Genesis 3:1-21
Day 1: The Big Problem
Read: Genesis 3:1–7
Key Verse: “She took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6b)
Devotional:
Adam and Eve’s decision to eat from the forbidden tree wasn’t just a momentary lapse in judgment. It was a declaration of distrust in God’s goodness, a desire to be independent from His rule. What began with a question—“Did God actually say?”—ended with humanity spiraling into shame, fear, and blame.
Like quick fixes on a broken engine, we often try to handle sin through external tweaks: good deeds, comparisons, avoidance. But the real issue is deeper. Sin broke something at the core of who we are.
Reflection:
- Where do you see the effects of the Fall in your own life—fear, shame, blame, passivity?
- How have you tried to “fix” your sin in your own strength?
Prayer:
Lord, expose the depth of my sin so I might turn to You for the only real solution. Help me stop patching fig leaves over soul-deep problems.
Day 2: The First Religion
Read: Genesis 3:7
Key Verse: “They sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”
Devotional:
The first human response to sin wasn’t repentance—it was self-covering. This instinct to “fix it ourselves” gave birth to the first religion: self-righteousness. Instead of running to God, Adam and Eve hid behind fig leaves, hoping that effort could erase guilt.
But fig leaves always wither. Self-justification can’t hold. Only God can cover shame in a way that endures.
Reflection:
- What are your “fig leaves”? Where do you find yourself trying to cover sin or failure through performance or image?
- How does the cross challenge your tendency toward self-righteousness?
Prayer:
Father, I confess my attempts to hide and handle my sin. Teach me to come to You instead. Thank You for offering me a better covering in Jesus.
Day 3: The God Who Comes Calling
Read: Genesis 3:8–13
Key Verse: “But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:9)
Devotional:
God knew what had happened. Yet His first move wasn’t judgment—it was pursuit. “Where are you?” isn’t a demand; it’s the cry of a Father seeking His lost child.
We often hide from God, believing His presence will mean exposure or condemnation. But even in our worst moments, God draws near—not to destroy us, but to invite us back.
Reflection:
- When have you sensed God calling you in your guilt?
- How might remembering His pursuit change how you approach Him after sin?
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for being the Shepherd who comes after lost sheep. Give me courage to come out of hiding and respond to Your voice.
Day 4: The First Gospel
Read: Genesis 3:14–15
Key Verse: “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15b)
Devotional:
Right in the middle of the curse, God whispers a promise. A descendant of the woman will come. He will be wounded—but He will win. This is the first whisper of the Gospel: the serpent won’t have the last word.
At the cross, Jesus absorbed the full venom of sin’s curse. But He rose again, crushing the serpent’s head. This was God’s plan all along—grace not after the Fall, but in the midst of it.
Reflection:
- Why is it significant that the first Gospel promise comes in the middle of judgment?
- How does Genesis 3:15 shape your view of Jesus’ mission?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You that the story of redemption began in Eden. Help me to trust that You are always working—even in judgment—to bring grace and life.
Day 5: Covered by Sacrifice
Read: Genesis 3:20–21
Key Verse: “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)
Devotional:
The fig leaves couldn’t last. So God, in a quiet but stunning act of grace, covered them with garments that required the death of another. Sacrifice entered the story—not as punishment, but as provision.
It’s a shadow of the cross. Jesus, the Lamb of God, died to clothe us in His righteousness. The Gospel doesn’t just forgive sin—it covers shame.
Reflection:
- Are you still trying to wear fig leaves, or have you accepted God’s covering in Christ?
- How might seeing Jesus in Genesis 3 change how you view the whole Bible?
Prayer:
Father, I praise You for the covering You have provided through the sacrifice of Jesus. Help me live as one who is clothed by grace and not by effort.