F O O T H O L D
READING
14 GOD'S PLANS GET SPOILED
PRAY 'Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer! ... Take me to a safe
refuge' (Psalm 61:1,2)
READ Genesis 3:124.
THINK What do you discover
in this story about individual people or
human structures? Think of
five adjectives that arise from this
chapter to describe humans.
FOCUS REBELLION! For the
past two days we have been reading about God's
creation. The wonder, the
beauty, the order, the love ... But, you
say, it's not like that.
What about the chaos, the pollution, the
hatred? Today's reading
explains why these happen. It marks a new
stage in the relationship of
God to the human race. Things got
fouled up; people went their
own way. Things could never be the
same again (see Romans 5:1214; 8:2022).
God's plan for men and women
was spoilt by sin. God cannot simply
overlook sin; that would go
against his whole character. So sin
brings judgement and we can
see here what that judgement involves.
SEPARATION FROM GOD (8,23).
this is the real tragedy of judgement.
Man and woman were made to
enjoy a close relationship with God.
Because of our sin we can no
longer talk easily and openly to God.
We feel ashamed and lost for
words.
MISSING OUT ON GOD'S GIFTS.
God had a wonderful future for Adam
and Eve a place to live,
food to eat, beauty to enjoy. But pain
and suffering spoiled the
joy and work was no longer a pleasure
but a chore. God's plan was
spoilt.
REBELLION CRUSHED! However,
verse 15 makes it clear that evil will
not always have the upper
hand. From our vantage point in history,
we know that God has
defeated evil and made it possible for us to
enjoy a relationship with
him despite our rebellion (see Romans
5:1519).
PRAY Praise God for his gift
of forgiveness and reconciliation.
