E2 - Gen 3 - The Fall

What a contrast between the first two chapters and this one.  The Creation narrative in Chapters 1 & 2 has the cadence and beauty of poetry.  The same Mouth that spoke everything into existence, now exhales the breath of Life and speaks of the purpose and potential of the climax of Creation- a man and a woman.

A strange voice from an even stranger source- a serpent, now speaks.  The Father of Lies' first words of the Bible are a questioning of the Creator's Words; "did God really Say?"  The questioning leads to a changing of the words.  (Compare Eve's response with what God really said: Gen. 2:16-17)  And finally, a blatant contradiction of the Creators Words.

I wonder what heaven sounded like at the moment of the fall?

Adam the masterpiece of creation, is now reduced to the shameful act of trying to cover himself with fig leaves.  How in the world are you supposed to cover pride?  Do we look as silly as Adam trying to cover himself? 

Are you glad that God came to Adam?  God did not wait for Adam to come to him, but God went to Adam.  How does God repair pride?  Judgment.  We may not like that word, but man do we need Judgment.  The very hand that formed man also formed his covering. And the covering for sin was born out of sacrifice.

Judgment is the precursor to redemption.  The woman has judged but in the judgment was also the promise that her seed will both redeem humanity and destroy the serpent. (Gen. 3:15)  

God covers Adam and Eve with garments of skin- some animal had to die.  Sin always leads to death.  Sin always cost you more than you wanted to pay.  Sin always takes you further than you wanted to go. 

Lets let God take care of your coverings, we cant cover ourselves.  We look pretty silly reaching for fig leaves.

I say we drop the fig leaves.

Questions For Reflection: 

• Am I questioning, changing, or contradicting God's Words?
• What do my fig leaves look like?