Genesis 3

Genesis 3:1-24

Denial of God brings death but reliance on the Deliverer brings life and restoration. 

My friend Nick once told me how he hates hiking in LA. Man, maybe I use hiking too much… Anyway, he will be on a trail having a peaceful moment, finally achieving that quiet nature we all long for. Savoring the blissful experience… then “BOOTS & CATS BOOTS &  CATS”

Crashing into the peace comes chaos. Someone takes a boombox on a hike, and brings the latest rave with them. (maybe not a bad idea if there are cougars.) 

But this is a silly picture of what we have before us. That which has vastly more significant ramification than an afternoon’s peace. 

We have come to the point of Genesis that necessitates the writing of the rest of the Bible. We have come to the event that has shaped all of human history and to this day acts as a blueprint for opposition to the Creator of the universe, ever since. 

The fall. 

It’s not a fun story. It has tension, toil, death, but it also has hope. A promise that will unfold over generation, hundreds of pages, thousands of years, to the defeat of what is unleashed in this garden moment. 

As we walk through the story we will do so in three steps, denial, distortion, and deliverer. 

Denial of God brings death but reliance on the deliverer brings life and restoration. 

Denial 

Let’s set the scene - we have man and woman - Adam and the helper fit for him. In the garden with God, the place of abundance. 

Genesis 2:25 “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” (ESV)

Not a creepy nude beach vibe, but innocent, affectionate, felt no shame. 

But there is a serpent. A talking creature. And it wasn’t weird. When people ask me about pets in heaven I usually point to this, and say we don’t know, but if they are there they probably talk! 

This serpent is crafty though.

“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’”

Now whether this is actually the devil himself or he is influencing the crafty serpent we know where the deceptive question comes from. 

Describing war in heaven where the dragon was defeated, John writes:

Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” (ESV)

The satan, the accuser. “Did God actually say?” 

What was the moral responsibility, the command given? 

Genesis 2:16–17 “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, [17] but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (ESV)

God’s way. Humans are not to have the autonomy to determine good and evil, that is reserved for God. This prohibition keeps that reality ever before the residents of the garden. And there is a balance between God and humanity and creation. There is harmony. 

Following this enticement though the harmony will be ruined. 

The answer should have been “NO, he didn’t say that!” 

But in the woman’s answer we see the model for all of our sin. She diminished God’s word, she added to God’s word, and she softened God’s word. 

Rightly she says “we may eat of the trees in the garden,” then she adds, “but God said…”

Diminishing by not naming the tree, it's just the one in the “midst of the garden” ; it doesn't have the significance of good and evil. Leaving the obligation ambiguous. 

Adding by saying he said “neither shall you touch it.” God did not say that. 

Softening by saying the result was “lest you die” rather than God’s strong “shall surely” using a different word altogether. 

Seems insignificant but how we handle the word is vital. 

How we face, receive, and communicate truth is life or death, certainly spiritually. 

These minor variations are possibly meant to convey, even at this stage, that the woman views God’s instructions as open to human modification.

Satan leans into the opportunity. 

Genesis 3:4–5 “But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. [5] For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (ESV)

“Satan was so subtle. He did not directly deny God’s word, but he introduced the assumption that God’s word is subject to our judgment. Such a thought had never been verbalized before. It was enticing.”

This is the last we will hear from him until the NT. But he has said enough. These words act as a seed that takes root and grows to bear sour fruit. 

The woman’s eyes are captivated. Desire, even what seems to be a good desire, to be wise, is given control. 

All of it forms denial of God. Who in his goodness gave them every tree save one. Abundance. 

This was a command for maintaining the harmony of the garden. 

“God was cast in an ugly light. According to the serpent, the threat of death was nothing more than a scare tactic to keep Adam and Eve in their place. God was repressive, and obviously jealous that they might ascend too high. What an incredible attack in light of the fact that the thousand “goods” of creation, not to mention the gift of each other and their rulership of the earth as well, came from God. Such a blatant slur on God’s character! But Eve was believing it. If you are going to lie, it might as well be a big one, big enough to totally reinterpret life. This was big. It would alter life forever.” Hughes

This is not the woman alone, we learn Adam is there all along, failing to protect his wife, to proclaim the truth. “She took of its fruit ate and she also gave her husband some…”

“Adam sinned willfully, eyes wide-open, without hesitation. His sin was freighted with sinful self-interest. He had watched Eve take the fruit, and nothing happened to her. He sinned willfully, assuming there would be no consequences. Everything was upside-down. Eve followed the snake, Adam followed Eve, and no one followed God.”

Denial enters the bloodstream at this moment. By nature and choice this is repeated by each of us. Some with awareness of what God has said. For others proof is in the mountains and skies. 

Romans 1:19–20 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (ESV)

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—” (ESV)

We have denied God by suppressing his truth, by diminishing His word, adding to it, softening it. All so we might follow what delights our eyes and meets our desires. 

“With irresistible power desire seizes mastery over the flesh. . . . It makes no difference whether it is sexual desire, or ambition, or vanity, or desire for revenge, or love of fame and power, or greed for money. . . . Joy in God is . . . extinguished in us and we seek all our joy in the creature. At this moment God is quite unreal to us, he loses all reality, and only desire for the creature is real. . . . Satan does not here fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God. . . . The lust thus aroused envelops the mind and will of man in deepest darkness. The powers of clear discrimination and of decision are taken from us. The questions present themselves: “Is what the flesh desires really sin in this case?” “Is it really not permitted to me, yes — expected of me, now, here, in my particular situation, to appease desire?” . . . It is here that everything within me rises up against the Word of God.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Temptation

“Then the eyes of both were opened and they knew that they were naked.” They covered themselves in shame. 

Distortion

Because of this choice in the garden we don’t know existence with the denial of God, without sin. 

The couple, in their shame, heard Yahweh walking in the garden and they hid from His presence. 

Shame 

But rather than burn them out, He calls out, “Where are you?”

“God drew Adam from hiding rather than drove him from it. The initial question was not an indictment like “where are you hiding?” but simply “where are you?” There was no hint of accusation. God nudged Adam to come to his senses. The process was graced.”

Adam says, “I heard you coming and was afraid because I was naked.”

God responds, “who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not eat?” 

What ensues is the onset of Blame Transference Syndrome into humanity! No one owns what has happened. No contrition. 

“The woman you gave me… the serpent deceived me…” 

Curse comes for denial. Everything will change. 

“Now consider the serpent. His words and actions disrupt this original harmony. Evil, in this cosmology, is presented as a force that divides. What was created to be in balance is now in conflict. Soul and body, man and woman, people and the earth, the human and the divine—every layer of the cosmic totality is now riven with division. That is what el diablo does. The diabolic is ultimately a force of fragmentation, discord. It splits apart and disrupts meaning.” Abigail Favale

Serpent on his belly all the days of his life. Spiritual enmity with humanity. 

Humanity forever changed. For the woman, pain multiplied in childbirth. Desire reoriented contrary to the marital peace of the garden and instead the tension of sinful lording over each other. 

For the man, because of his sin the ground is cursed. It will require painful working and tending all the days of his life. Thorns, thistles, toil. And death. 

Some say, ‘well they didn’t die,’ ‘Adam lived to be 930!’ But they did die spiritually at that moment and death awaited them which before it did not. 

“For you are dust and to dust you shall return.” 

Worse still they are sent out of the garden, the place of dwelling with God. 

“Eve found pain at the very center of her domestic existence, and so did Adam in all his labors, all the days of his life. They fought. Their children fought. They saw a son violently die by the hand of his brother. After Eden, they were never truly at home again.”

All the earth now groans. 

Romans 8:20–22 “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” (ESV)

All of humanity, meant for worship, longing for God, ends up running after lesser things, distorting truth. 

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (ESV)

Romans 1:21–25 “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

[24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (ESV)

It doesn’t take much to notice the distortion. Cancer, hate, war, pain, heartbreak, abuse. All the ramifications of our sin, denial of God, the idolatry of power, manipulation of His word. 

And given all of this, it seems bleak. If you pay attention in our day it seems bleak! 

But they are not left without hope, even in the distortion, there is a promise, and it is good news for us. 

Deliverer

Before sending them out of the garden God sufficiently covers them with garments of skin, foreshadowing sacrifice, blood covering. 

But more than that, in the midst of cursing the serpent God tells of a future “seed,” a serpent crusher. 

Amidst the inconsolable bleakness and despair of the fall and the divine curses, a curse that radiates the first light of the gospel. A mighty deliverer is coming. That is good news!

Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.” (ESV)

NIV=crush

This gracious promise becomes an organizing theme for the rest of Scripture and the rest of human history, as every character and event find their place in relation to the great battle that now unfolds between the conquering Seed of the woman and the resistance of Satan.

The rest of the redemptive story of Scripture is getting to this offspring. Hints and further promises along the way. To Jesus. 

He too would be tempted by this snake. 

Matthew 4:1–11 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [2] And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” [4] But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

[5] Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple [6] and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

[7] Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” [8] Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. [9] And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” [10] Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve.’”

[11] Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.” (ESV)

Satan trying to twist Scripture for his purpose. And Jesus stands firm on the word in rejection of the temptation. Clinging to the word as an example for us. But he came to do more than provide an example. 

Telling a religious leader of the need to be born again, Jesus says this:

John 3:14–16 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (ESV)

On the cross Jesus meets the penalty  for our sin, delivers us from all that removed us from the garden, and in his resurrection, in and through all those who believe in him, he is bringing restoration to what was distorted. 

When we believe in him, we are made new. 

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. [18] All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [21] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (ESV)

In him we live for truth, so others will hear. We endeavor together to see it clearly. There is so much abuse of scripture, and none of it smells like Jesus! 

“God’s truth is love, and God’s love is truth. If we ever find ourselves in a situation where we are sacrificing one for the other, we’ve wandered off the narrow track.” Abigail Favale, Genesis of Gender

May we be a people that notices the serpent’s hiss and casts it off. 

Colossians 3:12–17 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, [13] bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [17] And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (ESV)

2 Corinthians 2:11 “so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” (ESV)

May we be a church safe for those finding hope out of the distortion of our day. 

“The Church is not for ready-made saints. The Church is for sinners, doubters, half-brewed Christians, conversions-in-process, tipsy wagon-riders who tumble off and climb back on again. Our parishes must be places where the truth is preached, yes—and also places where people are allowed to fumble their way toward it, gradually being made new.” Favale

That we would say with Bonhoeffer to the broken and hurting, those who have denied God: “Come out of your hiding place, from your self-reproach, your covering, your secrecy, your self torment, from your vain remorse” and meet Jesus, the friend of sinners. 

Denial of God brings death but reliance on the Deliverer brings life and restoration. 

Repent - See yourself and your denial in this garden story, own it, turn from it, and commit to God’s way. 

Believe - Jesus is he who has come down from heaven, to live a life of obedience in your place, and die the death you deserved. Believe in him and have eternal life. Forgiven. Free. Made new. 

Tell Somebody - Find community, then let the world know about Jesus. The serpent crusher, that they too can see through the distortion and find hope for forgiveness and new life in him. 

This garden tragedy isn’t the end of the story. The deliverer has come - crushed the serpent and his kingdom is increasing day by day, adding the faithful, those that do what is true, that love as he loves. 

Those that crash the serpent's party of chaos with the steady rhythm of the peace of Christ. 

May it be so in us.