Of First Importance: A Holy Week DevotionalSample

God’s Redemption Plan: The Garden of Eden

READ

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15

Additional Reading: Genesis 1:26–27; 2:2–3, 15

REFLECT

After God created the heavens and the earth, He rested on the seventh day. God resting meant that He dwelt with His creation. Heaven and earth overlapped. The Garden of Eden was a sacred space, much like a holy temple where God and His creation lived together perfectly. Man and woman had been created in God’s image and given dominion over creation. They partnered with God in working the land and building a thriving and beautiful world. Humanity was designed to walk with God in unity, without separation.

However, humanity fell when Adam and Eve did not trust God’s word, disobeyed God’s command, and ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Despite their sin and shame, God called to them and looked for them.

In Genesis 3:15, God declared a curse on the serpent. It is also the first declaration of the gospel. There will come a promised offspring who will defeat the serpent. That promise was fulfilled thousands of years later by Christ.

God’s original design and plan was to live in an intimate relationship with His people. Although this was broken by sin, God had a sovereign plan to restore mankind to Himself. He provided the solution to our problem.

God’s plan has never been broken. Despite uncertainty and change, we can be secure that His plan will unfold and hope in Him. We can walk with Him as He originally designed—without sin and shame, fully enjoying our relationship with Him.

RESPOND

• Take some time to reflect on the Garden of Eden—its beauty, the sin of man and woman, and God’s redemption plan. Why do you think we must go back to the Garden of Eden to understand God’s love for us?
• In which area of your life do you need to trust God’s plan more? How do you think you will do this? Ask God for faith to abide in His ways.
• How can you grow in your relationship with God and enjoy His presence every day? How can you help others do the same?