If there is a war, then there is an enemy. If there is an enemy, then the enemy has a strategy. And if the enemy has a strategy, then we had better understand how he operates. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:11 that we should not be ignorant of Satan’s schemes. That word “schemes” speaks of his methods. Satan is not creative. He has been running the same play for thousands of years. And if you want to understand the schemes of Satan, if you want to get a peak at his playbook to understand how he attacks the people of God, you do not have to look any further than Genesis 3. Because the first recorded words of Satan in the Bible reveal his strategy: "Did God really say?" His first attack was an attack on God’s Word because Satan knew that if he could get us to question what God had said, he could get us to eventually disobey what God had commanded.

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells of a servant forgiven a massive debt who refuses to forgive a small one. It’s a reminder that unforgiveness traps us in bitterness, while grace frees us. We forgive not because others deserve it, but because we have been forgiven far more by Christ. Forgiven people forgive people — releasing the offense, healing the heart, and reflecting the One who canceled every debt at the cross.

In this message from Genesis 27:30–41 and Hebrews 12:14–17, we unpack the story of Esau and Jacob to show how the root of bitterness can spring up in our life and keep us from experiencing God's grace. Bitterness turns mirrors into windows and keeps us distracted by outward "robbers" rather than inwardly dealing with the poison that is spreading in our lives. We must remember God’s grace, and refuse to let bitterness rob us of the joy and freedom found in Christ.

Genesis 1-3 are foundational to our understanding of how God created men and women and where we must find our identity and purpose.