Hello ladies! Welcome to the first blog post of Sunsets with Jesus! I am so excited for us to grow in fellowship with one another and to see how the Lord speaks to each of us. So, be basic and grab some coffee or tea, grab your favorite blanket, get comfy, and let’s spend some time with Jesus.
Today we’re going to talk about Eve. Before we dive in, read Genesis 1-4 for yourself.
In the first chapter of the Bible, God describes creating the beautiful world that we get to live in. Chapter 2 focuses on the creation of Adam. After creating man, God recognizes that it’s not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18) so He creates woman. They got to live in paradise together in perfect fellowship with God, but unfortunately, it was short-lived. The serpent (Satan) deceived Eve and made her believe that God was keeping all the knowledge for Himself. Satan made Eve believe that God did not want the very best for her- that God was selfish. This led to Eve disobeying the one rule God set for them in the garden, which we call The Fall, or the moment when sin entered the world.
When we get to The Fall, this is the first time the protoevangelium is mentioned. Protoevangelium means the first gospel. Genesis 3 is the first mention of the gospel in Scripture. Eve had sinned against God and of course, there would be consequences, the greatest one being that they no longer get to live in paradise. However, God makes a promise that through Eve’s descendants the curse of sin will be broken. God’s judgment was full of grace and mercy. Jesus would come through Eve’s direct lineage, and she got to hold on to that promise her entire life. How incredible is that! Eve is the first person to sin, yet God breaks that curse through her! I am so thankful that I worship a God who is so loving towards His children in that even though we endure the consequences of our actions, God takes our brokenness and uses them for His glory. Eve’s life reminds us that God redeems our mistakes for His glory and our good. Though Eve set the curse in motion because of her own failure, she also was the first to receive the promise of the One that would set us free. Our sins may be great, and we may struggle with our regrets and shame, but His grace is so much greater! At the cross, Jesus crushed Satan, sin, and death with him.
So why are we holding on to our sins? Do we really believe that our mistakes are so unforgivable that even the God who created the universe is so small that He can’t forgive us? When did we start to believe that God fits in our little boxes and that we became the masters of our own lives? We are fearfully and wonderfully (Psalm 139:14) made in HIS image- not our own.
Let’s discuss what we just read. I have some questions that I want you to think about, write them down, and if you’d like to comment below we can discuss them together!
- What did we learn about God and His character in the life of Eve?
- What character qualities, positive or negative, do we see in Eve’s life?
- What can I learn from Eve’s story and apply it to my own life?
As I’ve pondered on these questions, I have found that God judges us with His grace and mercy; we still have consequences but we’re always His beloved. When it comes to Eve, she had doubts about God’s character. She believed in the serpent rather than trusting and believing that God had the best intentions for her.
Now, here comes the icky, uncomfortable feeling. How are we like Eve? For me, sometimes I trust God but… (there’s the magic word we love to use) other times I get into my head and I believe that my plans or ways are better so I don’t even ask Him, I just do. Thankfully, God is forgiving and He forgives my transgressions. No matter how many times I mess up, He will always be right there to pick up my broken pieces.
I hope you enjoy this study and decide to come back. Tomorrow, we’ll learn about Sarah and how God moved in her life. I hope you enjoy the beautiful sunset that was made by our loving Father and y’all have a wonderful night.