Reading from The One Year Chronological Bible - New Living Translation (CB-NLT)
Day 1 - Genesis 1:1-3:24
Genesis 1:29-30
Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground - everything that has life." And that is what happened.
God made a distinction between the plants and who was to eat them. Seed-bearing plants for man while the green plants was for the wild animals, birds and small animals. Nothing earth shattering really except that God is interested in the details of life. He created exactly what was needed for man and for the animals that He made. If He was that specific about the purpose of the kinds of plants, than how much more is He interested and specific about the details of my life!
When I fuss and fume about the details of my life and try to "fix" them, I am circumventing God's work in my life. I am usurping His authority and rightful place in the daily details that make up my day.
Genesis 3:4-6
"You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman. "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it too.
Eve listened to a talking serpent. CRAZY! but apparently that was the norm. I would not even get close enough to a serpent to hear it speak. If I see a serpent I don't stick around.........or do I? See the serpents .....the animals......well I can identify them.......the slither on the ground, they sun themselves on the sidewalks in the park where I like to walk. But those are not the "serpents" of my day. The serpents of my day can be gorgeous to look at and comfortable to listen to. I recognize their voices when they talk. They are the "norm" of my day. I DO engage in conversations with them. I DO stop to listen to them. I do not think it crazy to hear them speak.
Not only did Eve engage in conversation with the serpent but she was convinced of the "wisdom" the serpent espoused. "You won't die! God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." What foolish conversations from the "serpent" in my daily life am I listening to and allowing myself to become "convinced" of the "wisdom" he shares with me?
Eve not only listened to the serpent and allowed herself to be convinced of the false wisdom that was spoken she also placed her faith in the fruit of the tree. "As soon as you eat IT....you will be like God." Rather than going to God as the source of wisdom she allowed herself to be enticed by the wisdom "IT" would give her. Am I seeking the wisdom that comes from God or the wisdom that comes for "IT" which promises me what only God can give?
Finally Eve took the fruit and shared it with her husband who was with her. As a wife she was caring for her husband......sharing with him, loving him, engaging in life with him. BUT what she shared with him was deadly as you and I both know. Are the things that I am sharing with my husband building him up or are they deadly? What about the things that I share with my daughter? With my family?
Genesis 3:16
Then He said to the woman, "I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you."
"You will desire to control your husband." That driving force in me that wants to control my husband and all that he does is a direct result of sin. It is not because I know better and I have done the research but a direct result of sin. Doing research and becoming informed about issues that effect him and me as well as our family is NOT a bad thing. It is actually good and wise as we can see elsewhere in the Word; rather, the use of that information to control and manipulate Arthur is a result of sin and IS SIN. May I see it for what it really is!
God, I pray that the food that I serve my family today......physical and spiritual food will bless them and give them nourishment and strength. Help me to discern the voice of the serpent in my life and to go to you for wisdom and salvation. Thank you that YOU are in control of my life, Arthur's and Dacia's. Thank you for today!
