The Bible is really a story of
God’s kingdom. It’s almost like reading a history book meets a fantasy, sci-fi
book with a little bit of poetry and some philosophy/theology thrown in. But
they all talk about the same thing—kingdom.
Genesis 1-3 provides an intro to
this kingdom. Back in the garden God created a perfect world. It was a place
where He and man could commune and have relationship. God gives man a purpose
and tells him to be fruitful and multiply and to rule over the earth. All is
well in God’s kingdom.
But in the undertones of this
world another kingdom is lurking, the kingdom of Satan, of darkness. Revelation
12:7-17 gives us a glimpse of what was happening. There was a war in heaven.
Ezekiel 28 says that Satan desired to be God. He was originally a guardian
cherub, the secret service. But he desired to be God and so Michael and his
angels defeated him and threw him down to earth.
But then Genesis 1 happens. It
says the earth was formless and void, full of darkness. Suddenly light enters.
Satan hears God’s voice creating things. Then the unthinkable happens. God
makes man in His image and tells him to rule over the earth. What was Satan
exiled to earth for? Wanting to be God. Now God makes man in His image and tells
them to rule over everything on earth. This is when the two kingdoms really
come into a clash.
The ruler of the kingdom of
darkness comes to the two made in the likeness of God and twists the truth just
enough that they begin to doubt God’s goodness. They fear God is withholding
from them good and out of fear choose the kingdom of darkness. By choosing sin
man disobeys the kingdom of God and obeys the kingdom of Satan. We switched
kingdoms. No longer were we under God’s kingdom but under the kingdom of sin.
The rest of the book shows the out falling of that choice. Murder is introduced
into the once-perfect world. Incest, abuse, rape, famine, poverty, self-promotion,
lies, jealousy, rage. These are all things that are not of God’s kingdom.
However, look at Genesis 3. God
is not going to let the kingdom of darkness take those who are made in His
image. God goes out looking for Adam and Eve and finds them hiding. He didn’t
let them hide from Him but looked for them. He loved them enough to look for
them. They are full of shame and probably feeling pretty unworthy to be around
God and wondering what is going to happen. Adam blames Eve, she blames the
serpent and no one is willing to account for their actions.
God steps in and begins cursing
things. I imagine God was crying as He did this. The serpent is cursed among
living things and God promises that from the seed of the woman will come one
who will destroy him. Then he gives the woman pain and curses the ground. Now
thorns and thistles will cover the perfect creation and death is allowed. God
then places cherubim and a flaming sword to prevent man from entering the
garden where the tree of life is.
But this isn’t the end of the story. God continues to promise
restoration for his people.
More to follow....
