Some of our greatest struggles can come from the source of our greatest blessings – RELATIONSHIPS! Relationships can most certainly challenge us. Gossip, backstabbing, manipulation, dishonesty, pride wanting center stage, jealousy, and the insistence it is “someone else’s fault” – all press on each of us. These speak to the relationship we have with one another. Our text also speaks of a relationship with God! That relationship must be embraced, cherished, and pursued. We must move beyond a selfish survival mode when it comes to our relationship with God and enjoy the blessing of a relationship with the Lord!
Divinity’s Pursuit (3:9-11)
God’s Call to Return
3:9 – “Where Art Thou?”
God’s call is patient. God’s call is loving. God’s call is merciful.
Have you ever all of the sudden realized it has gotten too quiet…so you call for your kids? Where are you? What are you doing? You know what we like to say when we hear that question – “nothing.” Only there is a whole lot of “something” going on with that “nothing!”
I don’t pretend to know all the sinful choices represented here today; however, I do know the tendencies of man’s sinful heart…because I have one too! We are prone to:
Selfish arguments among the family
Insistence on “my way” no matter what
Directly disobeying & dishonoring parents
Rejecting the command to love and embracing bitterness
Sneaking wickedness when we think we are alone
God is calling you! He is saying, “Where are you? What are you doing?” His call is patient, loving, and merciful. Come to Jesus and find genuine forgiveness!
The family unit cannot survive the breakdown of relationship with God and with others. It must be addressed! Ignoring, denying, rejecting the problem are only temporary solutions with no real fix...and over time the problem just gets bigger while remaining unresolved. Acknowledge where you truly are! In short, respond to God with, “I’m over here!”
Man’s Guilt to Respond
3:10 – “I heard thy voice, and I was afraid…hid myself”
What is Adam afraid of?
o Exposure of my sin (they covered themselves)
Embarrassment
Damaged reputation
Hurting those close to me
This is like saying, “I read the Bible or heard a sermon, I realized my wrong, and I got afraid that someone would find out! So, I stopped coming to church, stopped praying, stopped reading the Bible, and hid myself!” In essence, this is hiding from the people and places that will help us and running to what will only make things worse.
o Consequences of my sin
Judgment of man (can be very hard). The church needs to get better at working together, praying together, and calling each other out (in love) when necessary. I recently heard one preacher describe the church journey as a hospital that needs to become a family that is eventually sent out as an army. The church growth stagnates when we get stuck in the “hospital” phase. Do not get me wrong! There will always be a portion of the church in the hospital phase (broken people), but the church is so much more than just a hospital!
Judgment of God (Prov. 29:25)
Once discovered, Adam was afraid of his nakedness. He was embarrassed (which only sin had caused such embarrassment). However, he still had not told the whole truth. Our first inclination is to keep our sin from exposure. Adam was afraid because he sinned against God. To hide from God’s presence is the instinct of guilt! It is the exact opposite of “seek His face.” (Psalm 63:1; Isaiah 55:6; Jeremiah 29:13)
Directional Damage (3:12-19)
Gut Response – Justify…Shift the Blame (3:12-13)
Did you hear about the man who went golfing? He missed the ball three times then said, “Boy, this is a rough course!” It is easy to blame adverse circumstances when we miss the mark and sin. (Source: Unknown)
Adam pointed to Eve…Eve pointed to the serpent…and the serpent received the first of three judgments handed out by the One true just God. We point to others all the time as our justification for our sin, when in truth, we sinned! No one made us do it! …and we need to own it!
We point to:
A bad home life growing up as to why as an adult I sin today
A lack of disciplined training as to why I am lazy today
A controlling church in my background as to why I am doing whatever I want to do today.
These issues can no doubt play a part in our present-day choices; however, using these problems of the past as the crutch of the present for the rest of my life is not justifiable. These are real issues that you must work through with wise counseling!
We, as believers who have the HS indwelling us right now, must stop blaming others for our own sinful choices! Pursue the blessings of relationship with God!
Inevitable Outcomes (3:14-19)
No surprises…exactly what God said…Eve was clear on it too (3:2-3)
Serpent’s judgment: (3:14-15) cursed above every beast of the field, no legs, and then Satan will be defeated in the end.
Eve’s Judgment: (3:16) Childbirth will be painful and your husband will rule over you even though your desire will be contrary to him.
Adam’s Judgment: (3:17-19) The ground is cursed. Adam will eat from the plant life. Surrounded with thorns and thistles, Adam will harvest his food with sweat on his face and will return to dust when he dies.
God will not be mocked. He is truth and will do exactly what He says He’ll do – especially regarding our sin! 4 Bible Realities about Rebellion:
Ignoring sinful choices will not change the outcome. We will reap what we sow. (Galatians 6)
Blazing your own way (instead of God’s) will end exactly as He says it will (Proverbs 14:12)
Attempting to hide your sinful choices from God is foolish. (Achan – Joshua 6-7)
Coming clean about your sin to the One who already knows about it – is crucial!
So, how do we develop stronger relationship with Jesus? 2 steps to deeper relationship with Jesus:
Read His love letter!
Some may say, “I’m okay without it.” Are you really? You truly have that much peace, joy, and the understanding of love in your life? You truly have the absence of anxiety and worry? You truly are that free of resentment, bitterness, and malice? You truly have full victory over your vices? Read the Bible, my friend, and find these and much more through a relationship with Jesus!
Live what you read. (Matt. 7:24-25)
The wise man is one who not only knows the Bible, but also lives what he knows. He “hears God’s Word” and “does God’s Word.” Are you wise in your marriage? Are you wise in your home life?