MONDAY, July 13, 2009                                                       READ: Genesis 3: 1 - 15                                                                                                        

GOD REQUIRED ACCOUNTABILITY

MEMORIZE: And the LORD said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”         Genesis 3: 13

Whenever God makes us responsible for anything, He holds us accountable. God required Adam to account for his failure to obey His command to him, and in v. 12, we are able to see how Adam shifted the blame to his wife, “The woman You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” Even though she gave it to him, he did not, and, should not have eaten it (cf. 2: 17). Things have not changed much. Many, too many men are content to be irresponsible and be accountable for their behavior. They choose to hide behind their wives and allow them to take responsibility and the blame for their actions. In v. 13, we see how the LORD called upon the woman to account for what she had done? What had she done? Look at her answer! How did she become deceived by the serpent? Did her own secret aspirations play any part (cf. James 1:14,15)? Why had God created her (cf.1Corinthians 11: 7 - 9). Here then is another blame, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (cf. Romans 6: 16; 1 Timothy 2: 14). She did not trust her husband and she did not trust God. In v. 14, we see how the LORD spoke to the physical serpent, the snake, and informed it of the consequence of its action. What had it done? It had yielded it’s body to the devil for him to use in working against God. Pay attention to the kind of experience to which God was consigning it. The snake, the cattle and the rest of God’s creation are placed under a curse (cf. Jeremiah 12: 4; Romans 8: 20 -23). This is primarily, as a result of Adam’s disobedience and the fall into sin. Here we see how the snake is singled out above all the other creatures for curse. It is made odious, disgusting and branded with infamy and to be avoided (cf. Isaiah 65: 25; Micah 7: 17). What do you think of when you think of a snake? In v. 15, we are able to see how God went on to speak to the devil, the spiritual serpent, who had used the body of the snake to perpetrate evil. It is here, in this setting that we find the “first gospel” reference (cf. Romans 1: 16) It speaks, in capsule form, of the struggle which will exist between the devil and the woman, between her Seed and the devil’s seed (cf. John 8: 44; Romans 16: 20; Hebrews 2: 14; 1 John 3: 10, 11; Revelation 12: 13 – 17; 20: 10). These words point to the long struggle which have existed between the godly and ungodly, between those who have bought into what God is doing and those who refuse to. Those of us who have put our trust in God for salvation through Jesus Christ, are part of the struggle with Christ against Satan, and will share in his crushing (2 Timothy 2: 11-13). Are you in touch with that?

PRAY:LORD, God, Almighty, I believe that You are faithful and that Your word is true and sure. Please help me to understand it and to live by it. Help me to serve You faithfully today and every day. Thank You for the victory which You promise us through our LORD, Jesus Christ. Amen.