Genesis 3:6-13 True fulfilment comes when one accepts God’s calling for his life and lives it

Genesis 3:6-13 

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man 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 the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so 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 not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 

Background

The woman sees the tree and in desiring the prospect of unlimited power and autonomy eats from it. In fact, it is not the forbidden tree that causes the death of humanity but his heart of discontent in spite of all that God has given. Today’s devotion teaches us that the requisite for a blessed life is a heart of contentment, which involves knowing one’s place and calling in the kingdom and fulfilling it.

Observation

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes…

The sight of the tree unleashes a delight, an intense desire that relates to a crave for unlimited power and to be independent of God’s rule. The text says that the woman is attracted to the tree because it can make one wise, refers not to wisdom for living but the instinct to live according to one’s rules. At this instance, greed and desire has obliterated sound reasoning resulting in the act of rebellion: she took from its fruit and ate. By eating the forbidden fruit, the couple have made an informed decision to break covenant with God and depart from His rule and fellowship. Man’s estrangement is not due to unreasonable demands or ill treatment on the part of God but because they are not contented with their place and calling in God’s kingdom.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked…

The moment they eat from the forbidden tree, their perception of themselves and of the world changes; for the first time they get acquainted with their newfound darkness (they knew that they were naked) and seek to hide from God. They were once unabashed of their intimate parts, but now they are keenly ashamed of their nakedness. This reflects a change in worldview, that affects their perception of everything including themselves. The change of worldview (then the eyes of both of them were opened) is the result of the raging darkness, and the bondage of sin that are now resident within them. Every decision to transgress God’s laws results in the darkening of the heart and with it a more sinister slant towards life. John 3:20-21 says concerning the shame of evil doers and their incessant rejection of the truth,

“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” 

Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Apparently, the couple is not prepared to come clean with their sin. There is not a hint of transparency, remorse or repentance in the couple’s behaviour. They take flight to the trees upon the arrival of God as evident by the sound of His footsteps. At humanity’s darkest hour, God remembers mercy and reaches out to man in an act of conciliation and consolation. Even as man runs and hide like a hunted animal, God calls them to Himself to explain their behaviour as a parent to a child would, “Where are you?” The man’s reply is clearly an attempt to avert a direct question, which he then offers a lame excuse not for eating the forbidden fruit but for hiding among the trees of the garden.

The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.

When man is faced with a direct question: Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? The man resorts to blaming the woman and implying that the fault really lies in God who gives him this woman. And the blame game continues with the woman shifting the blame to the serpent. Sin has indeed put enmity between God and man, between men and women, and between men and animals.

Truth

A heart of contentment is the requisite for a blessed life.

What causes man to live or die is not fruit from the tree of life or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Neither is the serpent the cause of their downfall, for the serpent is merely an instrument to precipitate the discontent that is already resident within them. The nucleus is in fact discontent that has incited the woman to acquire that which belongs only to God; absolute sovereignty and the instinct to author the laws of the universe. It was a delight… the tree was desirable, speaks of greed and craving for unlimited power. It is evident that the man and the woman have everything going for them, but they can find no contentment in their existence and possessions.

How can man find contentment? The fact that man cannot find true contentment in spite of all that God has given them speaks of another contentment that comes not from this physical world but from the Spirit of God. True contentment can be found in…

a.  Knowing one’s place and calling in the kingdom and fulfilling it. True joy and contentment comes when man accepts God’s will for his life and does his best to fulfil it. Adam, in refusing to accept his role as God’s regent of the earth has incurred for humanity needless pain and tragedies. Jesus says to His disciples concerning the joy that comes from obedience,

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:10-11

Life does not consist of one’s possessions or achievements. Many go to great lengths to achieve and to do things that God has not instructed. Because of their ignorance and selfish ambitions, they cause themselves unnecessary stress and hardship. It is important to understand that life’s significance and reward come not from the approval of man but from God who judges the intents and motives of the heart. Therefore, one must constantly keep himself from extending beyond God’s call for his life.

b.  Delighting oneself in God. When one delights himself in God’s laws and does them, God gives the Spirit which serves up true contentment and eternal bliss. The psalmist says,

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart (contentment). Psalms 37:4

The process of communing with God engages all faculties of man; the cognitive, the psychological, the physical and the spiritual. It is here, that man’s body, mind, heart and spirit find peace, rest, and contentment in the presence of Him who gives it. In God’s presence, there is consistently an ethereal and tangible flow of energy that rejuvenates the soul, giving strength to the body and together with it wisdom and insights. The apostle John writes about the joy of one who encounters God that way; seeing and touching God in a tangible and intimate manner,

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—… and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 1 John 1:1, 3-4.

It is wise to come away and to taste to our heart’s content the life and bliss of the Spirit. However, for those who often forget to pause and enjoy so great a benefit, must be disciplined to redraw from life’s busyness.

Application

Are you working and ever struggling by the sweat of your brows in hopes of a better and fulfilling life? Or are you already perched at the pinnacle of your career and your eyes have become opened to the back alleys and ghettos of greed and pride? Let us not harbour the same mentality by gazing at things that cannot give true contentment and eternal value. You can re-direct your gaze to God by reevaluating the relevance of your endeavours according to kingdom’s purposes. Be determined to devote more of your time and resources to areas that truly matter. Even as you make changes to your lifestyle, you will sense more of God’s favour and the refreshingly tangible presence of the Spirit in the moments of solitude.

Dear Lord, I believe that my current relationships and all that I possess is sufficient to give me true contentment and bliss. I thank you for your provision and providence in my life thus far. I will direct my gaze at the tree of life, the word, which is able to provide insights for living, divine peace and the favour of God. I believe your perfect time will come when all my heart’s desires will be fulfilled. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.