Notice how the serpent creates chaos for Eve and Adam. If that sentence doesn’t make sense, go back to yesterday’s Daily Faith Challenge for a review.

If it does make sense, then read Genesis 3:1-6- Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Few quick observations. I want to reference my statement last week. Remember when we talked about God giving humanity a suitable helper, an ally. What is the first thing the serpent does? He goes after the ally, the suitable helper, sneaky enough to create division.
Which we should also pause and ask, where in the world was Adam? What was he doing?
I firmly believe he was there the entire time. Notice the last line, who was with her. He was there with her.

What was Adam’s purpose? Responsibility that God gave him? To guard and protect/rule the land. He was supposed to be guarding and protecting Eve and the Garden. But he wasn’t.

I’m reminded of King David who was supposed to be out at war with his army, instead he was back at the castle, he sees Bethsheba and the rest is history.

I think those two observations, serpent going after the suitable helper, ally and Adam/King David not doing what they were intended to be doing is a great reminder for us.

Attention to prayer of protection for our “allies”. And men, how are you guarding and protecting, not only your home, but also creating safe space for others around you? Guarding and protecting physically, emotionally, spiritually?

In both cases, the serpent created chaos within their purpose.

How can you live out that? Our “allies” are other humans, as well as spouses, but how are you praying for protection? Is there an attack on one of your “allies”? Is there division? How can you pursue God?

Also, how are you attentive to guarding/protecting others? Are you creating safe space for people emotionally, physically, spiritually? That is part of our created responsibility to bring order in the midst of chaos.