Week Two

The Study of Genesis: Week Two
Hearts, Sin, and a Faithful God: Lessons from Genesis 3–5

Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do

Focus: Genesis 3–5

Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.

This week’s devotion includes:

– Reflection on sin’s subtlety (Genesis 3)

– A study on Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)

– A look at God’s faithfulness through genealogy (Genesis 5)

(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be done in one day or broken up over several days.)

I Do – Watch Me Study

The Subtle Entrance of Sin

(Read Genesis Chapter 3 First)

Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.

This Week’s Memory Verse — Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 

In Genesis chapter 3, we first read about the serpent. Were you reminded of sin when you read about this creature? Think about the connection. A snake is incredibly subtle. It moves quietly, low to the ground, hidden beneath grass, leaves, or shadows. It can slip through tight spaces, slide up trees and walls, and remain completely unnoticed until it strikes. You may not even realize it’s there until it’s too late.

It’s no coincidence that this is the creature used to bring deception into the world. In the garden, he approached Eve not with obvious evil, but with twisted truth, suggesting that God was holding something back from her. He planted doubt and misrepresented rebellion as wisdom. 

Sin often shows up in our lives the same way: quietly and disguised. For example, maybe you start comparing your life to someone else’s on social media. At first it seems harmless and you’re just scrolling, liking, and observing. But over time, discontentment creeps in. You begin to question your worth, your purpose, maybe even God’s plan for you. That’s how the enemy works: subtly. He doesn’t always tempt us with something clearly wrong. Sometimes, it’s just a seed of doubt, jealousy, or pride that begins to take root in our hearts.

That’s why it’s so important to stay close to God’s Word and keep our hearts guarded. When we walk closely with Him, we can better recognize those sneaky lies and choose truth instead.

Recognizing Sin’s Sneaky Patterns

Let’s look at some other ways sin may creep subtly into our lives:

Bitterness in Relationships

Maybe you’ve been here too. You get hurt by a friend or family member, and instead of addressing it or forgiving, you brush it off and bury it. But over time, that unresolved hurt turns into resentment. It affects how you treat them, how you think about them, and even how open you are with others. Bitterness creeps in quietly, but left unchecked, it hardens the heart. What started as a small offense can become a spiritual stronghold if we don’t let God heal it.

Subtle Entertainment Shifts

I’ve noticed how easily I can fall into this. You start watching a show that seems mostly clean with just a few questionable parts. But gradually, you get desensitized to language, sexuality, or the values it pushes. Before long, things that once made you uncomfortable now seem “normal.” The enemy loves to slowly convince us it’s no big deal.

In Psalm 101:3, God calls us to guard our eyes. David said, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”

The Hebrew meaning of “wicked” in this verse is “worthless.” David is saying that he will not allow himself to look at or focus on anything that would lead him away from righteousness. He hates the evil and sin that people do who turn away from God to pursue a sinful life. He doesn’t want to be around them so that their sinful nature doesn’t “stick” to or influence him.

For us today, we can be intentional about what we watch, read, listen to, or give our attention to so that we avoid things that are impure, empty, or distracting from God.

Justifying Gossip

This is something God has been showing me lately. It starts as “just sharing a concern,” but before you know it, you’re talking negatively about someone behind their back. The words seem small and harmless, but the heart behind them isn’t loving or honoring. The enemy can tempt us with conversations that feel casual but pull us away from honoring God with our speech.

Self-Sufficiency

It happens to us all. Life gets busy, and instead of praying or seeking God, you start relying on your own strength. You stop reading your Bible “just for today,” and soon a week has passed. It doesn’t feel sinful, but it slowly leads to a dry, distant heart. Satan can easily convince us we don’t have time for God today.

These are just a few subtle ways sin can sneak in, and we are all guilty at times. But as we draw closer to God, He helps us see them more clearly and gives us strength to turn from them.

Let’s pause at Genesis 3:3:

“But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”

This verse made me stop and wonder: Why would God give such a strong command with such a serious consequence… but not explain why? Why didn’t He explain to Adam and Eve the reason behind His forbidding?

But then I thought about parenting. My husband and I (and you probably do too) often give our children rules without going into every reason why. For example, we tell them not to go off with someone they don’t know. We might say, “Because they could take you away from us,” but we don’t go into all the dark and scary details. Why? Because we want to protect their innocence. We just want them to trust that our boundaries are for their good.

In the same way, God didn’t lay out the full weight of what eating the fruit would bring. He simply asked them to trust Him. He wasn’t being unfair. He was being loving. I believe He was shielding them from the burden of knowing evil.

God never wanted us to live in a broken world full of pain, fear, and sin. I imagine heaven as the way things were always meant to be… God’s beautiful creation, living in harmony, worshiping Him, free from the burden of sin and sorrow. That’s the kind of life He invited Adam and Eve into and still invites us into when we trust and follow Him.

After Adam and Eve sinned, Genesis 3:7 says,

“And the eyes of them both were opened.”

Their innocence was gone, and now they knew both good and evil. From that moment on, God knew sin couldn’t be left unchecked, and each act of disobedience would need to be addressed.

That reminds me so much of parenting. Why do our kids obey? Often, it’s because they know there will be consequences. As parents, we give those consequences not to punish in anger, but to lovingly guide and protect our children and to help them grow into wise, thoughtful people. God does the same with us.

The Bible says in Hebrews 12:6:

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

In other words, God’s discipline is a sign of His deep love. Through the Holy Spirit, He gently convicts us in order to shape us. Just like a good parent, God corrects those He calls His own, because He desires our growth and our good.

We Do – Let’s Study Together

Cain and Abel: Giving with the Right Heart

(Read Genesis 4)

This is the story of Cain and Abel, the first two sons of Adam and Eve.

Cain was a gardener, and Abel was a shepherd. When it came time to bring an offering, Cain brought fruit from the ground, and Abel brought a firstling of his flock and its fat. The Lord respected Abel’s offering but not Cain’s. So let’s explore what God is teaching us here about the heart behind our giving. What does God value from us?

The Bible tells us in Genesis 4:4–5 that “The Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.” That might seem confusing at first. After all, they both brought something, right?

Take a moment to read Genesis 4:3–5 slowly.

What do you notice about Cain’s offering compared to Abel’s?

What might the difference be in how each one gave?

After You Reflect:

Here’s what stood out to me: Abel brought the firstborn of his flock. That means he gave the best and first of what he had. And it was a blood offering, which points forward to Jesus, the Lamb who would one day shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins.

In the Old Testament, God later required blood sacrifices to atone for sin (Leviticus 17:11), and Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without shedding of blood, there is no remission [of sins].”

Abel gave in faith, trusting and honoring God with his best. That’s confirmed in Hebrews 11:4, which says:

“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain… and by it he being dead yet speaks.”

Now Cain brought an offering too, but the Bible doesn’t say he brought the first or the best. It just says he brought “some” of the fruit of the ground and remember  that’s the same ground that God had already cursed back in Genesis 3. There’s no mention of faith or sacrifice, just something he produced. Maybe he was going through the motions or offering on his own terms instead of God’s.

1 John 3:12 helps us understand even more. It says:

“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one… because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”

Cain had the wrong heart motives.

God knew the difference. Abel’s offering was worshipful and pointed toward Christ. Cain’s was prideful and self-directed. And even after Cain’s offering was rejected, God was still merciful. He spoke with Cain and invited him to do better.

So what does this mean for us?

Let’s ask ourselves a few heart questions:

• Am I giving God my best or just what’s convenient?

• Am I acting out of faith or obligation?

• Are my motives truly to honor Him or to check a box or earn approval?

And here’s something to think about:

If we ever feel jealous of someone else’s closeness with God, like Cain did with Abel, it might be a signal to examine our own heart. God wants our love, our trust, and our faith not just our effort.

Journal Prompt:

Write down a recent moment when you “gave” something to God (time, service, worship, finances, etc.).

Was it your best? Was it done in faith?

Be honest. There’s no guilt here. We’re here to grow. 

After You Reflect:

God isn’t after perfection. He’s after your heart. He values faith, trust, and a spirit of worship. Just like He invited Cain to do better, He lovingly invites us too. We don’t have to be afraid of correction. He corrects us because He cares.

Even after Cain’s offering was rejected, God didn’t lash out in anger. Instead, He gave Cain a chance to reflect and repent. In Genesis 4:6–7, God asks him:

“Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?”

It’s like God was gently saying, “You know what to do. If your heart is right, your offering will be too.”

But Cain didn’t respond with humility. He let bitterness take over. Instead of turning back to God, he turned against his brother. In verse 8, we read the devastating moment when Cain murders Abel. The very first human death recorded in the Bible caused by jealousy and pride.

And still… God didn’t destroy Cain.

God confronts him, just like a loving Father would. He asks Cain where his brother is. And it’s not that God didn’t already know, but He was giving Cain a chance to confess. Yet Cain replies, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

So God delivers judgment: Cain would be cursed from the earth and made to be a wanderer. But even then, we see a glimpse of grace. In verse 15, God places a mark of protection on Cain so that no one would kill him. Even after all that, God preserved his life.

That blows me away. God is holy and just, but He is also unbelievably merciful. Cain deserved severe punishment, but God still cared for him.

And isn’t that just like our God?

He sees every motive, every sinful thought, and yet He continues to extend mercy. Like a loving parent, He corrects us but He never walks away from us.

So today, let’s remember:

• God desires our heart, not just our actions.

• He wants us to worship in spirit and in truth.

• And even when we mess up, He’s there calling us back with both correction and compassion.

Let’s stay close to Him.

Let’s bring our best.

Let’s check our motives.

And let’s be thankful for a God who doesn’t give up on us even when we get it wrong.

You Do – Apply It Personally

Genealogy & God’s Faithfulness

(Read Genesis 5)

Now it’s your turn.

Read through Genesis 5, a chapter full of names and ages of the descendants of Adam.

If we’re being honest, it might not seem like the most exciting read at first glance. But there’s something deeply meaningful here.

Even though it may not feel action-packed, it’s important to let your eyes fall on these names. From Adam, the very first man, to Noah, the man God would later use in a powerful way. This genealogy follows the line of Adam through Seth (not Cain), the son born after Abel was tragically murdered. That detail matters!

This chapter reminds us that the Bible is not a collection of fairy tales. It’s built on the lives of real people who lived real years and real lives.

Personal Reflection & Application

Think about or journal your responses to these questions:

1.  Why do you think God included the names and ages of these individuals?

What does that reveal about how He values people and generations?

2.  When you read names like Adam, Seth, and Noah, do you see them as real people with real lives?

How does that change the way you approach the Bible?

3.  Why is it significant that this genealogy follows the line of Seth (not Cain)?

What do you notice about God’s mercy and His unfolding plan?

4.  Have you ever skimmed through a chapter like this, thinking it was “boring”?

What might God be inviting you to slow down and see?

5.  How does knowing God worked through generations of flawed and ordinary people give you hope for your own place in His story?

6.  What does this chapter show you about God’s faithfulness, even after the heartbreak of sin and death?

Key Takeaway:

God’s love and mercy are constant even in the face of sin. He desires our hearts, corrects us lovingly, and weaves His plan through generations of imperfect people. He is faithful, and He is always working.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for loving us and correcting us when we sin in order to teach us a better way. Thank you for never leaving us even when we allow our flesh to get in the way of your Spirit. Help us keep our motives pure in everything we do for You. Strengthen us to walk through this week with hearts open to Your leading allowing Your Spirit to work in us and through us. 

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen