DAY 23,
Read Gen. 3:8-24
Key Verses: “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden his face from you. So that He will not hear (Isa.59:1,2).
It is difficult to believe that the actions of the Almighty God could be affected by man’s misdeeds. In our text for today we see how sin prevents and hinders the release of the mighty hand of God. Sin and unbelief affects God’s action and plan for man. The prophet Habakkuk, in Chapter 1:13 informed us that God is so holy that he cannot behold iniquity. Where ever sin and unbelief exist God’s desire and ability to bless is impaired.
Beginning from the Garden of Eden, once Adam and Eve sinned they lost their freedom, their position and their glory. In place of these, they were judged and the ground cursed for man’s sake. Unfortunately, man was driven from the garden and Cherubim were stationed to block entrance into the garden.
Even after God rescued the children of Israel from Egypt, when they sinned in the wilderness he could not save them. When ten of the twelve leaders of Israel who were sent to spy out the Promised Land came back with an evil report to discourage the multitude, God did not spare them of his judgement.
The writers of the gospels tell us that Jesus could not even help his people in Nazareth due to their sin of unbelief. “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Mt.13:58).
Sin is man’s greatest enemy to realizing the potential God has ordained for him. Thank God that in Christ God dealt with the sin question. “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1,2).
PRAYER: Father, thank you for the victory we have in You over sin. May sin not have dominion over me.
