The Decisions Daddies Make

Intro: Genesis is a wonderful book of beginnings. It carries some amazing truths. We find out what sport God likes best. In the big inning God created the heavens and the earth so he must like baseball best. We find His favorite state Noah looked out of the Arkansas. Really God is no respecter of sports or states.

We do however see in this book a beginning of all things. We see the destructive disease of sin that grows out of one decision. From this one decision we get all of the brokenness of the human race. But wait! There is good news. From God’s decision in this passage a possibility of restoration and transformation. From man’s decision there is destruction and decay from God’s decision restoration and new life.

There is a story of a man and woman who decided how to make decisions and keep the peace in their marriage. They decided that the husband would make all the big decisions and the wife would make all the little decisions. The question to them both was does that really work. The husband proudly responded, “Oh, yes, 66 years and so far not one big decision!”

We must be careful not to look at the decisions we make so lightly. The decisions we make define our lives. Please understand that the decisions we make carry far beyond the moment we make them. Adams decision is still impacting the lives of people almost 7000 years after he made it.

While we exam this passage we discover what led Adam to make such a disastrous decision. We also see how God responds to the destructive decisions of His creation.

It must be clearly stated that decisions have consequences. It is our decisions that determine our destiny. Paul tells us the ultimate end of the decisions made here in Genesis in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!

What is at the heart of these attitudes and actions that come from someone doing religion instead of walking in relationship with Jesus? A lack of love is at the heart of what Paul was talking about. A lack of love was at the heart of Adams decision to disobey God.

I. Adams destructive decision

A) Adam refused His spiritual responsibility

Someone once said, "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing." Adams problem was that he did nothing. He stood by and refused to exert the spiritual authority given to Him by God.

What was Adams first responsibility? Look at Genesis 3:11 “Who told you? Did you eat from the tree I commanded you not to? Adam was to listen to God and obey!! This clear responsibility to listen to God permeates and penetrates both old and new testament. Deuteronomy 6:5 Hear O Israel, read through the book of Deuteronomy and you find God over and over again saying listen to my voice. God spoke at Jesus’ transfiguration, Mark 9:7 “this is My beloved Son, listen to Him.” Jesus constantly was telling people he who has an ear let him hear.

A) Why don’t we listen to God’s words?

1) Competing voices -- “because you listened to your wife.” Genesis 3:4, 17, the devils voice and the voice of Adams wife competed against God’s voice. If we listen to wrong voices we will make wrong choices.

2) Compelling desires (Read Genesis 3:6)

B) What do we miss when we don’t listen?

1) Words of life

2) Words of instruction

When we don’t listen to God’s word we live in confusion. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God’s words are for training in righteousness. Teaching takes hours. Training takes a lifetime of listening and applying.

B) Adam rejected His relationship with God

Genesis 2:16, 17 (read) God clearly said in the moment you decide to disobey me you will be separated from me.

Adam said yes to his good thing and said no to the best thing. James tells us that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. So often we choose the gifts instead of the giver.

So what was the result of this rejection of God? Adam essentially told God “Hey I got this leave me alone.” With that rejection of God Adams relationship with God was broken (death) and his relationship with all other humans was ruptured.

If we reject our relationship with God we are asking for dysfunction in our other relationships.