Wasteland

Genesis 3:1–7

Recap: Last time we reflected on God’s promise to Israel. After seventy years of captivity, God remembered His word and the time had come for His people to return to the promised land. Yet many had forgotten what the Lord had said and who He was. They chose to remain in Babylon, in the land of slavery, rather than walk with God. To this day, some are referred to as the “lost tribes of Israel”—those who stayed behind.

In Genesis 3, we see humanity fall short of the glory of God, refusing His plan. God created man in His image and placed him in Eden, a good land. Genesis 1:31 reminds us: “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” Humanity was entrusted with dominion, authority, and stewardship over creation.

Wasteland

The wasteland represents a place outside God’s will. In Eden, the serpent entered disguised as a friend, deceiving the woman and leading man to surrender what God had entrusted to them.

We too often begin life well—whether in our families, marriages, or faith journeys. Many of us came to America with hope, faith, and reverence for God. Yet somewhere along the way, things turned. Families fractured, marriages struggled, faith weakened. We began questioning God’s word: “Is it really sin?” We treated His grace as mere advice.

Like Adam and Eve, we started well but drifted. What was once a fruitful garden became barren. A heart that once encouraged others now feels empty. A life once blessed now resembles a wasteland. Even in a land of opportunity, many struggle as though living in spiritual desolation.

What Enters the Heart of Man

1. Discontentment Eve forgot her identity as the first lady of creation, entrusted with a divine mission: be fruitful, fill the earth, and rule with dominion. Discontentment crept in. She began to believe the enemy’s lie that something better awaited outside God’s plan.

Discontentment makes the soul a wasteland. Instead of tending the garden God gave, we chase after what we do not have. We fight life, thinking the grass is greener elsewhere. Adam and Eve’s discontentment left their hearts barren.

2. False Promises The serpent offered three lies:

• “Did God really say…?” — sowing doubt in God’s word.
• “Your eyes will be opened.” — promising enlightenment but delivering deception.
• “You will be like God.” — offering power and control, but leading to ruin.

These empty promises brought restlessness instead of rest, curses instead of blessing, death instead of life, slavery instead of freedom, and wasteland instead of garden. Romans 1:21 reminds us: “Although they knew God, they exchanged the truth of God for a lie.”

Application

Does this sound familiar? Perhaps there was a time when life was full of peace and contentment, but now you find yourself restless, chasing empty promises—whether money, education, or worldly success. Yet God’s plan remains: wastelands can be restored into gardens.

How Can This Be Restored?

• A heart that submits to God
• Obedience to His word
• Trusting God — like Mary, who said, “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
• Contentment — bearing fruit in the garden God has planted.
• Generosity — “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Closing Reflection

Do you see God’s glory in the mirror? He created you in His image, entrusted you with His promises, and desires that your life be a flourishing garden, not a wasteland.