Series: Broken
Message: Potential
Preacher: David Smith
Daily Walk: David Smith
Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 78:17-25.
Read: Genesis 3 (NIV). As you read the New International Version, note 1-3 new insights.
Reflect: Once they are found guilty, Adam and Eve waste no time casting blame. Adam blames Eve (and in effect God as well) while Eve blames the serpent. One of the tragedies on the part of Adam is that his immediate reaction is to protect himself at the expense of his relationship with Eve. In just the previous chapter he had exclaimed, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” But now he’s willing to pass all of the blame on to her. James E. Smith’s The Pentateuch succinctly states:
Sin divides the human race. Of love for the woman or anxiety for her welfare there was not the slightest trace here. (2nd ed., p. 69)
Guilt is a powerful thing. We generally handle it in one of two ways: we accept our guilt and seek repentance or we go to great lengths to cover our tracks . . . even at the expense of others. A great example of this can be found in the story of David. When he realizes his adulterous relationship will be exposed when his lover become pregnant, David arranges for Bathsheba's husband Uriah to appear to be the father of the baby. When that doesn’t work, he arranges for Uriah’s death. However, we also see the other side of guilt when David finally repents. We see his change of heart when he prays “have mercy upon me. . . . I acknowledge my transgressions” (Psalm 51, KJV). Originally David sought to bury his sin at any cost. After being convicted by the Holy Spirit, he was willing to take full ownership of his misdeeds and lean into God’s grace.
No one wants to admit that they are wrong. The good news, however, is that God is willing to forgive us. But we must acknowledge that we are in need of forgiving.
Recalibrate:
Respond: Pray for a heart open to God’s conviction.
Research: Where else in the Bible do you find examples of characters blaming others for their own mistakes?