Picture this, Adam and Eve are hanging out in the Garden of Eden. They are just minding their own business when all of a sudden a serpent comes along which Satan uses to tempt the two of them. (That is normally how it is right? We are just minding our own business on our walk with God when something comes along to deter us away from Him. But that's another subject all together and I digress...). A discussion takes place in which Satan plays upon Eve's doubt. He squeezes into her mind, finally convinces her that she shouldn't listen to what God commanded her and Adam to do and they take a bite from that fruit that just looks so good. After they do so I can just picture them standing there and realizing that they made a huge mistake. After that realization hits them I'm sure it scared them to pieces especially as they heard the one they had just sinned against walking in the garden. God confronts them about what happened, they admit to having wronged God and He proceeds to bring on the consequences. However, here is the really awesome part! After all the cursing takes place and consequences have been received the Bible says this:
"The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them"
-Genesis 3:21 (NASB)
I know it sounds like such a simple verse, but really read it again...
"The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them"
-Genesis 3:21 (NASB)
Even after Adam and Eve sinned against God, even after they flat out just couldn't obey the one simple rule He had given them, God chooses to show them grace and mercy. Despite the fact that God didn't like how Adam and Eve sinned, He still continued to choose to love and provide for them, just as any loving Father would.
Here is another situation, Genesis Chapter 4.
Here Adam and Eve have just given birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain becomes super jealous of Abel and ends up murdering him. Afterward this is what happens...
"Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?' And he said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?' He said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.' Cain said to the LORD, 'My punishment is too great to bear! Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.' So the LORD said to him, 'Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him"
-Genesis 4:9-15 (NASB)
So Cain pretty much has an attitude with God because he's still angry and probably doesn't really want to talk about all that just went down. However, God calls him out and is like "Dude? Really? Well, because you did this you are going to have to endure consequences..." I can picture Cain at this point basically being hit with the realization that he messed up BIG time. After hearing about the consequences, Cain knows what could happen because of them, so this causes him to basically freak out and cry out to God.
"Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.'" -Genesis 4:14 (NASB)
Vagrant- (n) Homeless wanderer
"Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the ground; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever findeth me will slay me." -Genesis 4:14 (ASV)
"Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." -Genesis 4:14 (NIV)
History: Back in those days people who were wanderers were killed. If I were Cain I would be freaking out about those consequences too. BUT the Lord has compassion on Cain.
"'So the LORD said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him." -Genesis 4:15 (NASB)
"But the LORD said to him, 'Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.' Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him" -Genesis 4:15 (NIV)
So Cain sinned again God, he murdered his brother our of jealousy, yet God still had compassion on him. Cain cried out to God in fear, and I can only imagine, in full knowledge of what he did that was wrong. God heard Cain's cry and although he still had to endure the consequences of his actions, God poured out His grace and His mercy.
God loves His creation. He is an all around loving Father who wants nothing more than pour out His goodness, His grace and His mercy on those who don't deserve it. Whenever we sin against God we break His heart, yet He still continues to hold out His hand to us in assurance that He loves us so very much.
Just as God did then, how much more will He continue to choose to provide and bless us even when we sin and mess up? His love cannot be quenched simply because we sin against Him. God is never angry with anyone for sinning against Him either. There is nothing that you or I could ever do to cause Him to turn His back on us. Ever. Although undeserved, He is abounding in grace And that, my friends, is one of the most amazing things about God. There is no one else who can or who will offer that kind of grace to us. God is good, friends. So very good.
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