Looking at Questions in God’s Word – 3

 Looking at Questions in God’s Word – 3

Subject – Important Questions in Genesis

By Rick Welborne

Genesis 3:1-6 NIV
¹Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
²  The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
³  but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"
⁴  "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.
⁵  "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
⁶  When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 

--Today we are going to look at three questions in the book of Genesis that are still relevant for us today. One question by Satan, one by God, and one by man (Cain). 

--The first question will show us the plan of Satan and his intentions for each of us. 

John 10:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

--The second question will show us the heart of God and how He wants everyone to be saved.

Luke 19:10 (NKJV) ¹⁰  for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." 

--The third question will show us our responsibility to others and to the world.

Mark 16:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

--Let’s jump into God’s Word in Genesis and look at these three important questions.

1. Did God really say?

Genesis 3:1 (NIV)
¹  Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" 

--Many believe that Genesis 3 to be the most important chapters in the Bible. If you just read 1-2 and then skip to chapter 4, man goes from being blessed in the garden to being cursed. Something happened.

--In 1-2 man is innocent and everything seems to be perfection in the garden of God and the moment you read 4 there is jealousy, anger, murder, corruption, lying, rebellion, and judgment.

--Another question for us is where did it come from? What happened in the garden to change the life and direction of man? What could have been that devastating?  

--Satan shows up with a question to confuse, deceive, and separate man from God. Did God really say? The question is designed to make them question God and His authority.

--You must not eat from any tree in the garden. Look at this logically…why would God create man and woman just to watch them starve to death in the garden. His questioning of God flusters Eve. 

--She even adds to God’s command. He said we cannot eat of the tree in the middle of the garden because you will die and not to even touch it. God did not say that. 

--Satan now has her because he is cunning and crafty so He pushes forward…You will not surely die! He calls God a liar and questions His intentions for Adam and Eve. 

--Satan is doing the same thing today to so many. That is why there is so much compromise in the church. Satan tempts them, they want the forbidden fruit, and he asks, Did God really say?

--Did God really say? The Bible is filled with things God has really said but it is being called into question not only by the world, politicians, the media, but sadly, even the church.

--Did God really say…murder is wrong when it comes to the unborn…they are just fetuses anyway? Did God really say…marriage should be only between a man and woman?

--Did God really say…Do not forsake My house and now many politicians are forbidding Christians from going to church and using Covid as an excuse? Did God really say…Bless Israel and I will bless you?

--All these things are in jeopardy in our nation. Do not get discouraged but keep praying for God’s mighty hand of intervention. 

Luke 18:7 (NLT2)
⁷  Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

--Let’s talk to the church. Did God really say…Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature? Did God really say…Send Missionaries so others can hear the Word of God?

--Did God really say…We should be like Him and we should seek to save the lost? Did God really say…Be filled with my Holy Spirit so you can have power to be witnesses? Did God really say…Obey Me? 

--If Satan is saying to you, Did God really say, you better make sure you know what God is truly saying in His Word. Satan wants to take as many as he can to hell with him.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (NLT2)
³  But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.
⁴  You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

2. Where are you?

Genesis 3:8-9 (NKJV)
⁸  And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
⁹  Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" 

--Where are you? What a powerful question from God to Adam and Eve. It was more than a question about their location but much more about their spiritual condition. 

--You have given into temptation and you have disobeyed my command (My Word) so “Where are you? Why are so many hiding from God? Many are hiding in plain sight. In church.

--Many are hiding from God behind forced smiles, behind working hard for approval, behind pretentious worship to make people think they are okay. God is saying, “Where are you?”

--Adam and Eve heard God’s voice in the garden so they hid themselves (as if anyone is truly hiding from God). Guilt and shame have a way of making us hide.

--I believe it is significant that they hid in God’s garden thinking that their artificial coverings would accomplish their intentions. It symbolizes those hiding in the church. 

--Where are you in relationship to God? Are you just pretending everything is alright or are you doing like Adam and Eve and you are putting the blame on someone else?

Genesis 3:10-13 (NKJV)
¹⁰  So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
¹¹  And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?"
¹²  Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
¹³  And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

--That woman you gave me, that man you gave me, or simply like Flip Wilson used to say, The Devil made me do it! If we will get healed and whole, we have to stop hiding and stop blaming others.

Genesis 3:21 (NKJV) ²¹  Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. 

--God asked, Where are you? He knew and He still came looking for them. There were consequences to their sin but because of God’s love, he covered them. Blood was shed and they were covered.

Hebrews 9:22 (NLT2)
²²  In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. 

3. Am I my brother’s keeper?

--We know the story how Abel’s gift was accepted by the Lord and Cain’s was not. Does not say why but it matters how we give. Cain was jealous and killed Abel.

Genesis 4:9 (NIV)
⁹  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 

--Where is your brother? Am I my brother’s keeper? We understand Cain killed Abel (shed his blood – murder) and Jesus shed His blood (redemption). 

--Am I my brother’s keeper? Am I responsible for my brother or my sister? Paul said I am a debtor to all men to preach to them the gospel. Shirts made up in Louisiana for a witnessing tool.

A.E.I.O.U. – Aggressive Evangelism – IOU the Gospel. 

--I am responsible to care about others salvation, not just mine.

Philippians 2:4-5 (NIV) ⁴  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: