When the Serpent Ruled (Gen 3)

🧩 Intro: “A Broken Puzzle, With No Reference”

Supplies: A simple printed image of something good (e.g., a peaceful scene, cross, family), cut into 8–10 puzzle pieces.

Instructions:

Pass out the scattered pieces to the group. Ask them to try and reassemble it without a reference picture.

Let them struggle with it for 2–3 minutes.

Ask: “What made this hard?”

Then show the full image and let them finish.

Debrief:

“What does it feel like to live in a world where you know things should fit—but they don’t?”

“Why do we long for wholeness when we mostly experience fragmentation?”

“How helpful was it to have to complete picture in front of you?”

Bridge: Genesis 3 shows the image of God in humanity cracked—but not destroyed. It helps us name the brokenness in the world and in ourselves… and why we long for restoration.

Before we step into the tragedy of Genesis 3, we need to remember the beauty of what came before.

In Genesis 1, we saw that God creates the world with order, purpose, and generosity. He brings form to the formless and fills the empty. Creation is not chaotic or accidental—it’s the intentional design of a good and sovereign God. And at the climax of creation, He makes humanity in His image—calling us to reflect His character, steward His world, and live in relationship with Him and one another.

In Genesis 2, we zoomed in to see that humans were not just created for function, but for fellowship—with God, with creation, and with each other. We are formed from the dust and filled with God’s breath. Work is given as a sacred calling, rest is woven into creation’s rhythm, and marriage is introduced as a covenantal union between man and woman. God establishes boundaries for trust and sets the stage for flourishing life in His presence.

Everything was very good. Humanity had identity, purpose, beauty, and belonging. Only was thing was require of them: to trust the command of God. But now, in Genesis 3, the story shifts. The question is no longer just, “What were we made for?”—but, “What happens when we stop trusting the One who made us?”

Genesis 3:1–7 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So 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 to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

🐍 “A new challenger approaches”

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.”

🔍 Observational Questions (Text-Driven)

Why a serpent?

Why do you think the narrative introduces a creature as the one speaking deception?

What associations might an ancient Israelite have had with snakes?

Danger? Cunning? Life/death tension? (In some ANE cultures, snakes were symbols of both fertility and chaos.)

What does it mean that he was “crafty” (עָרוּם / ʿarûm)?

This word often means shrewd, subtle, clever. It’s used positively in Proverbs but negatively here.

Interestingly, it's a wordplay on the last verse of Genesis 2, where Adam and Eve were “naked” (ʿarummim—same root!). ➤ Could the contrast imply that the serpent is covered in craftiness, while the humans are uncovered and vulnerable?

How is the serpent introduced?

He’s just there. The narrative doesn’t explain his origin, intentions, or authority.

Why might the author have chosen to leave the backstory mysterious?

➤ Does it draw the focus more to the human response than to the serpent’s identity?

🧠 Theological Reflection Questions

Why would God allow such a being to speak in the garden?

What does this suggest about God’s intention to give humans real choice?

What does it teach us about the nature of trust and obedience?

What role does the serpent play in the narrative?

Not just a tempter—but a re-framer of reality. He questions God’s words and character.

He functions as a voice that tries to redefine what’s good (contradicting Gen 1’s refrain that God’s creation was “good”).

🗣️ Remaining Questions

Why doesn’t the woman seem surprised that a creature is talking?

Where did this serpent come from?

Why is this serpent allowed in the Garden at all?

🐍 The Words of the Snake

Genesis 3:1–5 – A Study in Subtle Deception

1. “Did God actually say...?”

📖 Hebrew: “אַ֚ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים” (Really thus said God?...) 🧠 Better rendered: “Did God really say...?”

This is the serpent’s first move—casting doubt on God’s Word. He doesn't start with a denial but with a question. His tone is skeptical, suggesting that God’s command might be unreasonable or exaggerated.

Key Insight: The serpent wants us to doubt whether or not actually commanded this idea. Discussion Question: Where in your life do you hear echoes of “Did God really say…”?

2. “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?”

📖 Genesis 3:1b

This is a distortion of God’s words. God said they may eat of every tree—except one (2:16–17). The serpent flips the emphasis from abundance to restriction.

Observation: The serpent wants to move the mindset from freedom and abundance to limitation and restriction.

Its always tempting to think God is limiting, restricting, or withholding something from us, and forget that he has given us SO SO much

Application: How does reframing God’s Word in a negative light affect our view of His character?

3. “You will not surely die”

📖 Hebrew: “לֹֽא־מ֖וֹת תִּמֻֽתוּן” – literally “not die die” 🧠 A Hebrew infinitive absolute, used for emphasis: “you will not certainly die”, or “you will not die die.”

Here, the serpent flat-out contradicts God’s Word. This is the first explicit denial in Scripture. He denies both the truthfulness of God's warning and the seriousness of sin's consequences.

Connection: Compare this to how we rationalize sin today—“It’s not that big of a deal,” “It won’t hurt anyone,” “God won’t really judge…”

4. “You will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

📖 Genesis 3:5

This is a half-truth—the most dangerous kind.

Humans were already made in God's image (1:26–27).

But the serpent tempts them to grasp for godlikeness on their own terms—without God and against His command.

Knowing good and evil here likely refers not just to moral awareness, but to self-determination—deciding right and wrong for oneself.

Implication: The root of sin is not just disobedience—it’s distrust, and the desire to rule ourselves.

Question: How do we still reach for autonomy today in ways that bypass God’s wisdom?

🧠 The Strategy of the Serpent (Summed Up)

Tactic | Example | Goal

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sow Doubt | “Did God actually say…?” | Undermine confidence in God’s Word

Twist the Truth | “You shall not eat of any tree?” | Paint God as stingy or unfair

Deny Consequence | “You will not die” | Remove fear of consequences

Distort Identity | “You will be like God…” | Tempt humans to redefine themselves

🕯️ Half-Truths Are the Most Dangerous Lies

"The serpent was more crafty..." (Gen 3:1)

“Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” — 2 Corinthians 11:14

🔍 Observation:

The serpent doesn’t outright lie—he uses twisted truth Let’s look again:

Serpent’s Statement | True?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Did God actually say…?” | Technically a question

“You shall not eat of any tree…” | Part of the same question

“You will not surely die” | Half-truu: they didn't die immediately

“You will be like God…” | Half-true: Genesis 3:22 “Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil”

💡 Teaching Insight:

The most effective lies aren’t absurd statements. The most dangerous deceptions are the ones that are actually true, from a certain point of view. The strongest deception leans into a particular truth, but obscures a totally different reality. They sound like something God might have said. They echo Scripture without actually submitting to it. This is how temptation often works—just close enough to the truth to disarm you.

The most effective lies don’t replace truth—they reposition it, distort it, or use it to justify sin. This is why discernment isn't just knowing right from wrong—it's knowing truth from almost truth.

🪞Reflection Questions:

Where are you most tempted to question God’s goodness or truthfulness?

Are there areas in your life where you’ve accepted half-truths that distort God’s Word?

How can we resist the serpent’s tactics today? What role does Scripture, community, and prayer play?

🍎 the Anatomy of Temptation

📖 Genesis 3:6 (ESV)

“So 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 to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate…”

Eve’s temptation is described in three dimensions—all appealing, all deceptive.

Description of the Fruit What It Appeals To

“Good for food” Bodily craving (appetite)

“Delight to the eyes” Aesthetic/visual desire

“Desired to make one wise” Pride and self-exaltation

🔁 1 John 2:16 – A Theological Parallel

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”

John breaks down all temptation into three categories that directly echo Eve’s experience:

1 John 2:16 Genesis 3:6 Modern Temptation

Desires of the flesh “Good for food” Cravings, addictions, comfort idolatry

Desires of the eyes “Delight to the eyes” Greed, lust, materialism

Pride of life “To make one wise” Power, self-glory, control, status-seeking

💡 Insight: All temptation follows the same core pattern—appealing to our cravings, our senses, or our pride.

📚 Biblical Echoes of This Pattern

The pattern of sin throughout Scripture:

David and Bathsheba (2 Sam 11)

Achan and the devoted things (Josh 7:21)

Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 4)

Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11):

Turn stones to bread → Desires of the flesh

See all the kingdoms → Desires of the eyes

Throw yourself down to be caught by angels → Pride of life

➤ But Jesus resists every temptation with Scripture and trust in the Father.

🪞Reflection: How Temptation Works in Our Lives

Temptation is rarely original—but it’s always personal. It targets your deepest desires and reorders them around yourself instead of God.

Questions to Discuss:

Which of the three areas do you find yourself most vulnerable to?

How can we resist temptation the way Jesus did?

How can being aware of the pattern help you interrupt temptation before it takes root?

🔄 Role Reversal: How Sin Distorts the Created Rule and Roles

Genesis 1 vs Genesis 3

📖 Genesis 1: God's Intended Order of Authority

In the creation narrative, there’s a clear, intentional hierarchy:

God → Humanity (male & female) → Creation (animals)

God speaks and gives life, order, and boundaries.

Humans, male and female, are given dominion over the animals (Gen 1:26–28).

Creation is meant to be ruled and cultivated under human stewardship.

This order is not about domination—but about flourishing, responsibility, and trust. It reflects shalom: every part of creation in its right place, under God.

😵‍💫 Genesis 3: The Order Reversed

In the fall narrative, the original structure is completely inverted:

Serpent (creature) → Woman → Man → God (responds last)

The serpent, a creature, initiates the conversation, challenging God's command.

The woman listens to the serpent and acts upon his suggestion.

The man, who was with her, remains silent and follows her lead.

God is not brought into the conversation, is then utterly avoided

Observation: The serpent, a creature meant to be ruled, becomes the one who rules. God, the rightful ruler, is ignored until after sin has taken place.

🔍 Reflection: Why Does This Matter?

Sin disorders everything ➤ It’s not just an individual mistake—it’s the collapse of the relational and spiritual harmony God designed.

Sin happens when God’s voice is no longer first ➤ In Gen 1, God speaks—and creation obeys. In Gen 3, a creature speaks—and humanity listens before consulting God's word.

When humans stop ruling under God, creation rules them ➤ This is echoed in Romans 1:25 – “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator…”

🪞Application Questions

Where in your life are you listening to voices that should be under God’s authority?

What does it look like to reestablish the right order: God first, His Word as the guide, then your stewardship of creation and desires?

How can you recognize when the serpent's voice has moved to the top of your decision-making chain?

🩶 Shame, Hiding, and the God Who Comes Near

“Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden… and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD…” (Genesis 3:7–8)

🩹 1. Shame Follows Sin

Before sin, they were “naked and not ashamed” (Gen 2:25). But now their eyes are opened—and not to wisdom, but to vulnerability, exposure, and fear.

Sin promises empowerment… but delivers shame.

Their first instinct is covering and hiding, not confession or healing.

💡 Shame drives us to isolate. It makes us self-protective. Sin doesn’t just break rules—it breaks relationship.

🍃 2. Fig Leaves: Self-Made Coverings

Adam and Eve’s response is to sew fig leaves together—a symbol of humanity’s attempt to deal with sin on our own terms.

We still do this today: with excuses, achievement, comparison, religion, avoidance.

These coverings might work temporarily… but they don’t restore intimacy or innocence.

🔍 Question: What are your “fig leaves”? How do you cover your weakness, guilt, or failure?

👣 3. God Comes Looking

“But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Gen 3:9)

This is the first movement of grace in the story. God comes walking, not storming. He calls, not condemns. He is the one seeking restoration—even when humans are hiding in fear.

📖 This anticipates the entire trajectory of Scripture: The God who seeks the lost. The Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine. The Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.

“Where are you?” is not for God's sake—it’s an invitation for Adam to face what’s happened and return.

👕 4. God Clothes the Guilty

Later in verse 21:

“The LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”

Unlike the fig leaves Adam and Eve made, God provides a covering—one that’s more permanent and sufficient.

We aren’t told how God made the garments—whether an animal died or whether it was created supernaturally (ex nihilo).

What matters is that God takes initiative to cover shame that humans cannot fix.

💡 The emphasis here is not on sacrifice—but on grace. Before the curses take effect, we see a gesture of compassion: God still cares for the fallen.

You could even say:

“The first act of covering in Scripture is done by God, not for God—a small act of mercy that anticipates His heart throughout the rest of the story.”

It points forward to a greater covering, where Christ is slain to clothe us in righteousness (Gal 3:27, Isa 61:10).

🪞 Reflection Questions:

What do you do with your shame? Do you hide? Blame? Distract?

How does it change your view of God to realize He comes looking for you, even when you’ve failed?

What would it look like to drop your fig leaves and let God cover you?

💀The Curses of Sin

God responds to each character involved in the fall—not with vengeance, but with measured judgment and symbolic consequence. These are often called “curses,” though notably, God never curses the humans directly—only the serpent and the ground.

🐍 1. The Serpent – Genesis 3:14–15

“Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock… you shall go on your belly… dust you shall eat… I will put enmity between you and the woman…”

Humiliation: Crawling and eating dust—an image of defeat and disgrace

Hostility: Ongoing conflict between the serpent’s “seed” and the woman’s

Prophecy: A future offspring who will crush the serpent’s head (see Genesis 3:15 section)

💬 The serpent represents more than just a snake—it becomes a symbol of evil, temptation, and the enemy’s ongoing influence in the world.

👩 2. The Woman – Genesis 3:16

“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

Pain in childbirth: The very place where new life enters the world is now marked by suffering.

Distorted relationship dynamics: Desire and rule speak to tension in marriage—the breakdown of mutuality into struggle for control.

💬 This isn’t a divine prescription for patriarchy—it’s a description of the brokenness now embedded in human relationships.

👨 3. The Man – Genesis 3:17–19

“Cursed is the ground because of you… in pain you shall eat of it… thorns and thistles… by the sweat of your face… for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

The ground is cursed: Creation itself now resists man’s efforts to cultivate it.

Work becomes toil: What was once a joyful vocation becomes a wearying struggle.

Mortality is confirmed: Death, which was warned about in 2:17, now becomes a certainty.

💬 Sin not only disrupts relationships—it fractures creation. The very dust man came from will now reclaim him.

🪞 So What Are These “Curses” Really?

These are not arbitrary punishments—they’re the logical outworking of sin’s intrusion into God’s good world.

God gave life → sin brings death

God gave relationships → sin brings blame and hierarchy

God gave a garden to cultivate → sin brings futility and frustration

💡 These consequences remind us that sin breaks shalom—peace, order, and flourishing—and nothing remains untouched.

🪞Reflection Questions:

Where do I see the ripple effects of Genesis 3’s brokenness in my own life?

How do I respond when I’m confronted by God about sin—confession or blame?

How does knowing these curses help me better understand the pain, tension, and hope of life today?

In what ways is Jesus beginning to reverse these effects in me, even now?

🌱 Genesis 3:15 – The First Glimpse of Redemption

“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.” — Genesis 3:15

Right in the middle of God’s words of judgment to the serpent, a strange and powerful promise breaks through. This verse—often called the protoevangelium (“first gospel”)—becomes a thread of hope that runs through the entire biblical narrative.

🧠 What’s Happening in the Text?

This verse speaks of:

Ongoing hostility (“enmity”) between the serpent and the woman,

A conflict between two lines of offspring—those who follow evil vs. those who walk in faith,

A singular “he” who will bruise/crush the serpent’s head,

And a counterattack: the serpent striking the heel.

The poetic language points beyond the immediate story to something deeper. This isn’t just about snakes and sandals—this is cosmic conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the promise of redemption.

🔍 Key Observations

The Battle Between Two Seeds

The serpent is not just cursed; his offspring are marked as enemies of the woman’s offspring. Throughout Scripture, we see this battle play out:

Cain vs. Abel

Egypt vs. Israel

Saul vs. David

Herod vs. Jesus

Flesh vs. Spirit

Genesis sets up a literary and theological pattern of conflict between evil and righteousness, death and life.

The Hope of a Singular Offspring

The word “offspring” (Hebrew zeraʿ) is a collective noun—but the grammar shifts:

“He shall bruise your head…” One descendant of the woman will rise to deliver a decisive blow to the serpent.

Christians throughout history have seen this as a foreshadowing of Jesus, who would ultimately defeat Satan—not without cost (“you shall bruise his heel”), but with final victory (“he shall bruise your head”).

God Is the One Who Intervenes

God says “I will put enmity…”—He doesn’t leave the fallout of sin to spiral unchecked. He actively intervenes to create division between evil and good, between the serpent’s deception and the woman’s legacy.

✝️ Fulfilled in Christ

In the New Testament, this promise echoes loudly:

Romans 16:20 – “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”

Hebrews 2:14 – Jesus came to destroy the one who has the power of death—that is, the devil.

1 John 3:8 – “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

At the cross, Jesus was wounded—but in His resurrection, He crushed the serpent’s head. The war begun in Eden finds its resolution in Calvary.

🪞Reflection Questions

How does Genesis 3:15 shape your understanding of the Bible’s big story?

Where do you feel the “enmity” today—between good and evil, between what God desires and what the serpent whispers?

In what areas of your life do you need to remember that the serpent’s defeat has already been guaranteed in Christ?

💡 Even in the moment of deepest failure, God speaks a promise of future victory. The gospel doesn’t start in Matthew—it begins in Eden.

🌲A Tale of Two Trees

Tree of Life | Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Genesis 2:9 ESV

And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

🧭 Two Trees, Two Paths

The tree of life represented dependence on God. To eat from it was to receive life as a gift—to live by God's wisdom, in His presence, on His terms.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented the desire to define right and wrong for oneself—to take control, to become one’s own moral authority, apart from God.

💡 These weren’t just trees—they were invitations. One to trust, one to grasp.

👣 Walking Past Life Toward Rebellion

What’s sobering is that when Eve and Adam approached the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were standing in the presence of both trees. The tree of life was right there—a visible reminder of God's generosity and the promise of abundant life.

And yet, they bypassed life in order to pursue what looked like wisdom, but was really autonomy disguised as enlightenment.

💬 Even in the moment of temptation, the path of life was still open. But we often chose self-rule over divine relationship.

God’s Goodness Includes Boundaries

God freely offers every tree for food (Gen 2:16)—His generosity comes first.

But He also establishes a boundary—not to withhold life, but to protect it (Gen 2:17).

The restriction is relational—a call to trust, not a test for testing’s sake.

The Trees Reflect God's Sovereignty and Humanity’s Agency

God rules as Creator, but invites humans to participate in decision-making and dominion.

The trees make it possible for obedience (and disobedience) to be meaningful.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil becomes the space where trust is exercised.

🌲Tree Imagery Echoes Across the Bible

Tree of Life reappears in Proverbs, Ezekiel, and Revelation (Rev 22:2)—symbolizing eternal life and restored communion with God.

Christ is crucified on a “tree” (Gal 3:13; 1 Pet 2:24), linking back to Eden—He bears the curse that came from the tree of rebellion.

❓ Critical Questions to Ask

What do the two trees reveal about the kind of relationship God wants with humanity? (Hint: Not robotic obedience, but relational trust.)

Why does God allow the possibility of disobedience at all? (What does this tell us about His desire for trust and love to be real?)

How does the serpent twist the meaning of the tree of knowledge? (Compare Gen 3:5 with Gen 1:27–28—Adam and Eve were already “like God” in some sense.)

How does this tree challenge our own desire for control, autonomy, and self-definition?

Why do you think God guards the Tree of Life after the fall (Gen 3:24)? (What would it mean to live forever in a state of sin and separation?)

How do these trees help frame the story of redemption? (From Eden to the cross to the New Jerusalem—how is the tree a symbol of the gospel?)

🪞 Reflection: The Two Trees Still Stand

Though we no longer stand in Eden, the choice remains before us every day:

Will I trust God’s definition of good and evil—or my own?

Will I live by what He provides—or grasp for what I think I’m missing?

Will I walk toward life, or away from it?

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

🌿 Exile: The Consequences of Sin

“He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword… to guard the way to the tree of life.” — Genesis 3:24

🪓 The Cost of Sin: Cut Off from Life

The immediate consequence of sin is not just pain, toil, or mortality—it’s exile from God’s presence. Humanity is driven east of Eden, away from the Tree of Life, which was once freely available (Gen 2:9).

But notice: God doesn't block the tree out of vengeance—He does it out of mercy.

“Lest he reach out his hand... and eat and live forever…” (Gen 3:22)

God knows that eternal life in a state of sin is not heaven—it’s hell. To live forever in brokenness, rebellion, shame, and decay would not be paradise but torment. So in love, He bars the way—for now.

🔥 Cherubim at the Gate: A Heavenly Boundary

God stations cherubim and a flaming sword at the entrance to Eden. These are not cute angels—cherubim in Scripture are fearsome guardians of holy space, present wherever God dwells in glory.

Where do we see cherubim again in the story of God’s people?

And they appear again—woven into the curtain of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:31).

Why might this be significant?

The tabernacle, and later the temple, becomes a symbolic new Eden—a space where heaven touches earth, and where God's presence dwells among His people. But just like Eden, there’s a barrier—a curtain, embroidered with cherubim, standing between God and humanity.

Our sin separates us from the dwelling place of God and access to the tree of life.

✝️ Jesus: The Way Through the Curtain

“He opened for us a new and living way through the curtain—that is, through His flesh.” — Hebrews 10:20

When Jesus died, the curtain was torn in two (Matt 27:51). The guarded way is now open—but not because the cherubim have left. It’s because Christ has walked through the sword for us.

He is the true temple (John 2:21). He is the access point to the Father (John 14:6). And in Him, we return not just to Eden, but to something better—a new creation where the Tree of Life appears again (Rev 22:2), and we will see God’s face (Rev 22:4).

Additional Notes:

Sin cannot soley be blamed on environment, or origin