–15
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool 1 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. 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 2 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
3
3:15
Hebrew seed; so throughout Genesis
and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
Dive Deeper | Genesis 3:8–15
Have you ever feared being confronted by someone that you've wronged? Have you ever wanted to run and hide from a situation that you were wrong about? I am guilty of both.
Imagine now, for a second, if that person was God, the Creator of the universe! How would you act? Would you run and hide? Would you clench your fists and defend your actions? Or, would you humbly fall to your knees and seek forgiveness?
God gave Adam and Eve one simple command: to trust Him. When they realized they were naked, they were ashamed and ran and hid from the One who formed them from the dust (Genesis 2:7). They lost trust in each other and intimacy with their Creator and Father.
To make matters worse, instead of admitting their sin, repenting, and asking for forgiveness, they started a game of blame shifting. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. These interactions are hard to read. Why did she do it? Where was Adam? Why didn't he stop her? It is a glaring reminder of how easy this is for me to do as well. It is so much easier to blame those around us or our circumstances. No matter what season of life we find ourselves in, it is far easier to "pass the buck" than to own our part. Any of these excuses sound familiar? "They told me to." "They started it." "He pushed my buttons." "She doesn’t respect me." "He doesn’t give me enough attention." "I deserve better."
Despite the actions of Adam and Eve thousands of years ago, or our own today, God promised a rescue plan. His name is Jesus Christ, and the first Christmas is a part of that plan. He came for Adam and Eve. He came for you and me. If we accept Him as our Savior (John 3:16), He washes us "white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18) and makes us a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Just as He did with Adam and Eve, He allows consequences from our actions, but promises an eternal hope and rescue story.
Discussion Questions
1. In what situations are you tempted to blame-shift instead of owning your part? Perhaps at your workplace, in your community group, or with your spouse, siblings, or friends?
2. In Genesis 3:12, we see Adam take it even further when he alludes to the fact that Eve had been given to him from God, thus shifting the blame to God Himself. Are there situations in your life when you feel like you are justified in your actions because of your current circumstances?
3. In Genesis 3:15, we see God foreshadow a rescue plan. Do you believe that even though we have all sinned like Adam and Eve, God sent a rescue plan through His Son Jesus? If not, be sure to check out our Great Questions ministry.