Eighteenth-century British author Samuel Johnson once said, “The happiest conversation is that of which nothing is distinctly remembered but a general effect of pleasing impression.” That may be true when it comes to people but the same cannot be said of God. Sin and grace have had a profound effect on our relationship with God.
Sin and death entered the world in the Fall (Rom. 5:12). Adam and Eve’s disobedience was the first human sin—they ate fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, despite God’s prohibition. Then they made clothing out of fig leaves and hid from the Lord. They must have known hiding was useless, but they didn’t know how else to respond to sin, shame, and their broken relationship with God. When He sought them out, they didn’t own up but instead played the blame game. He judged their sin, and we suffer the consequences to this very day. But embedded in God’s just sentence was also His mercy, seen in the promise of future redemption (v. 15), in the delay of physical death, and in new and better clothing made from animal skins. Adam and Eve had blown it badly, but God still loved and cared for them.
Our devotional this month is about “Conversations with God.” We’ll be considering Scripture passages in which God and people speak with one another. For finite human beings to talk with the Almighty “as one speaks to a friend” (Ex. 33:11) is an incredible privilege! The results of such conversations were spiritually transformative for Bible characters and can be for us as well. As we explore this topic, our goal is both to boost the honesty and depth of our prayer lives and to give us a fuller knowledge of our relational God.
Apply the Word
This conversation between Adam, Eve, and God shows that even when we mess up, the relationship isn’t over. God still loves and cares for us. Our actions do have consequences, and we should not presume on God’s grace. But God’s love calls us to repentance, promises us forgiveness, and empowers us to live righteously.