Marred & Marked

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The Garden scene -
We’ve been living in the garden.
We’ve talked about -
Adam & Eve - pinnacle of creation
The relationship between God and Humanity
The sin of Adam & Eve - wanting to be like God

“Did God really say?”

Where is our source for this answer? Others, or God?
Last week we focused upon Genesis 2:16-17
Genesis 2:16–17 ESV
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
That was from Genesis 2:16-17 and we spent a good deal of time discussing the fact that this was a command from God.
God communicates
God communicates with his creation
God pursues that communication
And the question we had last week was not “Where are you?” But “Who are you?”
We often forget that we are children of God - created for relationship with the Creator God and instead try to create God in our image.
This week we’re looking at the consequences of the Fall, and we’re talking about how we, as humans have been Marred by sin, but also marked by God.

Sin and Death

The consequence for sin - or disobedience to God’s Word is death. In answer to the serpent’s question, “Yes, God really did say…”
Throughout the geneologies after Adam we will see the words

“…and then he died.”

written after just about everyone, there are some notable exceptions which we’ll talk about at a later date.
What happens with the fall is that death is introduced into the narrative of Creation. Prior to the transgression by Adam and Eve there was no mention of anyone or anything dying emphasizing the impact of the transgression itself.
From that point on, our species has feared and avoided death as best we could.
When God pronounces judgment against human beings he begins with Eve -
Childbearing will be more painful.
Her marriage relationship will be adversely affected
Genesis 3:16 ESV
To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”
In confronting Adam God says,
Genesis 3:17–19 ESV
And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Let’s take this one at a time
Before anyone claims they don’t have to listen to their wives, it’s important we take this in context.
Genesis 3:17 ESV
And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
It is not because listened to the voice of his wife, Note the “AND” there. He listened to her and did contrary to God’s command.
Again the question of “Did God really say…?” comes to the fore and we are asked what our source is of what God actually said? Do we go to God’s Word or to another person?
Eve was deceived, but Adam obeyed the direct command of God that he heard when he was alone with God.
And the final part of the judgment comes in verse 19
Genesis 3:19 ESV
By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Yes, death will be the result. God really did say.
And we see a turn happen within the story of Genesis. When we get to chapter 4, Adam and Eve have their first children. The first born is Cain and later Abel. As we follow the story the two bring offerings to God, but only Abel’s is accepted since he alone offers the best of his flock, which he does “by faith”.
This angers Cain, and God comes to him to console and to warn him:
Genesis 4:6–7 ESV
The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
If you do not do well, sin is couching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
There is a warning and a promise here.
Sin is crouching at the door - it’s after us.
It’s desire is contrary to us - it’s not good for us.
We must rule over it.
This is the promise I see - if God tells me to rule something it must mean I am able to do so…but not alone.
Things just seem to be going down hill for humanity from this point:
Cain kills his brother Abel:
Genesis 4:8 ESV
Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
And when God comes looking for him, Cain is less than forthcoming:
Genesis 4:9 ESV
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
God responds in v. 10
Genesis 4:10 ESV
And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.
He goes on to say:
Genesis 4:11–12 ESV
And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
This would be a strong judgment for anyone who received their identity from working the ground as Cain did. He was a farmer, not a herdsmen.
I want to go verse by verse here, and note God’s response to each of Cain’s statements
Genesis 4:13–14 ESV
Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
Note God’s response:
Genesis 4:15 ESV
Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
That mark was not a judgment, but was for Cain’s protection.
Now, what we will see is that hope moving forward will come through Adam and Eve again in another son they name Seth. We see the hope as we conclude chapter 4
Genesis 4:26 ESV
To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
The people again are turning to the Lord. That is what was asked the entire time.

God’s Judgment

Is it wrathful? Or is it tempered with Grace?
As we follow through God’s redemptive plan, throughout the Bible we will find a God who is constantly inviting us back, calling to us to be the people we were created to be.
No matter how great your sin may be, or perhaps you do not think you sin THAT much, but even the slightest is a separation between you and God.
Reading through these opening chapters we recognize that God is not only JUDGE God is our REDEEMER

Judge and Redeemer

God is the one who constantly provides a way back for us, but we are also given the choice to heed his advise or not. One choice leads to life the other, ultimately leads to death.
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