Some times it only takes a moment for the perfect vacation to turn sour. The car suffers a major mechanical problem. Someone gets sick and so everyone is stuck in the hotel room cancelling plans. The beautiful sunny weather suddenly turns to a day filled with storms, and you cannot go to the beach. Truly in an instant things can change. In Genesis 3, we unfortunately see a sudden change. What was a perfect existence in the perfect garden ends when Satan comes into the garden, tempts Adam and Eve, and the choice is made to disobey God. In that single moment everything changed as sin entered the world. We then see in chapter 3 how the consequences of disobeying God are severe. However, let’s not overlook the hope that is found in this chapter. Though many times when our vacation plans get changed there is no recovery, with God there is always hope. In Genesis 3, though sin and its consequences come, we see God give grace and point us to hope. In verse 15 God says the head of the serpent would be bruised and then in verse 21 God provides clothing to cover their nakedness while in verse 24 God blocks the way to the tree of life. All these actions by God are reminders of his grace. By blocking the way to the tree of life he was keeping the man and woman from eating from the tree and living forever in a state of sin. By providing skins for covering in verse 21, God was pointing to the fact that there could be a sacrifice made to cover our sin. In verse 15, we have what is called the “protoevangelium”– the first reference to Jesus’ death (you shall bruise his heal) which would defeat satan (he shall bruise your head). We cannot deny that the events in chapter 3 are in a way very depressing. Sin has a hefty cost. But let’s never overlook the more important truth that God’s grace can take care of our sin. There is always hope when we look to God and trust in his amazing grace.
For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17
VC Devotionals 