Week 5

Look Back

What did you do to acknowledge God’s mercy and allow Him to make you holy and acceptable this week?

Look Up

Read Genesis 1:27-31

1. What do these verses say about God’s plan and desires for “mankind”? How has God’s blessing of mankind been fulfilled in the world?
2. How does the Bible describe God’s initial reaction to His creation of man and woman in verse 31? What does this say about God and people?

Read Genesis 2:8-17

1. How do these verses reflect the blessing and promises God made in Genesis 1:28-30? What additional details are provided in these verses?
2. What does verse 15 say was the reason that God put the man in the garden? What does this say about God’s relationship with, and expectations of people? How does this apply to your personal relationship with, and expectations of God?
3. Why did God have to “command” the man not to eat from one specific tree? How does this action impact your understanding and acceptance that God did not “create” evil?

Read Psalm 23:4 and 46:1-7

1. How do these verses describe the condition of the “earth” and how does this compare with how the earth is described in Genesis 1 & 2? What factors led to these changes?
2. How do these verses describe God’s relationship with His creation? How does this apply to God’s relationship with people today?

Overall (Discovery Bible Study)

• What do these scriptures say about God?
• What do they say about people?
• How will I apply this to my life?

Look Ahead

In your most painful moments, do you draw closer to God, or do you pull away? Why? What can you learn about God in your moments of pain?

Notes

The existence of evil and pain in the world shows that God created the opportunity for people to do evil. In love, God gave people the ability and freedom to make choices - unfortunately we sometimes do not make good choices. The presence of pain and evil does not prove an absence of God. In contrast, God will sometimes use pain to draw people closer to Him. God was present in the garden and is present today for those who choose to turn to Him in the midst of pain.