The rescuer is here!

Genesis 3:8-15 says, “Then Adam and his wife heard the sound of Yahweh – God passing through the garden in the breeze of the day. So, they hid among the trees concealing themselves from the face of Yahweh – God. Then Yahweh – God called Adam’s name and asked, “Where are you?” Adam answered, “I heard your powerful presence moving in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” “Who told you that you were naked?” God said. “Did you eat the fruit of the tree that I commanded you not to eat?” Adam pointed to the woman and said, “The woman you placed alongside me— she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

So Yahweh – God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman pointed to the snake and said, “The shining snake tricked me, and I ate.” Yahweh – God then said to the snake, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above every wild animal, condemned above every creature of the field! You will slither on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life! And I will place great hostility between you and the woman, and between her seed and yours. He will crush your head as you crush his heel.””

So much happening in those verses. Last week we learnt that the Name “Jesus” means “Jehovah is salvation” and salvation is not limited to the issue of heaven and hell. It is healing, mentally emotionally, physically, spiritually, it is provision and protection and the list is endless. From our verses above, the first part that sticks out to me is the question, “Who told you that you were naked?” Up until Genesis 3, the man and woman had only received their information from God. Now, God comes to hang out with them, and they are talking all crazy. They are hiding because they are afraid. They are afraid because they are naked. They are naked because sin has removed them from under the covering of God’s protection. So, they are hiding.  

Up until this point they had never been afraid of God or hid from His Presence. God never told them that they were naked because He was their covering. So where did this information come from? Sin. Sin opens us up to the lies and the torment of the enemy. We live in a fallen world and each of us have sinned and fallen short, which is why we need Jesus. Jesus came to save us. He came to crush the enemy under His heel, not so we can stay wrapped up in the lies but so we can find our identity in Him once again. So we can get our information about who we are from Him and not let our past name and shame us.  

So, reading Genesis 3 and knowing the prophesied seed that would come to crush the serpents head (Jesus) did in fact come and did annihilate the enemy, why are we still allowing the snake to speak to us? Salvation is here! Protection and safety is here! Yes, Jesus is here! Immanuel. Christmas is a reminder that wait a minute, Jesus came for me! He came to give me life and life more abundantly and I do not need to live this way. Whatever that may be.

Freedom is here! Deliverance is here! We do not need to hide anymore, we can run to our Father! He is always waiting with arms open wide. Luke 2:8-11 says, “That night, in a field near Bethlehem, shepherds were watching over their flocks. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified! But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid, for I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah.”

A rescuer is born for us! To come save us and deliver us. He is looking at us today and asking, “Who told you that you were all alone in this?” “Who told you that you won’t make it?” “Who told you the lie that is keeping you small?” “Who told you it will always be this way?” It sure didn’t come from heaven. The rescuer is here! Jesus is here! Christmas time is a time to remember that we are never alone in the fight. God is with us and He is always ready to rescue us!

So shake off the lies of the enemy. Shake of the shame of the past. Look to Jesus and ask Him to tell you again just who you are. Ask Him to remind you of the marvelous plans He has for your life. God is not done with you yet. If you are breathing, God still has plans for hope and a future, Jeremiah 29:11. So look to Jesus. Call on Jesus in your day of trouble and He will rescue you, Psalm 50:15.

Love and blessings,

Melissa Tsingano.