TTB: Genesis 3-5

Stand-Out Verse: "And I will put enmity/Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head and you shall bruise him on the heel." (Gen. 3:15)

Little Insights:

*Although the serpent was used, Satan was the one who deceived Eve. (Revelation 12:9)

*By asking them where they were, God allowed them to respond in humility and retain dignity after they disobeyed. (Ge, 3:9) He didn't need to look for them, but He does; God pursues His children because He loves them. (Luke 15:3-7)(John 10:1-18)

*Purposeful activity/work was a blessing, not part of the curse! (Gen. 3:15)

*Adam was created in God's direct image, but after the fall, he bears a son in his image- one that is now eternally scarred with sinful nature. (Gen 5:3)(Romans 6:12)

*God is the first one to make a sacrifice for the sins of his first son and daughter (Gen. 3:21). God is also the last to make a sacrifice of his only begotten Son to cover the sins of all His sons and daughters (Romans 6:15) (Hebrews 9:22-28)(John 1:29)(Gen. 22:8)

*God wasn't being punitive when he banished them from the Garden. Had Adam and Eve eaten of the fruit of eternal life, they would be forever doomed, unable to find redemption through death unto God's eternal life justified through faith in Him. God will do what He must to bring all His children unto Him, even if it appears unkind.

*Before the fall, Eve was happy (and child-bearing could have been a breeze) but after the Fall, the "battle of the sexes" became a sad result of rebellion. (Gen. 4:7)

*It wasn't Cain's offering of grains that disqualified him from God's pleasure --for even God set up grain offerings in the Levitical law (Exodus 40:29)--it was because of his heart. (Hebrews 11:4,6)(Jude 11)

*"Then he died" is repeated 8 times throughout chapter 5; what do you think God is trying to tell us about our time here on Earth- the time He has given us to submit to His plan?

*Enoch was a prophet (Hebrews 11:5) (Jude 14-15)

*How can we walk like Enoch? (Micah 6:8)

Just for fun: Well, maybe not fun...In my journal, I am making a list of ways I try to dominate over Tim, instead of submit to him. Submission is beautiful, when it is done unto the Lord. We only view positions of subordination as inferior when we view them as the world does. What does the Lord say about those who serve sacrificially? (Matthew 20:25-28!!) On the other side of the paper, I am brainstorming verses or thoughts I can meditate on to use when conflicts do arise. At some point in time, my desire to rule over his behavior, particularly when it comes to children and the house, will turn selfish and domineering. God's word tells me that it shouldn't be this way! The next time sin crouches at my door and I want to rule over my husband (just as sin wanted to rule over Cain), I can replace fleshly thoughts with heavenly ones in hopes of being a "helper suitable" to my husband who is called to love me "as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself up for her." (Ephesians 5:25: Yikes!!!- and I thought my task was hard =)

Love, Lauren