"Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth..." Psalm 135:6
 

Our Lord is an omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all-powerful) God; nothing surprises Him. (Ps. 139:16) He is the Maker of all, including that which denies or opposes His goodness. (Prov. 16:4, and Eccl. 3;11) With every evil or apparent defeat there is His loving provision for redemption and restoration.

  Precious Lord, only by your Spirit can we see these truths.  Please teach us more about your eternal wisdom, dominion, and love.

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1.    Read Ephesians 1:4.  We have the privilege of seeing "the fall" from God's eternal perspective; we see both His first intentions and His ultimate purpose.  If you are in Jesus, when did you have your beginning?  What is His goal for you?

 

2.    Read Genesis 3:1-6.

                A. 1. Whom does the serpent represent?

2. How does the serpent initiate the "conversation?"

3. What does this tell you about his scope of knowing and information?

     B.  1. Read Eve's response in vs. 2-3.  How did she misquote the command God gave in Gen. 2:16-17?

 

  2. (Personal) How might you add to or take away from the pure word of God as you share it with someone?

    C.   Satan is a master at speaking half-truths that distort true reality.  In his statement in vs. 4-5, what is true, and what is a lie?

              D.  1. State the three areas of temptation in v. 6a.    

2. How are these similar to the three points mentioned in I John 2:16?

3. (Personal) Ask God to show you three comparable areas of temptation in your own life.

                E.  1. As you review the process of temptation, where do you see Eve’s will to obey begin to weaken?

2. (Personal) At what point do you begin to weaken when tempted?  How do you then resist? (See James 4i7-8 and Luke 4il-13)

III.    Read Genesis 3:6-24.

              A.  1. Describe the action in v. 6b. 

2. How does this represent the nature and condition of mankind ever since?

3. Read Rom. 5:14, 17-21, and 6:4-6.  Describe God's eternal plan of redemption.

             B.   State the consequences of sin in these verses from Gen. 3 and relate each to your own life.

1. v.7  

 

2. vs. 8 and 10  

 

3. vs. 12-13

    C.  What does v. 15b tell you about Jesus and the cost of God's plan of salvation?

    D.  (Challenge) Ask God to show you His perspective as you look at the judgment for sin.  Where do you see God's love and wisdom in vs. 16-19? (See II Cor. 12:9-10)

    E. Our God has always been a personal, loving Father.  How does v. 21 encourage you?

IV.    Read Genesis 4:1-17.

  A. We see that "God had regard for Abel and his offering," but not for Cain's.  List some of the reasons our giving may not be pleasing to Him and to others.

1. Mal. 1:7-10  

 

2. I Sam. 15:22-23

 

3. Matt. 5:23-24

  B.   What were the continuing consequences of sin according to vs. 8 and 11-12?

V.    Read Psalm 32.  What words of peace and comfort does your Lord speak to you?

VI.    Read Genesis 4:25-26.  God's plan may seem to have been interrupted for a while, but in reality it stood immovable before our God who is beyond time.  How do you see His perfect ways in the midst of human failure?