The Choice to Obey

Last week

God is the source of provision, but we have to focus on the good.

We have a job to do - to bring life to those around us.

What does it look like to bring life?

Genesis 2:15–17 “15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.””

God gives the keys/guard rails for bringing life

v15 - Tend and watch over the garden - evaluate responsibility and power

These are not commands offered to animals

Animals will steal food and kill other animals.

People are not close to the animals

Tend

- Hebrew - to serve/collaborate/minister, and is often used in the OT for what the priests did in the tabernacle.

Numbers 3:7–8 “7 They will serve Aaron and the whole community, performing their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle. 8 They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent, serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites.”

Not ownership, stewardship/management

Owners have full control.

Managers have the autonomy to make decisions under the authority of the owner.

Home ownership vs Property management

Owner can renovate and change the layout of a house

Manager can decorate and fix things that are about to go bad

Tabernacle - clean and maintain, remind people of the importance of the house of God.

Watch Over

Hebrew - To guard and keep

Numbers 1:53 “53 But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to protect the community of Israel from the Lord’s anger. The Levites are responsible to stand guard around the Tabernacle.””

Genesis 3:24 “24 After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”

Genesis 4:9 “9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?””

What this looks like

What has God given you to manage?

Family (Church) - V - got to 18

Not just physical protection

Critical decisions like graduation

Theology of work

Who owns it?

Who owns You?

Who owns Your family?

So, how should you manage it?

Caring for the Kingdom of God

Manager

Make it the best

Protect it

Do unto the LORD

We don’t work for comfort but for God.

We do things for him.

v16-17 - The Warning

Kids - Count to 3

Warning was the Choice to obey from an understanding man.

1) Permission

Eat that tree or that tree or that one.

The bible is not primarily a list of things to do and not do.

It's the revelation of who God is and His heart.

His heart reveals what’s wrong with our hearts.

Kids - you can do anything, just don’t hurt each other or be mean.

1 Rule

You can eat of the tree of life.

Life continued - God

Mi - since 1963 - over 2,000 public acts

2) Adam understood God’s desires for him without experiencing the consequence.

Adam was not a grunting knuckle-dragger.

He was made in the image of God, named the animals, and understood obedience vs disobedience.

Humanity is hardwired to understand God

You are built into his character - It is built into you.

Innocence of a child - Stealing is not good, and we all know it.

Adam didn’t know what death was!

Capable of choice

Obedience or Disobedience

Obeying God’s instructions and His created order

Adam Obeying would be

Being a good manager of himself, his wife, and the garden

Enjoying all the good things surrounding him

And trusting that Death is a bad thing.

Disobeying would be

Taking ownership of something that is Gods

Fixating on something you don’t have

Learning the hard way - consequences are bad

If we get this, we read the bible differently!

God will hold you accountable for your obedience & disobedience.

Doing the right thing over having the right heart

God help me be obedient to what you have clearly told me!

He made everything Perfect and gave us everything!

Even the Tree of Life

We have a loving father!

Conclusion

It’s good that God owns everything and lets us manage it.

How many are glad the person next to them is the owner of everything?

Don’t take God’s place in any area

Take care of everything he gives you well & guard everyone around you

Blow your socks off

Obey God!

It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand the consequence

God’s warning and boundaries are good for us.

He is a loving, protective father.

Let’s trust him!