Genesis 3:1-24
Q.1. Who is the serpent? How did he manage to tempt Eve? What was his offer? What was the impact of his temptation? (Gen.3:1-7 c.f. Ezk.28:12-15; Jn.8:44; 2 Cor.11:3; Rev.12:9; 20:2)
Without prior explanation, we are introduced to a crafty serpent. The rest of the Bible describes him as – the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world (Rev.12:9 c.f. Rev.20:2). God made him perfectly but gave him a free-will – 12 … `Thus says the Lord God, “You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you (Ezk.28:12-15 c.f. 2 Cor.11:2). Jesus described him as – … a murderer from the beginning, who does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies (Jn.8:44). The serpent deceived Eve by casting doubt on God’s warning to Adam, that he would surely die, if he ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen.3:1-3 c.f. Gen.2:16-17). The serpent lied, and encouraged Eve to defy God, by promising – 4 … “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen.3:4-5). Eve was totally deceived, and – When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate (Gen.3:6). Immediately after they ate of the fruit, they were filled with guilt, and tried to cover their nakedness by sewing fig leaves together (Gen.3:7).
Q.2. How great was the loss Adam and Eve sustained? Who took the initiative to restore the relationship? Why was Adam held responsible for the Fall? Whom did Adam and Eve blame for their actions? – (Gen.3:8-13 c.f. Gen.2:16; Rom.5:12,18-21; 1 Tim.2:13-14)
Adam & Eve were not fully aware of their loss, until – They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden (Gen.3:8). They always looked forward to walking and talking with God in the cool of the evening, but now they were trying to hide from Him. From this early time, we see the grace of God in operation, as He took the initiative to restore the relationship, as – the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”(Gen.3:9). God held Adam responsible, as His representative, and spoke to him as He did when He first gave him the commandment (Gen.3:9 c.f. Gen.2:16-17 c.f. 1 Cor.11:3,8-9,11). The New Testament declares – 13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression (1 Tim.2:13-14). It was part of God’s brilliant rescue plan, to allow Jesus to become the sinner’s Representative and Substitute – 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. … 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom.5:18-19,21). Sin caused Adam and Eve to lie, and to try to shift blame. Rather than take responsibility for his actions, Adam blamed – the woman whom You gave to be with me … (Gen.3:12). Eve was more honest – the serpent deceived me, and I ate (Gen.3:13).
Q.3. Why did Adam and Eve not die instantly? What curse was placed on them? Why? Would they indeed die? How would sin affect every relationship? – (Gen.3:14-19)
The breaking of God’s law, has meant that death now has power over all people, from the time of Adam onwards. However, God is not only holy, just, and righteous but He is also loving, gracious, and merciful. This gave rise to the Gospel – The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Rom.5:20). If the death penalty had been instantly applied for every sin, no sinner could have been saved. However, disobedience is serious, and disagreeing with God can never result in a better existence for His people. It meant a significant change to Adam and Eve’s relationship with God, and with each other. This was detailed by the curse that was placed on the serpent, the man and the woman. The curse on the serpent in the Garden is known as the “proto-evangelion” or the prototype of the Gospel – I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel (Gen.3:15). The serpent would be demoted to crawling on its belly, and though he would strike at Christ’s heel, it would be Jesus Who would triumph, by crushing his head (Gen.3:14-15). The woman would have increased pain in childbirth, and the man would struggle to produce a harvest from the ground (Gen.3:16-19). There would also be an inbuilt struggle between the genders – … Yet your desire will be for your husband (i.e. try to control … TESHUKA – Gen.4:7), and he will rule over you (i.e. try to dominate – Gen.3:16). Their rebellion against God’s good ways would spread to every other relationship – By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return (Gen.3:19). The delay in people’s dying would give God the opportunity to bring sinners to repentance and restore their relationship with Him.
Q.4. What does Eve’s name mean? How would Adam and Eve be impacted by the first death? Did God expel them from the Garden of Eden as punishment? How did God keep Adam and Eve from eating from the tree of life? – (Gen.3:20-24 c.f. Rev.22:2)
Adam named the woman Eve – because she was the mother of all the living (Gen.3:20). Adam and Eve had experienced the most idyllic life, with no death. They would have been shocked when God killed animals and spilled their lifeblood, to cover their nakedness more permanently (Gen.3:21 c.f. Gen.1:30). This would have driven home the costly nature of sin. Why did God banish them from the Garden of Eden? – Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” (Gen.3:22). This was another act of grace, since God did not want man to stay in a state of separation from Him forever. Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden and left to cultivate the ground from which they had been formed (Gen.3:23). There was no possibility of return – So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen.3:24).