Trouble in Paradise ~ Bible Study blog for 3/6

What a terrible and unexpected turn of events for the readers of Genesis…  The story begins with God creating, and God being pleased with God’s own handiwork.  God creates human beings, puts them in the Garden of Eden, and puts them in charge of tilling the soil and keeping it.  The entire garden is at their disposal and free for the taking—save for the fruit of one tree…  What could possibly go wrong?  Who is to blame for the chaos that ensues?  Is it Eve?  Is it Adam?  Is it the serpent?  Is it God?

What we see in the serpent, as well as in Adam and Eve is free will—the freedom to accept God’s authority and obey, or to reject it and rebel.  God did not create us as robots, but as beings with the capacity to give love, receive love, or reject love.  The serpent does not force Adam and Eve into sinning; the devil just begins casting doubt on God’s authority and God’s Word.  The serpent works to cast doubt on God’s good intentions for them—and tell them that they can become gods.  Isn’t that what everyone wants?  To be large and in charge?  To determine what is right and wrong?   To try and have it all, know it all, and do it all?  Both Adam and Eve acted on these desires, to their own downfall. They grow so blind by their desire for the forbidden fruit that they no longer trust God, give thanks for God's blessings, and live contentedly in their God-given vocation.

In spite of Adam blaming Eve and God for his sin; and Eve blaming the serpent for her sin; Adam and Eve bear equal responsibility.  They rebelled against God—and now there are consequences to their disobedience.  Ultimately, the story of Adam and Eve reveals the rebellious nature of our human flesh; our desire to be god; and our tremendous need to be saved from the destruction of our own making.  

As the narrative continues, God’s “good creation” quickly spirals out of control, to the point that only one righteous man is left upon the earth—and God will save the entire creation on his shoulders.  God is saving creation and the human race from human beings—which is an act of judgment and wrath, but ultimately an act of mercy.    God is still exercising control, in spite of all the chaos and evil.  God is bringing the creation ever closer to the intended result—of which we still await today.  We are baptized and sealed for the future Kingdom of God that is dawning upon the earth.  We’re not there yet—but, in spite of all appearances, God is acting beyond the world and within the world to bring it to its ultimate purpose.  The evil rebellion of our flesh and the death that destroys the precious gift of life will no longer wreak havoc on this earth—and by God’s grace, all creation will reach its ultimate goodness.

Thankfully, the blood of Christ cleanses all sin-- and the baptism of the Holy Spirit drowns the old Adam that is enslaved to sin, so that we may rise to new life as servants of God and caretakers of our neighbor.

SPOILER ALERT: Sunday’s sermon will be based on the Adam and Eve story, and I hope to dig in a little deeper to this notion of human sin, the pain that it creates, as well as God’s grace that frees us from its deadly grip.

The Bible Study will meet next Thursday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m.  Then we will break for two weeks and regather on March 27th.