Genesis
2:4b-25
Adam and Eve hid themselves from God
Eve was the
first woman. Independent and curious, noticing the fruit to be good for food…pleasing to the eye…desirable
for gaining wisdom, three aspects of temptation, she took of the tree and
ate. She disobeyed God's command. She ate the forbidden fruit, initiating major
changes in the Garden of Eden - and human history. Man will now have to
struggle to survive in this world and death is introduced to the planet.
As
sin entered the picture, so the image of God was destroyed. By its very nature,
sin destroys that image since sin is an attitude in which the wishes, thoughts
and deeds of man differ from those of God. Sin drove a wedge between God and man.
With the loss of the divine image, also went man’s perfect knowledge and
understanding of God’s Holy Will.
At the heart of the story
is a new idea: that lawlessness is contrary to the will of God, and when
it happens, the good as well as the wicked suffer. We live in a broken world,
outside of Eden. Disease, disaster, drought, disability, death all find their
root in the first catastrophe known to man. The serpent deceived and the land
is cursed.
Yet, not all is lost.
Every man, every woman, every boy, every girl is cursed. No other offspring of
the woman would be able to overcome the tempter, except for one, who would be born
of a woman (Galatians 4:4) one, who would come to destroy the devil’s
work. (1 John 3:8) Jesus the promised Savior came to destroy the works of
the devil. He took on flesh, and made His dwelling with us. (John 1:14)
At just the right time, Jesus broke into time and space to be your substitute. He
exchanges your sin for His righteousness. He bore you sin in His body and nailed
them to the cross. In His glorious resurrection, He offers you a new and
glorious life.
Faithful God, whose mercies are new to us every
morning, we humbly pray that You would look upon us in mercy and renew us by
Your Holy Spirit. Keep safe our going out and our coming in, and let Your
blessing remain with us throughout this day. Preserve us in Your righteousness,
and grant us a portion in that eternal life which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Prayers from Lutheran
Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran
Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House
Schnorr
von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with permission from WELS
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