Good Monday Morning.  Here’s Today’s Nugget to chew on:

“He Wants to Protect You”

Genesis 3:1-13, 17 New King James Version (NKJV)

1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”

4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was [a desirable thing] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave 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 coverings.  8 And they heard the [voice] 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?”

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.”  17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.

——-

Further Thought:  In today’s passage, the enemy (serpent) made it appear that God was holding out on Adam and Eve. When in fact they were already created in God’s image and after his likeness. They were complete. They had everything they needed. Today’s passage also reminds us that there are certain things God doesn’t want us to know or experience. When we don’t follow what He says, which is always best, we find ourselves in places we shouldn’t be and experience things we shouldn’t have to. Romans 12:2 reminds us not to follow what others say, no matter how convincing they may sound, if it goes against what God has said.

Growing up, some of us may have thought, “My parents don’t want me to have any fun.” No, just like God was attempting to protect Adam and Eve from the effects of sin and separation from Him, our parents were attempting to protect us. Let’s recognize some experiences God only wants us to experience once. But when we think we know what’s best, we find ourselves going in circles, wondering if things will ever change. The Good News is that we can quickly get back on track by changing the way we think, according to Romans 12:2, and by acting on His truths.  Yes, God desires to protect all His children, and we permit Him by knowing what He has said, obeying, which allows us to experience His best.

Have a great day, and keep chewing on God’s Word.

Additional references:  Genesis 1:26-28; 2 Peter 1:3-4; Psalm 84:11; Romans 10:17 and Hebrews 11:6

——-

“2026 Declaring the Goodness of God”

Today’s Recommended Reading Proverbs 20