Fellowship Broken
Part 1
From the very beginning of creation God’s desire was to have a face-to-face relationship with his people. This speaks of a close and intimate relationship with someone, it is more than just a physical presence. Through this relationship man would grow into a mature being in a likeness that was the same as God. This relationship, as any other good relationship, had to be based on trust. If they would trust God, their relationship with him would continue to grow and mature. If not, this relationship would take a horrible setback that would bring much sorrow and shame.
The following scriptures show that this setback did take place, the affects it had, and the reasons for this tragic event. We will also see a glimpse of the path that needs to be taken to have this relationship restored and bring us back into a meaningful relationship with the Father.
Gen 3:1-24 Adam and Eve
The sowing of seeds of mistrust
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which Yahweh God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
- serpent (a snake to hiss, i.e., whisper a {magic} spell; to prognosticate)
- subtle (cunning – usually in a bad sense)
2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
- The Serpent first puts doubt in Eve’s mind about what God had told her. He then assigns God with an evil motive, that God was keeping something from her that was good and desirable, (even though God had shown his goodness to her) thus making God the evil one and not the Serpent.
- Because of this she was willing to listen to the Serpent who was then able to feed her with lies that would breed mistrust and discontent.
6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
- The results of believing a lie.
- Just because something looks or tastes good does not mean that it is healthy for us even as certain kinds of information will tear down and not build up.
- In this case it destroyed a good relationship as it will destroy all good relationships.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
- The beginning of man trying to solve his own problems
8 They heard the sound of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.
- hid (refers to people hiding in fear of death)
- presence (the face {as the part that turns})
- Adam and Eve had turned their face away from their Father
9 Then Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
- The real question that needs to be answered is not where we are in location to God but where we are in relationship to God.
10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
- afraid (to fear; morally)
- Even though Adam and Eve clothed themselves with fig leaves Adam knew that they were still naked.
- The works of their own hands was not what was going to restore their fellowship with the Father.
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
- There is a world of difference in being naked before a person in a proper and loving relationship and a relationship that is filled with dishonor and mistrust.
- Trust is built over time but can be torn down in just a moment.
12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”
13 Then Yahweh God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
- deceived (a primitive root; to lead astray, i.e. (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce)
14 Yahweh God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life;
- Cursed (to put under a curse, to declare to be evil or detestable, to destroy utterly)
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
- Prophecy of Christ
- The work of Jesus Christ is the avenue to the Father.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, ESV
The consequences of disobedience
16 To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.” 17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; 19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
- In a good and healthy relationship there are no negative consequences
20 Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. 21 Yahweh God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
- God clothing Adam and Eve with coats of skin shows the severity of sin and that it is not to be taken lightly. Sin causes death and without the shedding of blood it cannot be covered.
Heb 9:11-22 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. ESV
22 Then Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”
- No longer would man’s relationship with God be based on the trust that God had man’s best interest and well-being at heart but also on the knowledge man had gained from eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
- This knowledge was not a heavenly knowledge but an earthly and evil knowledge that would war against the goodness and very character of God.
- This knowledge would be saturated with inaccurate statements, half-truths and outright lies.
- This was not a knowledge that would build a good relationship with the Father or anyone else. This is not a state that God desires us to live in.
23 therefore Yahweh God sent him out from the Garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.
- drove (a primitive root; to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce)
Every day of our lives we are faced with choices that will change how we live our lives. The question that we must ask ourselves, do these choices draw us closer to our heavenly Father or drive us further away from his presence. As we continue to look at the Word of God concerning this subject, I pray that we will learn from those that have gone before us and not make the kind of choices that separate us from him but learn and apply actions that will deepen our relationship with the Father our God.
By Clint Griffith
The Widening of the Gap
Part 2
Gen 4:1-16
Cain and Abel
1 The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
- Eve, (life-giver)
- Cain, (a lance; as striking fast)
2 Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.
4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat of it. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
- fat (the richest or choice part)
- respected (a primitive root; to gaze at; by implication, to inspect, consider)
5 but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
- face (as the face the part that turns)
6 Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
- angry (to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy)
- When we are not in good standing with a person, for whatever reason, it is hard to look them in the face and not feel some kind of negative emotion that causes us to want to turn our face away.
7 If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
- be lifted up? (figuratively, elation or cheerfulness; exaltation in rank or character)
- sin crouching (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal)
8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” It happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.
- It seems like when a person desires to do what is right before the Lord there are those that are not satisfied just with doing evil but must persecute those that desire to do good to justify their evil deeds thus becoming even more evil and corrupt. 1 Jn. 3:11,12
9 Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
- When you are not truthful with God things only become worse.
10 Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
- We may be able to hide our sins from one another, but we are deceiving ourselves if we think we can hide our sins from God who sees all and has all knowledge of what we do and think.
- Deception will not let us be honest with others or even with our selves.
11 Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”
- strength (produce)
13 Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, you have driven me out this day from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me.”
- driven (a primitive root; to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce)
- surface (Lit. face)
- hidden (to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively)
- face (the face (as the part that turns))
- The effects of rejecting a relationship with God our creator will also affect our relationship with his creation.
- Cain was more concerned about his physical death than he was his spiritual death. 1 Tim.5:6
15 Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should strike him.
16 Cain went out from Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
The cost of pride in our lives is beyond imagination. It will tear down, destroy and separate you from everything that is good and pure but, humility is like a salve that heals and brings life to any relationship. Mic 6:8
By Clint Griffith
The Choice Set Before Us
Part 3
In Exodus, Moses and the people of Israel are at Mount Sinai in the wilderness. This is where God revealed the method he would use to bring his people back into a meaningful relationship with him.
Ex 19:1-20; 3:1-3
3 Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself. James 4:8, Ecc 5:1, Isa 29:13
- God had brought Israel out of Egypt physically, but he still needed to deliver their hearts and minds out of Egypt before they could truly be his people.
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine;
- It is a great and wonderful thing to have the Almighty God speak to us and want to make a covenant with his people.
6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
- The invitation is extended, and the ground rules are laid out.
- God was inviting man into a pure and holy relationship with himself.
- Moses has already developed a deeper relationship with his God by listening and responding to him. Israel would now have this opportunity. This would not happen overnight but as they are willing to respond this relationship would blossom and grow.
7 Moses came and called for the elders of the people and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him. 8 All the people answered together, and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh.
- Israel agrees with their minds, which is a starting point, but if their hearts do not come alongside their minds, their words would fall lifelessly to the ground.
- What a group agrees to do is only as good as each person that makes up that group.
- Your personal relationship with God will come down to the choices you make, not those of others.
10 Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,
- Sanctify (to set apart as sacred, to consecrate, to dedicate)
11 and be ready against the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.
- God desires to reveal himself to all that will seek him.
12 You shall set bounds to the people round about, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.’
- At the beginning of any good relation there needs to be boundaries set.
- If we respect a person’s boundaries, we show that we respect them.
- There is no such thing as a good relationship without respect.
17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.
- Most all relationships start at a distance but the healthier they become the closer they will become.
Ex 20:18-22
18 All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled, and stayed at a distance. (Deu 5:1-7) 19 They said to Moses, “Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don’t let God speak with us, lest we die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won’t sin.”
- We can have fear work on our behalf or we can allow fear to work against us.
- If we will allow fear to perfect us, we will be able to feel safe in the presence of God.
- The wrong kind of fear will drive us further away from the presence of God.
- Love that has been perfected casts out all fear. The fear that is being cast out is the fear of judgment. (1 Jn. 4:18)
21 The people stayed at a distance, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
- The children of Israel could not draw near because they were a stiff-necked people. (Ex 33:1-5)
- Even though they said they would do all that Yahweh had commanded they were not yet in that place in their hearts and actions.
Ex 33:7-23
7 Now Moses used to take the tent and to pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The tent of meeting.” It happened that everyone who sought Yahweh went out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. 8 It happened that when Moses went out to the Tent, that all the people rose up, and stood, everyone at their tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the Tent. 9 It happened, when Moses entered into the Tent, that the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and spoke with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door.
- The people were still worshiping God from a distance.
- Seeking God and worshiping God is not the same.
- If we seek God, we will go to where he is no matter where the journey may lead us.
11 Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart out of the Tent.
- Joshua was willing to seek God and spend time in his presence. He did not rely on Moses for his relationship with his God but sought it out for himself.
- We can choose to be like Joshua and seek God and a close relationship with him or we can make the choice to stay at a distance and never come into a truly meaningful and fulfilling one with him.
12 Moses said to Yahweh, “Behold, you tell me, ‘Bring up this people:’ and you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight: and consider that this nation is your people.”
- The heart of Moses was seen in his desire to know God and please him.
- If we truly want to have a meaningful relationship with our Heavenly Father we need to develop this same kind of heart.
14 He said, “My presence (the face (as the part that turns) will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
- There is rest in the arms of the one that loves us.
15 He said to him, “If your presence (the face (as the part that turns) doesn’t go with me, don’t carry us up from here.”
- We don’t need religion; we need God himself.
16 For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn’t it in that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?”
- It is Yahweh that makes us different.
17 Yahweh said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”
- I pray that we will all come into a place where we could hear these words from our God.
18 He said, “Please show me your glory.”
- If we truly seek God and build a meaningful relationship with him we will be in a place to see and handle more of his glory.
In Exodus 34 God reveals his plan to mankind and continues to do so throughout Scripture. The question we need to ask ourselves, will we be willing to partake of what he has for us, or will we draw back in fear and unbelief?
By Clint Griffith
The Path That Leads Home
Part 4
Adam and Eve clothing themselves with fig leaves was not the answer to finding their way back to the Father. The key was seen in God clothing them with animal skins where the shedding of blood had to take place. This act showed the severity of their transgressions and what needed to take place in the future in order that their relationship with God could be restored.
Cain’s offering to Yahweh their God from the fruit of the ground was like the fig leaves of Adam and Eve. Abel offering the firstborn of his flock tied in with what God did when he clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins and was a shadow of things to come.
Heb 11:4 says by faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks. WEB
Heb 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. WEB
- It is impossible to please God without faith in him and what he has planned for us.
- Eve, not having faith in God and his plan for her brought forth separation, death and sorrow.
- Our faith in God’s plan to bring us back into fellowship with him will bring life and goodness back into our lives.
The account of Abraham being willing to offer up Isaac in Genesis 22 is a further revelation to how God would redeem and restore man to himself.
Heb 11:17-19 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son; 18 even he to whom it was said, “In Isaac will your seed be called;”19 accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead. WEB
James 2:21-23 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;” and he was called the friend of God. WEB
- All the right words spoken in a relationship will only bring disappointment and sorrow if they are never carried out with actions.
Genesis 5:24 says that Enoch walked with God. Enoch made spending time with God a priority in his life. He was willing to walk out his relationship with his God.
Ps 1:1-6 Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 But his delight is in Yahweh’s law; On his law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish. WEB
- A good and moral relationship is not only based on what we do but also on what we do not do.
Heb 11:5 By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.
Heb 11:7 By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. WEB
Gen 6:8-9 But Noah found favor in Yahweh’s eyes.9 This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God. WEB
2 Peter 2:5 and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly; WEB
Ps 11:7 For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face. WEB
Ps 34:15-22 Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.16 Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, To cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves those who have a crushed spirit.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But Yahweh delivers him out of them all. 20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. 22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned. WEB
Heb 11:24-27 By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.27 By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. WEB
2 Cor 4:5-6 For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake; 6 seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. WEB
- Moses started man on the path back to the Father and Jesus is the end of that path that brings us to that destination.
1 Peter 3:18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; WEB
- The destination that Jesus leads us to is that of a meaningful relationship with the Father.
Eph 2:11-22 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision,” (in the flesh, made by hands); 12 that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, 15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace; 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; 21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. WEB
The path back to the Father was completed by Jesus Christ. The question we need to ask ourselves is, are we willing to travel that path? Will we continue on that path until we reach the destination? Will we be sidetracked on a path that will lead us in a wrong direction? Will we go all the way until we see him face to face or will we remain at a distance? The choice is ours; we can enter into a deep and meaningful relationship with God our heavenly Father or we can end up settling for less than what he desires for us.
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. WEB
1 Chron 16:11 Seek you Yahweh and his strength; Seek his face forever more. WEB
By Clint Griffith