January 2, 2025 - Genesis 3-5

Typically and rightly so, here in Genesis 3, I focus on verse 15 and the announcement of a coming Redeemer  – “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (3:15) -- and the story that makes up the rest of Scripture, i.e., that promise fulfilled.  This morning, the first verse of the chapter caught my attention:  “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made” (3:1).  He deceived our first parents with the consequence of death coming into the world.  The serpent’s initial question seems quite sincere, perhaps even innocent:  “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’” (3:1)  Eve could have answered, “Yes, he did say that and, so, we will not eat of it.”  And, supposedly, that would have been the end of the matter.  But the serpent would continue to probe and to entice until Eve gave in and ate.  This is what he does, isn’t it?  Peter warned, “Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him” (1 Peter 5:8-9).  And here’s the thing, One will come who will defeat the adversary and will enable us to overcome him.  Paul wrote, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”(1 Corinthians 10:13).  How great and deceiving is our enemy, but our God has and will deliver us when we look to him.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,

A wonderful Savior to me;

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,

Where rivers of pleasure I see.

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

That shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life in the depths of his love

And covers me there with his hand,

And covers me there with his hand.   --Fanny Crosby (1890)