Genesis 3:1-7, Temptation in the Garden

Wednesday, January 23, 2019
12:00 AM 11:59 PM 00:00 23:59

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Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today

“Then the eyes of both were opened,”

— Genesis 3:7

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NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, January 23, 2019

by Rev. Stefanie Fauth, Clergy Stuff

Every person who has ever tried to teach a child is sighing as they read this.

You can try so hard to teach a young person with your words and your example - but often, they learn best when they learn the hard way.

My son was told over and over the stove was hot and to “not touch!” when he was about two - but something about it proved too tempting, and he touched it anyways.

Screaming, tears, blisters, and many tears from his grandma who was with us at the time and heartbroken by her grandbaby’s suffering were all I remember from that day.

I would have given anything to keep him safe from knowing how much it hurts to touch something hot - but he learned the hard way that momma was right.

God wanted to protect the new humans from the knowledge of everything - God knew life would be easier with out it.

Sadly, the humans didn’t listen - learning the hard way is so much more effective, however painful it is for the ones who are teaching them.

Narrative Lectionary Daily Reading:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.” ’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So 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 to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.