Genesis is packed full of truth for all of us to learn and apply. In many ways, the beginning helps us to understand the end and motivates us to follow the truth of God’s Word. It is true that Genesis 1 & 2 presents the counselor with a biblical view of man. Moses, under divine inspiration, gives several implications about the use of the body, the purpose of life, and how man was created by God to rule over creation.
Genesis Establishes a Biblical View of the Family
Ask yourself this question, “If all you had was Genesis 1-11, what principles of the family would you be able to communicate to your counselee to help them glorify God in their family?” Think about the following truths in Genesis:
- Man and his wife – is ‘good’ – God said that all He created was “very good.”
- Family is highest institution – established before governments or even the church
- The order of creation establishes the authority in the home – man was created 1st, then Eve
- Sex in marriage is a ‘not ashamed’ situation
- Influence of the wife over her husband – Eve violated her role as a ‘helper suitable for him’
- Lack of leadership of the husband – Adam’s willful choice was a bad example to his wife
- Magnitude of the effects of sin on your family – Genesis 3 (Cain murdered his brother)
- Having babies is going to be hard – some can’t have them due to the effects of the curse
- The need to teach/disciple your children – Genesis 4 – the 1st born son committed murder!
- Your godliness to help prevent the destruction of your family (Noah got his family on the ark)
- Your sinfulness affects your children and other families – Genesis 11
Genesis Gives Us a Biblical View of Temptation
Wise is the counselor who points out to his/her counselees the progression in all temptation:
↓ Temptation is inherently deceitful – Genesis 3:1
↓ Temptations questions God’s authority – Genesis 3:1 ‘Indeed, has God said . . . ‘
↓ Temptation adds to God’s Word – Genesis 3:3 ‘neither shall you touch it’
↓ Temptation presents a blatant lie – Genesis 3:4 ‘You shall not surely die’ For example: Think about what lies a counselee is listening to when he or she commits a sexual sin – the lies of “I’ll be satisfied” or “I’ll only do this once, then I’ll never do it again.”
↓ Temptation is rooted in a wrong view of God – Genesis 3:5 ‘for God knows that . . . ‘ In essence, Satan was saying that God is just being a mean God and withholding something from you that you really deserve.
↓ Temptation is rooted in pride and self-worship – Genesis 3:5 ‘you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’
↓ Temptation often begins with a delight to the eyes and something that will gratify the body– Genesis 3:6-7
Genesis Gives Us Man’s Response to Sinful Choices
Without a doubt, one of the most obvious truths that flow out of Genesis 3 is man’s response to his sin. A counselor can put the counselee’s sinful response to temptation in any one of the following four categories:
- A counselee who tries to cover the sin – (Adam & Eve sewed fig leaves)
- A counselee who runs from God – (Adam & Eve hid in the bushes)
- A counselee who makes excuses – (Adam said he was afraid)
- A counselee who blame shifts – (Adam really blamed God: “The woman whom you gave me, she gave me . . . .”)
There is hope for the counselee who has sinned – it is found in Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” The promise of the seed who would bruise the head of the serpent provides hope to any counselee − if he or she will believe and put their faith in the seed of the woman, Jesus the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us.