Sunday Recap - Tale of Two Fridays - 19 January 2025

Beginning with the story from the book of the stampede in the New York Walmart. We looked at 3 different temptation narratives from Genesis to ponder on what’s going on inside of us that draws us to sin?
Story 1: Eve at the Tree - Eve fell into the trap of comparison and seeing a deficit within herself. She then took an opportunity outside of God’s plan instead of seeking intimacy with the God who walks in the Garden.
Story 2: Cain and Abel - Cain fails to trust that God will look after and highly regard him so instead of seeking intimacy with God he attacks his brother.
Story 3: Abram - Abram when he gets to the Land God promised him see’s a famine. He then heads to Egypt and lies about Sarai being his sister for financial gain.

In each story we see a lack of trust/scarcity mindset followed by each person taking opportunities to sin (live outside of God’s plan) and instead of seeking intimacy with God they make the bad choice. God is graceful to all three people after their sin. If we fail to trust, what comes out of us will be like that stampede. If we trust what comes out of us will be heaven on earth. The concluding challenge for the church “Are you trusting?

Genesis 3:4-6 (ESV) But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God (or Gods), knowing good and evil.” 6So 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 to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 4: 3-8 (ESV) In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary toc you, but you must rule over it.” Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” he said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

Genesis 12:10-15 (ESV) Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.” When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

Genesis 3:15 (NLT) And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Genesis 4:13-16 (ESV) Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Then the LORD said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Ephesians 1:13 (NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

Genesis 12:17 (ESV) But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” 20And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.