The Creator's Care

[0:00] Thank you, John. And let's get into our Bibles.

[0:10] We're going to close out our series of messages in Genesis chapter 3. So please turn there if you haven't already done it. You're not going to know what to do next week when we're not in Genesis 3.

[0:27] All right, so this is the ninth message. And this is the last time I'll ever do this, but I'll give you a rundown just of titles of the previous eight.

[0:42] The first message from the very first five verses we called the cryptic conversation. Then we studied the captivating crop. The third message was the camouflage covering.

[0:54] Then the concealed couple. Then the coerced confession followed by a couple of messages about the curses and consequences. That was the contrasting curses.

[1:05] And then the continuing consequences, which came out in two parts. First to the woman, then last week to the man. And so if you haven't caught all that, you missed a whole lot. But here we are in the final one.

[1:18] And I couldn't figure out how to put C's. Just kidding. I did. I definitely did. So the chapter began with a subtle serpent interfering with God's brand new work.

[1:34] God had created this and it was good. And then the serpent shows up and he brings on sin and he brings on corruption into what God was pleased with.

[1:44] And therefore we studied curses followed, consequences followed. And the chapter ends with God's response to this new situation.

[1:57] He had already responded in the sense of the judgment. But now he's going to make some adjustments to the program. He's going to make some alterations to what his original intent was for the man and his wife.

[2:11] As he set them in the garden and gave them commands. Now things are different. And so God's going to kind of go with, maybe you would call it plan B. But he's probably had plan B the whole time in his mind.

[2:24] He's just God. He can do that. And so there's a lot of negative stuff going on in this chapter. But when we look closer and we look at the close of it, we're going to find out that God is always good.

[2:36] He's so good. And he could have snuffed the two out. That's all there was was Adam and Eve, boom, gone. Start over. What do I need you two for? You disobeyed me.

[2:47] And he could have, thou shalt surely die. He could have made that physical death and just moved them out of the way right back to dust. It could have happened in a moment. But he didn't do that. I probably would have done that.

[3:00] The way I look at it, the way I think, you disobey me and I'm your creator, then that's your fault. And I don't have the mind of God like that. I have a sinner's mind at these things.

[3:11] But God, he didn't do that. He graciously, he patiently, he with all long suffering worked with the situation. And may I make a note here to begin to say that he's been doing that ever since.

[3:27] Ever since Genesis 3 in the Garden of Eden, God has been working with the situation. The situation is that we bring on ourselves. That wasn't his intention. It wasn't his plan.

[3:38] But he's still, he's so good that he just, he can provide a way to escape. He can make this work together for good. He can do something with it.

[3:49] His hands are not tied. And he's been doing that ever since. Nothing that he has, no, I should say maybe no person, no one that he has ever created and equipped with a free will has ever realized their full potential.

[4:04] They've never been throughout, pedal to the metal, obedient to God, never sinning, never. They've always messed up. It's a theme of the human race.

[4:14] And so the chapter closes with God intervening into this fallen environment now, this new situation on his hands.

[4:28] And as we study these last few verses, I think we'll learn some things about God's care for these disappointing and rebellious and sinful creatures of his.

[4:38] And I think we'll see that and maybe realize that he's still doing the same thing today. So this morning, I want to preach from this passage about the creator's care.

[4:50] The creator's care. And let's read verses 21 through 24. The Bible says, Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them.

[5:02] And the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become as one of us to know good and evil. And now lest he put forth his hand and take also the tree of life and eat and live forever. Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken.

[5:18] So he drove out the man and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubims and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life.

[5:31] Let's pray. Father, please speak to our hearts and reveal yourself to us through this passage. And help us to be illuminated to your goodness and to your care for us today.

[5:42] This is true what we read, what took place. It's all relevant. Help us to make that application and see the goodness of God in our lives. And then, Lord, may our hearts be bent toward you and toward loving you and toward devoting our lives and our desires to you and living in that goodness.

[6:03] And help us now, we pray in Christ's name. Amen. Amen. The creator's care. I want to notice there's certain acts of God to close out this chapter.

[6:16] After his judgment, certain things God does to propel them forward and to move them from here and to do something with it. And the first thing we see in verse 21 is that God clothed them.

[6:30] He clothed them. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins. Who made the coats?

[6:40] The Lord God did. Who clothed the man and his wife? The Lord God did. Isn't that interesting? The fig leaf fashion was fading quickly, quite literally.

[6:55] It was going out of style fast. As I taught you, we studied that weeks ago, that those fig leaves taken from the tree, they wither up and they crumple up and they just don't hold their, they don't cover much after long.

[7:10] They're not a good choice. That's a temporary solution that even we studied back then. It's insufficient in so many ways. It just reminds you of the work of man and the best he can do and the ideas he comes up with.

[7:23] So here the Lord God made coats of skins. God did that in his care for his people. And this act of God, I want to say, first of all, it displays his provision.

[7:35] I don't believe that the man ever even looked at an animal as an option for clothing. I don't think he ever considered I could take their skins from them.

[7:47] No, why? Because he couldn't fathom the thought of taking the life of an innocent animal. Man wasn't programmed with that. Maybe he would have come up with shearing the sheep. Maybe some things like that.

[7:59] Maybe alpaca. Maybe he liked them particularly. But he wasn't going to kill them. He wasn't going to slice their throats and then skin them and make clothes out of them.

[8:09] I don't believe that ever crossed Adam's mind. I don't even think it could have crossed Adam's mind. So the Lord did it. It wasn't in man. You remember that there was no fear and dread of man on these animals until after Noah got off the ark with his wife and sons and their wives.

[8:26] The animals were all tame. Even the beast of the field to Adam, there's no fear of him in them. It's not an instinct to fear man yet. And so these, I don't know if you've ever had to take a life of something else, of an animal, even of a snake.

[8:45] Even any animal. Something about it. Just it's unnatural. And you can get calloused and you can get hardened toward it. And you could be a butcher and just be doing it all day long for a living and never think twice.

[8:58] But the first time, I guarantee the first time it was like you grieved something in your spirit doing that. Even as a kid going out with a little pellet gun shooting at birds.

[9:10] Or even hunting. And there's, from a distance, the game is something. But when you have to, with your bare hands, do something. There's just, I had an incident.

[9:20] I won't tell you the details of it. But deer hunting had an incident where things didn't go as planned and I had to do something about it. And it just wasn't fun. It just, and I don't think Adam had it in him in that garden.

[9:33] And in that moment, to even consider the animals and their skins and coats of skins to be something that he could put on himself. I just doubt it.

[9:45] So God did something that man probably couldn't do for himself. God provided clothing. God provided a much needed commodity. Something far superior to what man had come up with himself.

[9:57] And I've seen that this is the first time, and I believe this is the last time, that God would ever do this. He made coats of skins.

[10:09] And he clothed them. Now, in addition to this, it appears that God provided the first sacrifice that would ever be made for sin. Those skins were not Adam and Eve's.

[10:23] Those skins belonged to an innocent animal. Some creature provided that material. And the Lord God made coats of skins, implying that the Lord slaughtered some animals and fashioned with their skins.

[10:36] What's also implied is that there was an offering made there. Now, look at chapter 4. Genesis chapter 4. And I believe the Lord began a practice that Adam followed and passed on and taught to his sons.

[10:51] Because in chapter 4, there's Cain and Abel. And in verse 4, Abel brought of the first things of his flock and of the fat thereof.

[11:01] And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering. Where did Abel get the idea that the Lord would respect this offering? Well, when Cain brought of the fruit of the ground and brought his offering, the Lord had not respect.

[11:14] And Cain got ticked off. And the Lord said, why are you mad? Why does that count as wrath? Or why does that count as fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? You should have known better, Cain. I've never accepted.

[11:26] One time have I ever accepted the fruit of the ground. Your work. The work of your hands. The Lord started something back in chapter 3. And he made it.

[11:37] What I see there is the first sacrifice for sins that has ever been offered. Keep your place here in Genesis. But go to chapter 22.

[11:47] Genesis 22. Genesis 22. Genesis 22. And here's some incredible wording in verse number 8. The incredible wording of your King James Bible, which kind of gives you a little light, almost a prophecy.

[12:04] In verse 8 it says, get you context here. This is where God told him, Abraham, to take his son and to offer him for a burnt offering.

[12:16] And so he obeys and he goes and they go up to this mountain. And here's Abraham's response to his son when he's asking, where's the lamb, dad?

[12:26] Where's the lamb? Because that's what we offer. And in verse number 8, Abraham said, my son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. Now you can read it two ways.

[12:38] The one way is that God will provide the burnt offering for himself. But you can also read it as a prophecy. God will provide himself. The Lord Jesus Christ.

[12:49] God in the flesh. He will provide himself a lamb. The lamb of God. For a burnt offering. It wasn't the Passover lamb that God provided. It was the lamb of God.

[13:01] I want to read quickly a passage in Hebrews chapter 10. Where the Bible says, by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. Once for all.

[13:13] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices. Which can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever.

[13:25] Sat down on the right hand of God. So the lamb of God was that one final sacrifice. Where God offered himself a sacrifice.

[13:38] But coming back to Genesis 3. God provided clothing. And God provided atonement. God provided in this a covering for their nakedness.

[13:50] And a covering for their wickedness. At the same time. He covered their physical need. And he covered their spiritual need. And this creator cares. He cares enough to clothe them.

[14:02] And it displays his provision. Providing for their needs. Now secondly, look in verse 22. The Lord does something else. The Lord God said, behold the man becomes one of us.

[14:14] And no good and evil. Now lest he put forth his hand. And take also of the tree of life. And live forever. He's concerned about the man doing something. So therefore. Because he's concerned.

[14:26] And sees this tree of life as a potential problem now. As a hazard to this sinful and fallen man and his wife. And what if they go and eat of that tree?

[14:36] Oh boy. We would have a real situation on our hands. Therefore, verse 23. God does something else. The Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden. In verse 24.

[14:47] So he drove out the man. The Lord God displayed something else in his act. And this act is an act of protection. Considering the potential for the sinful man and his wife.

[15:01] To live in that state forever. God protects him. He mercifully removed him from the environment. And removed him from the temptation of the tree of life.

[15:14] Think about this. When God put him in the garden first. And said, look. Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He didn't tell him. Don't eat of the tree of life. He gave him one command.

[15:26] One tree. Don't touch it. And I don't know how much time passed. But what did they do? They went after it. And they ate it. They disobeyed. Now that they're sinners. He still gives them another.

[15:36] There's still this other thought. Like they can't eat of that tree. What if he just said, alright. You've already eaten of the knowledge of good and evil. That's not going to change anything now. But don't eat of the tree of life. What if he gave them a new command.

[15:47] Just one more thing that they can't do. You think they'd have followed that one? Maybe. Yeah. We don't want nothing to do with that. Because we know what happened to us the first time we disobeyed you. You think that would last?

[15:58] Let me ask you. Does it last? When you know you shouldn't do something? So that wouldn't work. Just commanding the man. To not touch it.

[16:10] So he had to do something. So God. The creator's care. He does something. And he protects him. From himself. Imagine. You might ask.

[16:22] Okay. So why would man then go to eat of that tree? Why would he go after that? Why is it off limits? Wouldn't that be a good thing for him to have? I imagine in time that man becomes sick.

[16:36] Or in time weak. I know Adam lives like 930 years. I know he lived almost a millennium. But eventually he died. Eventually he came to that point of death.

[16:49] And so did everyone following him. I imagine if at that point. And in that week of. And very close to. Leading up to. That tree would have been a major temptation.

[17:02] What does man not do. To heal himself today. To get fixed. If he knows he's going to die. And you've got the money.

[17:12] And the means. He starts spending it. He starts seeking to the best. And seeking anything he can get his hands on. Man wants to live. He doesn't want to die. And I see God protecting man from himself.

[17:26] Because inside of every man and woman. Is this drive. This instinct for self preservation. Nobody just lays down and says. Okay I'll die now.

[17:37] Not if they can help it. And that tree of life. I won't turn you to it. But in Revelation 22. In verse 2. That tree of life shows up. And it's lining this river.

[17:48] And it's got 12 manner of fruits. And it says that the leaves. Are for the healing of the nations. There's healing. In that tree. Absolutely man would have been going.

[17:59] To that tree. They'd have been partaking of that tree. Every time they were sick. Every time they felt something going wrong. Somebody's dying over here. Get them of the tree to them. Get something to them. And by the way.

[18:13] Over the course of history. There's been multiple legends. And civilizations. That have stories. About some healing waters. You're familiar with. Ponce de Leon.

[18:23] The tree of. I'm sorry. The fountain of youth. The search for that. He's not the first one. And he's not the last one. To believe in some healing waters. There's. I've read about accounts in Japan.

[18:35] In South America. In Africa. Pretty much every continent. In India. All these old. Long time back. Even in some of the French writings.

[18:45] Of. Of certain waters. High up in these mountains. Or something that had a certain. Film in them. Or your skin would glow. And. And they'd start to try to get it to the king.

[18:56] When he was sick. Stuff like that. That's been going on. All along. Where man has sought. To stay alive. To heal himself. To fix himself.

[19:09] When it comes to death. Man will do anything. To try to stay alive. So God. Showed his care. And mercifully drove out the man. Protecting him.

[19:19] From what would be. An eternal mistake. Now. If it doesn't quite make sense. Then let this help. When Adam gets resurrected. When he gets a glorified body.

[19:32] The first man was of the earth. Earthy. Adam. But the second man. Is the Lord from heaven. The new body is incorruptible. And immortal. And it's.

[19:44] It's spiritual. Adam's not going to just get back. What he lost. He's going to get something better. Than what he lost. And when Adam is resurrected. He is going to say. God.

[19:55] Thank you. For not allowing me. To eat of that tree. Because this. Is far better. Than what that would have been. All along.

[20:06] He'll be grateful. That God drove him out. It wasn't pleasant. And nobody looks forward. To dying. But then Adam will understand. Just how good God was to him.

[20:19] Do you know what Romans 8.28 says? That we know. That all things. Getting kicked out of a garden. All things work together.

[20:29] For good. And in the context of Romans 8. You won't believe it. The whole thing is about a new body. The new body. Imagine that.

[20:41] And you know church. We might just have to wait. Until the Lord. Blows that trumpet. Or until he. Pulls us up out of this dirt. We just might have to wait.

[20:52] Until that day. When we're with the Lord. To realize how. God's protective hand. Was upon us. In this life. It's not necessarily. His protection. From a car accident.

[21:03] Or from a trial. Or from a disease. That's not the hand. I'm referring to. I'm referring to. When he steers us away. When it feels like. This isn't good. God. This hurts. This. How can this be right?

[21:14] This is not what I want. This is hard. This is tougher. Than the way it used to be. To one day see. That God. Has steered us away.

[21:24] From maybe our own foolishness. From decisions. That we would have made wrong. If we had the option. And so all we can do today. Is see everything in this life.

[21:34] And where we are. As from the hand of God. And trust him. And obey him. And lean not to our own understanding. Therefore. The Lord God sent him forth.

[21:47] Sometimes God will send you forth. He sees what's coming down the road. He knows. He sees the potential for something. And he sends you into something else. And what a. What a. What a.

[21:57] What care. Of our creator. What. What protection. From almighty God. God. Now look at verse number 24. He did something else. He didn't just send him forth.

[22:09] He did one more thing. And this is pretty wild to me. In verse 24. He drove out the man. And that wasn't enough. He placed at the east of the garden of Eden.

[22:21] Cherubims. That's the only time that word is capitalized. In your Bible. That's something interesting about it. Why is it capitalized. But it says. And a flaming sword.

[22:32] Okay. This is wild. A flaming sword. Which turned every way. To keep the way. Of the tree of life. A way is a path. A road. A highway. It's a way.

[22:42] Is a course. And. This flaming sword. And these cherubims. Are keeping. The word keep is protect. Is to guard.

[22:53] The way of the tree of life. He placed them there. And what I want you to think on here. Is this. We've already seen that it displays. That the creator's care.

[23:04] This displays his provision. And his protection. But in this last portion. Let us consider. That this displays his plan. And you think. What are you talking about? This is his plan.

[23:16] After kicking them out of the garden. God goes another step. To ensure that they will not return. It wasn't just a verbal command. But it was a.

[23:27] Added layer of protection. But he was more than just protecting him. From what we already discussed. This everlasting life. From the tree of life. And living that way. As a fallen sinner.

[23:38] In that state. He would be reliant upon. Eternally. Sacrificing. And offering for his sins. That would just go on. And on. And on. If he lived in that state.

[23:49] In order for him to be right. And in fellowship. And communion with God. But God kicked them out. And he made it so that they would never return. And taste of that. Fruit of the tree of life.

[24:00] And in doing so. He was. Securing the fate. Of Adam and Eve. You will die. Out there. That is my plan.

[24:10] I want you to die. I insist that you die. And not take this. Tree of life. Why God? This is revealing his plan.

[24:21] Because God has a plan. To redeem them. He has a plan. To resurrect them. And to fix. What they messed up. That plan can't be realized.

[24:32] If they can keep on getting back into the garden. And living like this. For the rest of. I shouldn't even say that. For on and on and on. Endlessly. God has a plan.

[24:43] To redeem. The fallen man. It already exists. In the foreknowledge. Of our everlasting creator. Paul says. Who hath known the mind of the Lord. The more light we get.

[24:55] The more we're just. Blown away. Of his ability. God has a plan. To restore. The fellowship. And to restore. The relationship. With this fallen couple.

[25:06] A plan that will not. Require eternal sacrifices anymore. A plan that will put away their sin. Once and forever. Forever. And a plan that will. One day resurrect.

[25:17] Their mortal bodies. To give them. Immortal and incorruptible bodies. Therefore. It's imperative. That they don't eat of the tree of life. It's imperative.

[25:27] That they go out. And die. Because I have a plan. To redeem them. Take a look at. Acts chapter 2. And you can lose your place.

[25:38] In Genesis. We're going to run a few verses here. Acts chapter 2. God has a plan. And that plan. And that plan.

[25:49] Means man cannot. Under any circumstances. Get to that tree. So therefore. I'm placing cherubims. And a flaming sword.

[26:00] That's turning every way. They are not getting near it. God. Now in the meantime. The man and his wife. Are going to go on and live. And they're going to. First.

[26:11] Before. He'll ever realize. The plan that God has. He's going to realize. The wages of his sin. And he's going to realize. The toil. And the work.

[26:21] And the sorrow. He's going to experience. The corruption. And all of those consequences. And ultimately. He's got a taste of death. But God has a plan.

[26:33] Acts chapter 2. Notice what Peter. Preaches in verses 22 and 23. He said. Ye men of Israel. Hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth. A man approved of God.

[26:44] Among you by miracles. And wonders. And signs. Which God did by him. In the midst of you. As you yourselves also know. Him. Being delivered. Notice. By the determinate counsel.

[26:54] And foreknowledge of God. Ye have taken. And by wicked hands. Have crucified and slain. It was always part of God's plan. To provide himself.

[27:05] A lamb. Look at chapter 4. And verse 27 and 28. Peter's again. Preaching. And he says. For of a truth. 427.

[27:16] Of a truth. Against thy holy child. Jesus. Whom thou hast anointed. Both Herod and Pontius Pilate. With the Gentiles. And the people of Israel. Were gathered together. For to do whatsoever.

[27:27] Thy hand. God's hand. And thy counsel. Determined before. To be done. Peter recognized. That God had already. A plan.

[27:38] Look at Romans chapter 5. And this is our last passage. This morning. Romans chapter 5. Romans chapter 5. And let's start in verse number 6.

[28:00] For when we were yet without strength. Adam. Eve. Toiling. Sorrow. Human race. Sinners. When we were yet without strength.

[28:12] In due time. Christ died. For the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man. Will one die. Yet per venture for a good man. Some would even dare to die.

[28:24] But God commendeth his love toward us. And that while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us. Much more than being now justified. By his blood.

[28:34] We shall be saved from wrath. Through him. For if when we were enemies. We were reconciled to God. By the death of his son. Much more being reconciled. We shall be saved. By his life.

[28:45] And not only so. But we also joy in God. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom we have now received. The atonement. It's in verse 12.

[28:56] That describes Adam's sin. And death passing upon all men. Because all have sinned. And it contrasts. Adam and Christ. And coming to verse number 18. Let's close this chapter out.

[29:08] Verse 18 to 21. Therefore as by the offense of one. That'd be Adam. Judgment came upon all men. To condemnation. Even so.

[29:19] By the righteousness of one. There's Jesus Christ. The free gift came upon all men. Unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience. Many were made sinners.

[29:29] So by the obedience of one. Shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered. That the offense might abound. But where sin abounded. Grace did much more abound.

[29:41] That as sin hath reigned unto death. Even so might grace reign. Through righteousness. Unto eternal life. By Jesus Christ our Lord.

[29:53] So God had a plan. God had a plan. To keep them. From eternal life. At the moment. To give them death. To allow them to suffer.

[30:05] And to taste of the wages. Of their sin. And to experience the heartache. And the toil. But the plan was ultimately. To fix it.

[30:15] The plan was to send his son. To pay for their sins. In that garden. In that moment. The creator's care is displayed. By him not allowing them.

[30:27] To get back in. Because in that moment. He saw something. That it took us so many thousands of years. To really figure out. Or to really put. To be revealed in scripture.

[30:38] It took. By revelation of God. Through the apostle Paul and others. For us to understand. The mind of God. That what he had determined. In his counsel back then.

[30:48] I don't use these three words together. Ever. But when I consider. What God has done. When I consider his thoughts. And his mind. And his plan. And his.

[31:00] Driving them out. And not allowing them. And to give his own. Begotten son. To take care of this whole thing. He looks at it all. And says. I'm going to take care of this. I'm going to do this myself. I don't usually say this.

[31:12] But. It truly makes me say. Oh. My. God. What a God. I would kill them.

[31:23] I would. They could suffer. I'm not going to suffer. They can suffer. And God says. No. I'll suffer. And I'll take the pain.

[31:34] And I'll take the punishment. And the torment. For their sins. My wrath against them. Must be satisfied. And I'll satisfy it. By punishing. Myself.

[31:46] My own son. How unworthy we are. And I told you. We'd see. How good God is. He's good in everything.

[31:59] He cast the man out. He's good. He did it. So that we could be. We could be. Brought back to him. In a way that. He would fix it. That it won't happen again. I'm telling you.

[32:11] This is. Too much. For their minds. To put together. And piece together. And come up with. They say that. Man. Couldn't write that book. If he would. And wouldn't write that book.

[32:22] If he could. This thing is too much. The close of Genesis. Chapter 3. Declares. The deep. Care. Of the creator.

[32:34] And that he had a plan. To bring them. Back from death. And to pay for their guilt. By himself. Once and for all. We're studying.

[32:44] The creator's care. His actions. Worth for the good of us all. It's displayed by his provision. His protection. And his plan. And we see he's good.

[32:56] In all of it. It's a fitting end. To this chapter. Because it started with the serpent. And it started with deception. And it just started with sin. And violating God's command.

[33:07] And it continued with curses. With God being disappointed. He's not getting the glory. And the fruit of what he sought. When he went to the garden. To fellowship with the man. And his wife. Now they're gone.

[33:18] God's the one that's missing out. And then he's cursing the ground. And he's cursing the serpent. And he's putting these consequences. And sorrows on man.

[33:29] But when it's all said and done. At the end of this chapter. Look who's exalted. And look who comes out on top. Look who's good. It's God himself. I think it's a great way to end this study.

[33:42] Because it puts God back up there. On the throne in his holiness. It shows that he's so much higher than we are. He's not just mad. And making man pay.

[33:53] And hurt for his sin. I told you last week. He takes sin seriously. Yeah he does. Matter of fact. He takes it so serious. That he had to. There was only one way to satisfy it.

[34:06] And he sent his son. I hope you love the Lord Jesus Christ. And I hope he's your best friend. And I hope he means more to you than anybody on the face of this earth.

[34:20] Because you'd be in hell without him. And you deserve it. And so would I. You've messed up. And yet God didn't destroy you did he?

[34:32] You've sinned. And you've sinned. And you've sinned. And yet he's patient. And he's caring. And he's merciful.

[34:43] And he provides a way to escape. And he provides a payment. To cleanse you and forgive you from all unrighteousness. And he protects you from yourself.

[34:53] Even when you don't understand it. You don't see it. And even when he convicts you in your heart of your sin. He's trying to protect you from your stupid sins. And your mistakes. And your choices.

[35:05] Sometimes he puts a stop sign in your path. He's trying to protect you. Because he cares. And he has a plan. A plan to change you.

[35:18] To be like him. It's your destiny. It's fixed. In Jesus Christ. You're predestined to be conformed. To the image of his son. If you're saved.

[35:29] There's nothing you can do about that one. He's going to make that happen. And he's going to get back. What was lost. And he's going to fix it. So it won't happen again.

[35:40] What a being. What an incredible. Magnificent. Wise. Powerful. Pure. Holy. Almighty being.

[35:51] And what a God. And what care. What care that he would send his son. That he would let you see. What his son did for you. That he would convict you of your sin.

[36:02] That he would care enough to try to convict you. And convince you in your mind. That your sin is no good. Instead of just let you go. We see the creator's care.

[36:15] And I think probably just. Just even scratching the surface. Of how deep it is. How good it is. It showed up in that. Close of the chapter. In these three little ways. But I'm sure the book reveals.

[36:26] That it's a gulf. A gulf that cannot be crossed. Remember that song. That somebody wrote about. The deep deep love of Jesus.

[36:37] Tried to describe it being fuller than any ocean. Can't cross it. Can't span it. I'm reminded of that. Couldn't write it. If. I won't be able to sing it for you. But if every stalk on earth were a quill.

[36:50] And all the oceans were ink. It wouldn't do it. You couldn't write the love of Jesus. The love of God in Christ Jesus. I might say. What a caring God.

[37:03] I'll just close this morning with asking you. Where the Bible says. He careth for you. So cast all your care upon him. For he careth for you. We see it displayed in a few ways.

[37:14] Just in this chapter alone. It's enough right there. I wonder. Do you. Do you realize that. Or are you allowing yourself to realize.

[37:25] That. He's been having his hand on you. I couldn't even describe how many particular ways throughout life. Even this day. This weekend.

[37:36] His hand is on you. He. He puts you in. A Bible believing church. That'll preach the truth. That'll. That'll give you some help. That'll point you to him. You could have just drifted into some.

[37:48] Some bogus little coffee shop of a church. And just got some little jokes. And some neat little cute sayings. And a poem. And left. And I'm not boasting this place up.

[38:01] Or bragging. But I think it's the hand of God. That you're here. The Lord drew you here. And trying to feed you. And grow you. That's his care for you. Do you.

[38:11] Do you see that. Do you want that care. Maybe it'd help you to get on your face a little bit more. And understand. The care that God has displayed in your life.

[38:22] Not just in sending his son. But in some things he keeps you from. Some. Some safeguards in your life. Even some things he puts in your body that you don't like. That's his hand.

[38:34] It's causing you. Maybe you'd be too foolish. I'm going to finish with a little quote from. Tuesday night. From. Naomi Pena. Gave a testimony. Saying she was a. A pastor's kid.

[38:45] And. And grew up in church. And just had everything handed to her. Spiritually speaking. And the Lord's been so good to her. And she says. Maybe. God did all of this for me. Because he knew. I needed it.

[38:56] He knew that I'd just be some. Total foolish. You know. Reprobate without it. And the only way to get me right. And keeping me right. Is to give me all this stuff. He had to give me so much more.

[39:07] Than he gave others. Because. Maybe it's because of how weak I am. I thought that's pretty good. It's a pretty good way of looking at it. Maybe it's true. Because I feel like I'm pretty weak.

[39:19] As a man. Maybe God gave me the word of God. Gave me a good Christian home. And good examples. If I didn't have them. There'd be no chance. I'd be loving and serving him.

[39:30] Maybe that is true. But Christian. Then God cares for you. To put these things in your life. Sometimes it is a painful disease. Sometimes it's a. Struggles with things in life.

[39:42] With bills or relationships. Or decisions. And he does it because he cares. And he wants you to call on him. And be drawn to him. So that he can show his care.

[39:54] And guide you. That he can continue to provide for you. When you don't even know he's doing it. I hope this draws you to him. To reliance upon him. To casting all your care upon him.

[40:05] For he careth for you. Let's pray. Father. Thank you for being so good. Thank you for this. This little bit of. Close of this chapter.

[40:16] And the light that's in here. That points us to you. And to your acts. And Lord. Truly. We overlook. So much that you do. We probably don't see your hand.

[40:28] Nearly as often as we could. We're quickly distracted. We're distracted by our relationships here. By our media and social things going on.

[40:40] By our duties and jobs. And responsibilities. And yet Lord. Please draw us from this thought. And from this message. Place it in our hearts.

[40:52] To turn our minds to you. To see your care. To lean on you. And to draw from it. And to walk with you. But God. Ultimately. I just can say thank you.

[41:03] For your care. Thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for giving me an opportunity. To serve you. With my life.

[41:16] And Lord. You deserve. All the praise. You deserve. Every good thing. It all comes from you. I want to acknowledge that. Before you today.

[41:28] And I love you. I'm thankful to be your child. To know you as my father. Lord. Help me to be good to you.

[41:40] And to. Reciprocate that goodness. That you've shown in my life. Help us all to be that way. Father we pray. In Jesus name. Amen.

[41:53] Amen. So we're finished with Genesis 3. Finally.