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Reflections Podcast
Reflections Podcast
Reflections • Episode 1
Why God Gave Choice
15m • December 29, 2020

In the opening pages of the Bible, God gives the first humans a choice. But why? We invite you to reflect with us on this first week of the Reflections podcast by BibleProject.

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In the opening pages of the Bible, God gives the first humans a choice. But why? We invite you to reflect with us on this first week of the Reflections podcast by BibleProject.

Bible Reading Genesis 1:26-31 Genesis 2:5-9, 15-25 Genesis 3:1-15

Reflection Questions

  1. From what you've learned so far, what are a few ways the Bible describes God's character?
  2. How do these specific characteristics make God trustworthy?
  3. What would it practically look like for you to trust and rely on God today?

Want to Go Deeper? Watch a video and explore more questions for yourself or group discussion online. View this episode's Bible study.

Show Credits

  • Host: Cheree Hayes
  • Message: Dr. Carissa Quinn
  • Production and Bible Reading: Dan Gummel
  • Theme music: Grant William Harold

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2 Chronicles 36:22-23  –  13m
Looking Back to Look Forward
13m
Malachi 3:16-4:6  –  13m
Treasured by God
13m
Daniel 7:9-14  –  13m
There’s Hope in the Nightmare
13m
Esther 4:1-17  –  16m
Who Does God Choose to Work Through?
16m
Ezra 4:1-3, Isaiah 56:3-8  –  15m
Is God Inclusive?
15m
Ezekiel 36:22-36  –  14m
Promise for New Hearts
14m
Lamentations 3:19-33  –  14m
Learning How to Grieve from Lamentations
14m
Jeremiah 4:16-28, 1 Thessalonians 5  –  15m
The Deep Anguish of God
15m
Song of Songs 8:6-7  –  15m
Wisdom from Sensual Love Poetry?
15m
Ecclesiastes 4:4-12  –  15m
One Handful of Rest
15m
Isaiah 42:1-16  –  14m
Power of Metaphor
14m
Proverbs 1:1-7  –  13m
How to Live Wisely
13m
Job 38:1-18, Job 42:1-6  –  15m
How God Replies to Job’s Suffering
15m
Jonah 4:1-11, Exodus 34:5-9, 1 Kings 19:3-5  –  14m
God’s Mercy on Our Enemy
14m
Hosea 14:1-9  –  14m
What God Wants From Us
14m
Isaiah 61  –  12m
What Good News Looks Like
12m
1 John 1  –  12m
Message of the Prophets
12m
2 Kings 25  –  14m
What God Does About Suffering
14m
1 Kings 6  –  14m
Redeeming Disappointment
14m
2 Samuel 7  –  14m
Faithful Through Failure
14m
1 Samuel 2  –  13m
When You Feel Powerless
13m
Ruth 2  –  12m
How God Treats His Enemies
12m
Judges‬ 2  –  12m
When We Walk Out on God
12m
14m
Deuteronomy 30  –  11m
Understanding Ancient Law
11m
Deuteronomy 4  –  12m
God's Wisdom on Display
12m
Numbers 13  –  11m
Trusting God in the Wilderness
11m
Leviticus 25  –  13m
Gift of Rest
13m
Hebrews 10  –  12m
Meaning of Sacrifice
12m
Exodus 19  –  12m
Rescued for a Purpose
12m
Exodus 3  –  15m
When We Cry Out
15m
Genesis 32  –  13m
Wrestling God
13m
Genesis 1-3  –  15m
Why God Gave Choice
15m

Reflect

Once you've listened to the podcast, take time to reflect on these questions.

  1. From what you've learned so far, what are a few ways the Bible describes God's character?
  2. How do these specific characteristics make God trustworthy?
  3. What would it practically look like for you to trust and rely on God today?

Go Deeper

If you would like to dive deeper, use these Scriptures and questions for personal study or small group discussion.

God created humanity in the image of God and called them to partner with him in expanding his creation. But partnership requires trust, so God gave humanity the freedom to make their own choices. Sadly, the first humans made the choice to trust their own wisdom over God’s. This began a downward spiral of selfishness, violence, and pain for humanity. But God intervened with a plan to restore humans to their place of true partnership.

Note: Feel free to reflect on all the questions or just a few. You can also return to this study throughout the week and focus on one question per day.

Message Question
How did Carissa’s message challenge or encourage you today?

Read: Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:16-18, Genesis 3:1-15

  1. Knowing good and evil seems like a good thing, but in this story we see humans choose their own definition of good and evil over God’s. How does the story help us understand what is not good about eating from the tree of knowing good and evil?
  2. Consider the irony and deception in the snake’s words when he says, “When you eat from the tree, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Review Genesis 1:26-31 and 2:15-17. How are the humans already made like God? And what do they already know about what is good and bad?
  3. In order to reject God’s warnings, what did the first humans have to believe about God, themselves, and the fruit? Be specific. Now consider a time in your life when you neglected God’s warnings. How can you relate with the first humans?
  4. In order to appreciate and heed God’s warnings, what do you need to believe about God, yourself, and something you struggle to avoid? Be specific and write out your answer. Why do you or don’t you believe the truths on your list?
  5. Review Genesis 3:7-8 and identify what kinds of things are lost after the first humans reject God’s warning. How have similar consequences followed your own regrettable choices?
  6. The consequences that humans face for neglecting God’s warnings are difficult, but God promises hope. Review God’s promise in verse 15. What do you observe? Identify a specific area in your life where you sense your need for redemption. With this in mind, how does this promise specifically impact you today?
  7. How can these reflections turn into a prayer? Take time now to thank God for Jesus, who fulfilled God’s promise and made a way for us to live in fellowship with God again. Be honest with God about the ways you have trusted your own understanding over his wisdom. Lift up the list you wrote in question four and ask for God’s Spirit to rewrite it on your heart.
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