The Fall
Tony Schachle
Origins • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
QUESTIONS
Was the serpent here in Genesis 3 Satan or some other creature?
The serpent is not specifically identified in this story as Satan, but the rest of the Bible makes this clear:
Ezekiel 28:13-19 places Satan in the Garden of Eden.
Job 26:13 and Isaiah 51:9 associate Satan with a snake-like creature.
Revelation 12:9; 20:2 refer Satan as the “dragon” and “serpent of old.”
Does this account in Genesis 3 occur before or after Satan’s fall from Heaven?
Obviously, this event must have occurred after Satan’s fall.
Ezekiel 28:13-19 tells us that, before his fall, Satan (Lucifer) was a high ranking angel and perhaps the worship leader, but fell because of pride and vanity.
Isaiah 14:12-14 tells us that Satan fell because he desired exalt himself and to be like God.
Look at Satan’s question closely. Is it an accurate representation of what God said in Genesis 2:16-17?
No. God allowed Adam and Eve to eat of every tree in the Garden except one. There was only one commandment in the Garden. Satan did not mention the prohibition God had established.
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
QUESTIONS
Was it a mistake for Eve to get into a conversation with the serpent? Instead of engaging in conversation, what should she have done instead?
Yes it was a mistake to engage in conversation with a being who was known to be crafty and deceptive. She should simply have said what the angel Michael said in Jude 9, “the Lord rebuke you!”
What words did Eve add to God’s original commandment? Why was it wrong for Eve to add to God’s commandment and what lesson does that teach us today?
Eve added the words, “nor shall you touch it.” God never said this. It was probably a good idea not to touch it so that there would not be a temptation to partake of it. But what Satan is doing here is getting Eve to start doubting God’s Word. It also reveals her lack of understanding of God’s Word. It was wrong because we are not to add to or take away from God’s Word. We don’t get to make it say what we want it to say.
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
QUESTIONS
Why do you think the serpent suggested that God was withholding something good from Adam and Eve? How does this accusation affect the way Eve views God’s character and commands?
Satan was trying to plant seeds of doubt in Eve’s mind of the goodness, love, and mercy of the character of God. Instead of God being the loving Creator, Satan paints Him as a mean and selfish god who is really out for himself. Satan accuses God of trying to withhold something that is good from Adam and Eve to keep them from being divine like Him.
What does it mean to "be like God, knowing good and evil"? How might this promise have appealed to Eve’s personal desires?
This would mean to know everything like God knows everything. Eve must have been thinking that if she were like God, she wouldn’t have to follow God’s Word and she could make her own rules. This is the appeal of the fleshly human nature.
Can you think of modern examples where people are tempted to believe a lie about God or His character? How can we guard ourselves against similar tactics of deception?
There are several examples. (1) Jesus loves everyone and rejects no one. If He were on earth today, He would be a proponent of homosexuality and would not say that it was a sin or an abomination to God. Did God really say that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman? (2) God’s grace is so amazing that it doesn’t matter if you still continue to live in sin after coming to Christ. You are automatically forgiven and do not need to repent. (3) Christianity is nothing but a bunch of rule following.
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
QUESTIONS
Read 1 John 2:16. Do you see a connection between the three categories of sins in this verse and the three things that Eve saw in the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?
Yes, 1 John 2:16 mentions three things: (1) the lust of the flesh, (2) the lust of the eyes, and (3) the pride of life. Eve also was temped in three areas: (1) she saw the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), (2) she saw that it was pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and (3) desirable to make one wise (pride of life).
How does the immediate realization of their nakedness reflect the consequences of sin?
Their sin immediately resulted in shame. Their consciences became aware that they had transgressed against the Word of God. In James 1:14-15 we are told that we are tempted by our own lust, then lust conceives and gives birth to sin, and then sin when it is full grown brings forth death.
What were Adam and Eve trying to do by sewing fig leaves together to cover themselves? What does this represent for us today in how we approach God?
They were trying to hide their shame. They became aware of their sin and were trying to conceal themselves from God’s holiness. The fig leaves represent us trying to cover our sin and come to God on the basis of our own works. This story highlights the fact that our works are insufficient to cover our sin. As we will see, it take the shedding of blood to bring remission of sin.
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
NOTES
Adam and Eve hide, revealing shame and a broken relationship with God.
God’s questions are not for His benefit but to lead Adam and Eve to repentance.
Both Adam and Eve blame others, avoiding personal responsibility.
QUESTIONS
God asks three questions in this passage. What do you think God is ultimately trying to get out of Adam and Eve with these questions?
God already knew the answers to the questions. He is trying to get Adam and Eve to admit what they have done and repent.
What do Adam’s response to God in Verse 12 and Eve’s response in Verse 13 teach us about human nature when we are caught doing something wrong?
We try to blame someone or something else. Adam blamed Eve and God. Eve blamed the serpent. Neither took responsibility for their own decisions.
How does their response to God differ from what you think repentance would look like?
True repentance is acknowledging when we are wrong and when we have fallen short of the glory of God. We admit our sin, confess it to God, and repent (turn away) from it. In other words, we change our mind and make a decision to not commit that sin again.
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” 16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” 17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” 20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. 22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
QUESTIONS
What is the significance of Genesis 3:15 in the broader narrative of redemption?
Known as the Protoevangelium (first gospel), it foretells Christ’s victory over Satan, offering hope of redemption through the Messiah.
What is the significance of Genesis 3:21? What had to happen to the animals that God used to make their tunics? How does this foreshadow Jesus and the Cross?
Blood had to be shed. This sets the principle from the very beginning of sin entering into the world that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. It foreshadows the final sacrifice for sin of Jesus shedding His blood and laying down His life in our place.
Why does God banish Adam and Eve from Eden, and how is this act both judgment and mercy?
Banishing them prevents eternal separation from God by eating from the Tree of Life while in sin. It is judgment for disobedience and mercy to allow redemption.
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
QUESTIONS
What might the differences in Cain and Abel’s offerings reveal about their hearts?
Cain and Abel would have understood the principle we just learned about the necessity of the shedding of blood for the remission of sins. Cain took a shortcut and brought what he had laying around. Abel brough the very best he had and he brought a blood sacrifice. Cain was just trying to fulfill a requirement. Abel worshiped God with a true heart.
How does God’s warning to Cain in verse 7 demonstrate His mercy?
God warns Cain of sin’s power and offers him the chance to master it, showing His desire for Cain to choose righteousness.
What can we learn about dealing with sin from God’s words to Cain?
Sin must be confronted and resisted early, as allowing it to linger leads to greater destruction.
8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” 13 And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. 16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.
QUESTIONS
What parallels can you find between God’s questioning of Adam and Eve and Cain?
God asks questions to prompt self-reflection and repentance in both cases, showing consistency in His approach to sin.
How does Cain’s response to God’s punishment reflect his heart?
Cain focuses on the severity of his punishment rather than expressing remorse for his sin, revealing a self-centered and unrepentant heart.
Why do you think God places a mark on Cain, despite his crime?
The mark protects Cain from being killed, demonstrating God’s mercy even in judgment and His sovereignty over justice.
17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech. 19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. 23 Then Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” 25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.
QUESTIONS
What do Cain’s descendants teach us about the progression of sin in humanity?
Cain’s line demonstrates the compounding effects of sin, culminating in Lamech’s prideful violence and polygamy.
How does the mention of Seth and Enosh in verse 26 offer hope?
Seth’s lineage contrasts Cain’s, as people begin to call on the Lord, signaling a renewal of faith and hope for humanity.
What do you think it means that "men began to call on the name of the Lord"?
This marks the beginning of organized worship, as people collectively recognize and depend on God.
