Series: Broken
Message: Potential
Preacher: David Smith
Daily Walk: David Smith
Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 77:16-20.
Read: Genesis 3 (NLT). As you read the New Living Translation, note 1-3 insights or questions.
Reflect: One of the core beliefs in Adventism is that of "The Great Controversy." This controversy is between God and Satan over the character of God and focuses on whether God can be trusted. The Adventist belief is that the devil has been running a smear campaign against God, continually misrepresenting His character.
This is played out immediately in the Bible with the first introduction of evil in Genesis 3. Notice that the serpent asks if God has restricted Adam and Eve from eating from any tree in the garden. Of course that’s not what God had said; in fact, there was only one tree they couldn’t eat from. The commentary Opening Up Genesis expounds on how this kind of method continues to be played out today:
But you see how Satan operates. He twists what God has said. And he takes one small restriction, placed upon us for our good, and makes God out to be a spoilsport. He says things like: “God is always trying to spoil your fun. What’s the matter with looking at a little soft porn? After all, you’re not hurting anyone.” Or, “Why does God care what you do with your money? Doesn’t he want you to enjoy life?” In the face of such lies, we must remember that our God is good, no matter how the devil paints him! (pg. 33)
Of course there are many ways that we see God misrepresented. Sometimes it’s through doctrine, sometimes through the actions of his followers, sometimes it’s through a misunderstanding of the Bible itself. Time and again we must answer the question: Is God good? Is God trustworthy?
Recalibrate:
Respond: Pray for a revelation of who God is.
Research: Where are other examples in the Bible of God’s character being misrepresented?