Advent Reflections Dec 4

Morning
Gen 3:1-7

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Does God really love you? Can God really be trusted? Is God really Good? These are the lies that the enemy tempted Eve with. Remember these lies. you will be tempted by them today, as we all are constantly. The answer to all three questions is yes as we come to see as the story unfolds. But we must WAIT.

Afternoon
Gen 3:8-13 

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Instant brokenness entered into the experience of humanity at this moment. brokenness we experience still. A husband and wife turn against each other, against their maker. Relationships that were made to be fulfilling and meaningful become shattered. Consider broken relationships in your life. Some you may not be able to heal. But some you can. How does the restoration God brings about call you into healing these?

Evening
Gen 3:14-15

The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Pay attention to this. Who brings the restoration? Who Promises the destruction of the serpent? As you prepare to sleep tonight, do so knowing that the weight of redemption is on the shoulders of another. Shoulders that would eventually carry a wooden cross.