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This week’s Bible Study, we will study the “Fall,” which will teach us why the world is in such turmoil.
Reading: Genesis Chapter 3
Chapter 3 Highlights:
• A predator in the Garden & this world.
• Be careful who you talk with and listen to.
• Deception can be deadly.
• Effects of disobedience.
• Heavenly visitation.
• The blame game.
• Disobedience brings consequences.
• First animal sacrifice.
• First family expelled from God’s Garden.
Genesis 3:1- 5
The Predator (v.1)
Verse 1 opens with the first appearance of the serpent in the Garden of Eden (serpent means snake; Rev. 12:9; 2 Cor. 11:3). We read here Satan manifesting himself through the serpent. Notice how Holy Spirit introduces the serpent; “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” From the beginning we learn the character of the serpent – “he is more subtil than any beast of the field!” Subtil in Hebrew is “Erum” (Wikipedia) meaning “cautious, cunning, subtle, crafty, or prudent.” Holy Spirit is forewarning us of the character and nature of this evil predator who is has entered the Garden and who is currently in this world.
Be Careful Who You Talk With and Listen To (v.2-5):
Verse 1 continues with this cunning serpent approaching woman and challenging her with God’s commandment about the forbidden tree “And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Woman engages in conversation with this subtil predator answering his question; “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” Notice that the serpent doesn’t correct the woman when she added, “neither shall ye touch it!” God did not say “neither shall ye touch it!” The serpent knew the commandment given to Adam by God. He was actually planting a seed of doubt in woman’s mind an impression that God was withholding something good from her. The serpent replies to the woman, “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” He now entices her with “pride” and tempts her with “lust,” by implying she would be equal with her Creator. Has this ever happened to you, allowing the spirit of pride tempt you to disobey God’s commandment?
Deception Can Be Deadly (v.6):
The serpent’s subtle deception tempted the woman! She now looks at the forbidden tree, her eyes are drawn to the pleasant looking food, telling her the food on the tree looks good, her flesh begins to crave this forbidden fruit. She thinks, “this food will make me wise, why should I be deprived.” Without hesitation, she takes the food, eats it, and gave some to her husband who was with her. They both ate from the forbidden “tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
Effects of Disobedience (v.7):
The Word of God says, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” We just read the guilt and shame of disobedience! It says they “knew” and made aprons to hide their nakedness. Their innocence now gone!
Heavenly Visitation (v.8-11):
It is now the cool of the evening. God comes to visit the first family. They hear God, but because of their shame and guilt, they hide themselves. God calls out to them, “where are you?” Not because He doesn’t know their whereabouts, but this is God’s way of bringing Adam to a point of confession. We can never hide from God (Psalm 139:1-12)! Adam answers God and says, “I heard your voice in the Garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid.” God responds, “Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” God is still giving Adam time to confess.
The Blame Game (v.12-13):
Adam answers by blaming the woman “God gave him,” and the woman blames the serpent, saying “the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”
Disobedience Brings Consequences (v.14-18):
The following verses God disciplines immediately:
- V.14 God cursed the serpent above every beast and made him to crawl on his belly.
- V.15 God speaks the first prophetic message written in the Bible: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This prophetic message is a promise of a “supernatural” deliverer to be born through a woman.
- V.16 discipline to woman was sorrow and pain in childbirth, and her husband would have leadership role, not woman.
- Vs.17-19 discipline to Adam is given because “he hearkened unto the voice of thy wife” to do what God commanded him not to do. “Cursed will be the ground.” From the sweat of his brow, Adam will have to till and work the ground to bring forth food for him and his family until he returns to the ground (dies). God reminds Adam “for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.” Adam now names his wife Eve.
In Genesis chapter 2 we learned Adam had been forewarned by God to “keep” the Garden (keep in Hebrews is to guard or protect). Adam was aware a predator was lurking about, but their pride became bigger in their heart than to obey God. We may think, what were they thinking about! Before we judge them, think about your life, what choices have you made that went against God’s Word?
First Animal Sacrifice (v.21)
Blood is shed when God makes the first animal sacrifice for Adam and Eve to clothe them with the animals’ skins. This sacrifice was not only for their outer covering, it was also a lesson to them that “Blood” must be shed for the covering of sin pointing to the One to come as their deliverer.
Expelled From The Garden (vs. 22-24):
Disobedience for not obeying God was the cause of the first family’s “Fall.” Their fall caused sin to enter into the world. (“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12).”
The “Fall” was great. Adam and Eve lost their spiritual awareness, the Shekinah Glory of God’s presence, and the luxury of a sin-free environment. Sin is costly! But, God showed mercy to Adam and Eve by putting them out of the Garden before they ate from the “tree of life” and lived forever in their sin state.
Conclusion:
God created mankind with volition and He will test all mankind for obedience. There is an enemy lurking about using the same deception today as he used against Eve. His goal is to make his victims doubt God’s Word, no one is exempt!
God planted two trees in the midst of the Garden: “the tree of life” and “the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Adam and Eve had a choice to choose “life or death”, they chose the wrong tree. Instead of choosing life, they chose death, then tried to hide their sin. The “blame game” takes place and discipline is given to all players. God’s love for His creation is demonstrated when He gives Adam and Eve the first prophetic message of a promised deliverer and expels them from the Garden.
Sin has now entered into the world and many are trying to hide from God as the first family tried, and many more are doubting and blaming God for all the evil in this world. Satan does a good job hiding behind the scenes, stirring up confusion and evil Influencing many to blame God for his devious acts.
Reflection:
God created mankind with the ability to choose. Do your choices agree with God’s Word?
When in doubt, pray and ask God for His wisdom and His will for your life.
God knows we are of flesh and temptations are serious distractions, but as we trust God’s Word instead of the temptations, we will become more than conquerors through Christ Jesus (Roman’s 8:37-38).
Journey In His Word 