• Read Genesis 3:8-10

These are some of the saddest verses in the Bible for me. God comes to walk with His friends, His creation. He gently calls them to move towards Him when He says, “where are you?”

• What do you think Adam is afraid of in this encounter with his creator?

• In your life, what would you fear having exposed?

• How do you hide from others or from God?

• If God asked you today, “where are you” do you perceive that you are moving towards Him or away from Him?

• What would be a relief for Him to see and know about you?

• Read Genesis 3:6-7

Ponder the following questions today:

• What motivates the woman to eat? What is motivating this first sin?

• What are the immediate consequences?

• How is shame introduced immediately into their relationship, where we saw earlier there was no shame?

• Are there areas in our life, past sin, present sin, or character issues that cause you to want to hide from God?

Spend some time talking to God about this. Is there a trusted friend
you could bring this to as well?

• Read Genesis 3:1-5

It seems especially cunning and cruel, to me, when the serpent in verses
4-5 seems to say subtly, “God doesn’t want you to be like Him, He’s
keeping you separate from Him, you aren’t good enough to be like Him.”

• How have you felt “less than” in your own life? How does Satan use this tactic with you?

• How does the serpent sow seeds of doubt related to God’s character with the woman (and the man who was with her)?

• Why do you think the man is so quiet? How do you think that this impacts the woman next to him?

• Read Genesis 3

Consider the following questions:

• What stands out to you as interesting?

• What is confusing?

• What do you learn about God and how He relates to us from this chapter?

• What do you learn about man/womankind (ourselves) from this chapter?

This morning, as we sit with the Father, we are going to spend some
time thinking about the word “shame.

• In your own life, have there been ways that you have felt shamed by the people in your life?

• If you are able to, talk to the Father about the ways that you have felt this shame. Ask Him to speak into that and help you release it to Him. He does not bring shame with Him. He loves you, He sees all of you, and always remains facing us and tenderly calling to us.

• Read Genesis 2:20-25

I’ve read that the word translated here as “rib” is elsewhere translated
as “side.” I know it’s not a huge difference, but to me the idea of “his
side” draws my mind to thinking of us, as men and women, walking side
by side, helpers to each other.

Reflect and consider these questions today:

• How do you feel after reading this story?

• How has understanding this story been helpful to you? Has it been harmful in any way?

• How does Adam seem to feel about this creation called woman?

• Verse 24 says, “for this reason” the two become one flesh. What is this reason? Why does this make sense that the man and the woman become one flesh?

• Of all the emotions that scripture could highlight, why do you think the writer of Genesis is so specific that they felt no shame?

• Read Genesis 2:18-20

Reflect on these questions today:

• Again, how does God provide for the man, Adam?

• I love how Adam mirrors God’s character of creativity. He names all the animals. Can you imagine naming every living creature?

• Would doing this be a fun day for you, or incredibly stressful?

• Why do you think it wasn’t good for the man to be alone?

• What do you think God was looking for in a “suitable” helper? It seems hard to tell if Adam knows at this point that a search is on.