Genesis 2:15 – 4:16

I watch as my little boys turn into mush, noticing a sweet and adorable little 2’3″ angel waltz into the play area, dressed in pink, and smiling from ear to ear. She makes eye contact with one of the boys. He’s hooked. It’s over. From this point on she has him wrapped around her little finger…and the other brother follows, hoping to be next…like a glutton for punishment!

That little girl lives inside all of us women. The power we’ve found in control is addictive and uncannily instinctive. Why do we feel the need to control where the tupperware is stored, what the kids are wearing to school, how our husbands weekend will be spent…etc?

Perhaps the most unnerving is the idea that we can control ourselves. Our thoughts, looks, desires, and statures are control-ready material in a woman’s world.

1. What do you find yourself seeking control over?

Take a look at Genesis 2:18-20

2. What was God seeking to do for Adam in these verses?

In Gen. 2:21 God makes Adam fall asleep and he takes one of his ribs. In Gen. 2:22…God creates woman from that rib! He then takes the woman to Adam.

3. Why…this is a total abstract question, but hang with me…do you think God makes woman from a rib?!

Why not a tooth, Adam most likely had a few of those. Why not a toe, he probably had ten, or an ear…after all do men really use both ears?
I wonder… if we consider where the rib is located on a man’s body, we may have a tiny look into what it means to have a healthy kind of control.

The ribs are located near the heart. They protect the heart, they help the surrounding area near the heart. What if we are to act as a rib for our men? A helper in protecting a man’s heart? Think THAT over.

If we were like a head, we’d control men’s thoughts. Sounds tempting…but there is beauty in a man’s thoughts when his heart is protected.

If we were like a foot we’d get trampled on, and have no voice. When a man’s heart is helpfully protected, He needs not trample on his helper.

Take a look at verse 23.

4. What is Adam’s reaction to Eve?

Eve was built out of man. Drawn out of his very flesh. Reading on into verse 24 we see the words “one flesh”. What a beautiful verse…have you ever really considered the way God designed such an intricate way for men and women to love one another? To be one…so that any part that suffers or rejoices in that other person, is actually done to you.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:3-8

When I read this all I can think of is how much faith it takes to do these things. These are not natural tendencies!
Although asked to act according to the verses above, we find ourselves seeking control, like Eve later does.

5. What are we running from when we seek control?
Could it be…
fear
sadness
embarrassment
weakness
humility
anger
jealousy??
Where do these things slither into your life?

Read on in Genesis 3:1-3
Here we see the slithery serpent at his trickiness. I always say Satan’s way reminds me of the snakes in the zoo. I’m always scanning the cage, trying to spot the slithery reptile…thinking I’m on the hunt…when BOOM#$^^*%&*^#!!! The snake scares me out of my head as I spot it and it’s staring RIGHT at me…as if it was just watching me, waiting for me to notice it the WHOLE time. ew. snakes.
Satan’s tricky. He slithers into things where He knows we hold weak spots.

6.Here, he begins talking to Eve about what?

Notice…he knows what humans, especially women, desire at their weakest…MORE.

7. What desires do we have that control us…and lead us straight into the trap…of feeling we need something, deserve something, and will do anything in our control to get it?

8. How do we betray God when we seek our own control?

Read verses 4-5. We betray God by our lack of faith. Without faith we “die” a spiritual death.

9. What is Satan provoking in you? In what do you demonstrate such lack of faith the God has control…that you clench tighter to it in your pride, fear, or anger?

In verse 6, knowing the nature of women, Satan uses the draw of comparison. Eve knew she could eat from every other tree…but THAT one. Somehow…THAT one was the one she wanted. Isn’t that the way the need for control works? We don’t like the word “no”…do we?

When we seek control, we forget about who we drag with us. Remember when we read “one flesh”? Look who was with Eve…and later…who else is with her? Her family. When one seeks control, there are subjects that are subjected to that control…

Let’s do a little reminissing…
What was your first date like? Mine was great…until the end when my dad came to the door wearing nothing but tighty whitey underwear, a v-neck undershirt, black socks, and a mouth guard. It scarred me, and the dude I’m sure, for life.
It was my dad’s way of controlling a situation which he felt out of control in…and went about it quite wrong. seriously…I never look at black socks without an awful memory…

Truly…there are people we are affecting that are part of our very body, whether by blood or by faith, with our desire to control. It’s not a good thing.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:25-31
Read Romans 12:4-8

Skipping ahead a tad, read Genesis 4:1-8
10. Children learn from our behavior. We all fall short of His glory, and sin is inevitable…but what are we teaching our children they can control, by what we act as if we can control?

11. Read question 1 again…this time, consider those around you, the body of Christ you are part of, the less fortunate, the easy to hate, your family, the very women in the room with you…

Read Genesis 3:7-13
Notice the shame…and THEN comes the blame.

12. In what ways do we control our shame, with blame?

In verse 16 God punishes Eve, and womankind, with pain, right where it hurts the most…in what she is designed to help, love, and have joy for the most…her children and husband. Seeking control without knowing HE is in control is painful, and the pain is felt what we hold onto the tightest, without surrender.