In Genesis 2 we found the man and woman in the garden God prepared for them. They had everything they could ever want or need and were free to do anything they wanted, with one exception. As Genesis 3 opens, we explore an interesting truth about humanity: no matter how many things we have, no matter how much freedom we have, we want what we cannot have.

I saw this borne out in my one year old grandson. Even with a plethora of toys and plenty of room to navigate, when given the opportunity he immediately walked into banned rooms and toward banned objects (cords, sockets, etc.). He would even look over at us before doing the banned activity as if to say, “Ha, ha, you couldn’t stop me” or “I know I shouldn’t do this, but I am going to do it anyway.”

The woman finds herself in a conversation with the serpent. It doesn’t matter whether you believe the serpent to be the devil or Satan or if you believe it to be her conscious, or if you think it is just some nebulous form of evil desire, the woman is confronted with the opportunity to do something that God doesn’t want her to do. As the conversation continues on the truth gets progressively more hidden. The rationalization against the prohibition becomes stronger and stronger until finally when standing in front of the fruit itself (notice that it is not called an apple), she doesn’t even consider the prohibition; she only considers how good it looks and what it can do for her—make her wise.

Humans don’t like being in the dark about anything. God promises to take care of them and provide for them, but the man and woman don’t trust that He is telling them the truth. They want proof and believe that having the knowledge that God has will give them that proof. And they learn the truth, when they eat of the fruit, the truth about themselves that is, that they did not obey God.  They find themselves to be naked, their sin revealed, and they are ashamed. God wants them to come clean about what they did and they blame someone else, trying to cover up their sin. God has compassion on them and covers them and their shame.

The man and woman had everything they could want and they wanted more. The only condition they had to meet was to be obedient and they chose to disobey. God gives them what they want: the knowledge of what it takes to provide for their needs. Now they have to work for it. They are banished from the garden.

Chapter 4 of Genesis deals with another not so attractive trait of humanity: the assumption of entitlement. Adam and Eve had two sons. Now when their first son Cain was born Eve said he was special, but no word was said regarding the birth of the second son Abel. One can infer from this lack of comment that Cain was the favored son. So, when each young man presents an offering to God, Cain, most likely, assumes that God will favor his offering. But God doesn’t. This makes Cain very angry.

The Lord makes a very interesting comment to Cain in verse 7:”If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” The Lord, already knowing what is in Cain’s heart, gives him the opportunity to master the sinful thoughts that are lurking about. We are not under sin’s control. We have the ability to master it if we wish…that is a big IF for most of us and Cain is no exception. He couldn’t get past his anger or feelings of jealousy and so he kills his brother Abel.

Cain, like his parents, feels guilt over his actions and when God encounters him he gets defensive and lies about his knowledge of the crime. Cain, who had been a tiller of the land has spilled his brother’s blood on that very ground. Now he is destined to forage for food since the ground will not yield to his tilling. Ironically, Cain is afraid that someone might kill him if he is destined to wander the earth. God show him mercy and puts a mark of protection on him. Somehow, this mark is an obvious “Keep Away” sign warning of punishment to any who would think of killing Cain. Adam and Eve have another son, Seth, whose children call on the name of the Lord.

Matthew 2 is still a part of the birth narrative of Jesus. God chooses to include Gentiles who practice astrology in the story of the birth of His Son. We Christians take a dim view of astrology, and certainly we should not depend on it to guide our lives, but God is not limited when it comes to bringing people to Himself. He uses what they could understand to lead them to find what He wants them to learn and believe.

The wise men see a star that leads them to Jerusalem. King Herod hears that they are asking about a new king of the Jews and grows frightened.

Verse 3 states that all of Jerusalem is frightened with him. This is an interesting statement. Why would all of Jerusalem be frightened by a new king, a Messiah? After all Herod is the puppet king of the Roman Empire. On the other hand, Herod is a known quantity. This new king, is already turning things on their heads…revealing himself to Gentiles through the stars, this can only mean trouble for the established way of doing business. All of this is a portent of great change occurring and no one likes change.

Herod sets his scholars to finding out where this new king is to be. Bethlehem is the place. Herod tried to trick the wise men into informing him exactly where they find this new king and sets them on their way. The wise men are warned in a dream not to return to Herod after they see the baby. Joseph is warned by an angel to take the child to Egypt until after Herod dies.

Herod finds out he has been tricked and kills all the children age two and under, just to be certain that this new king is no threat. But he is unsuccessful. Often people try to protect the life they know and go to extremes to keep from doing God’s will. But God will not be thwarted. If it takes stars, strangers, dreams, angels, whatever, God will accomplish His purpose.