The Thread Is Pulled

Introduction

Have you ever had a sweater or shirt that had a thread hanging off? I learned a lesson the hard way with a shirt that I loved. A thread near the bottom of the shirt was hanging. Instead of cutting the loose thread away, I pulled…hard. The thread didn’t break, but it pulled more thread with it and the bottom of my shirt closed up.

A sweater is worse to pull a thread as it leads to the sweater unraveling and creating a hole.

Genesis 1 and 2 provided us a look into God’s creation that was perfect and good. He established the foundation of human living or society, but Genesis 3 reveals a thread pulled in life that will lead to death, separation from God, and disrupt all of creation. God will intervene and take this thread and lead it to redemption.

Genesis 3

The first part of Genesis 3 we will uncover 2 major themes, each with subthemes and then one Christ connection. The introduction of sin changes everything. It is here that everything went wrong in this world.

Themes of Genesis 3:1-13

The Tree

The question comes up why would God even put this tree there in the first place. The text isn’t fully concerned with this matter, but I would answer it this way:

The text presents a holy God who is good and righteous and our Creator. This God places His Word as authority over all mankind and expects obedience. He is in His rightful place to place such a tree there.

However, in His love He has allowed man the choice to obey or disobey. He doesn’t force it or make us like robots to obey and love Him out of obligation. The tree is the first to present this.

Even more, as I said 2 weeks ago. Whatever this tree represented or did; mankind was not made for it or they were not ready for it until God was ready for them to have it.

The Tempter

Who is this snake and why is it talking?

One scholar noted that Genesis being written in the time of Moses, there would have been other false religions and gods present around Israel. Notably, the snake was used symbolically and worshipped in these false religions as a godess of life-giving. It stands to reason that displaying Satan as a snake is to reveal that their false gods are not providing life, but leading to death as Satan does here.

Ultimately, the text is not concerned with the origin of evil, the snake, etc. It is concerned with it’s plot to disrupt God’s plan and circumvent His established Word.

However, other Scriptures give us an understanding of this character of the Fall. Revelation 12:9, provides us with the connection of the serpent with Satan. “9 So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.”

The Bible describes Satan as a fallen angel who tried to rise up against God and become like God. Luke 10 says Satan fell from Heaven and Revelation describes a cosmic battle that took place.

The best we can understand is that sometime in the creation timeline, Satan and a group of angels who joined him, rose up against God, got their hind end kicked and were removed from Heaven. (Isa. 14:13-15, Ezek. 28:12-15 offer more understanding)

In his failure, Satan now tries the same coup with God’s newly created beings on earth, those made in the likeness of God. In some ways, we are a slap in the face of Satan because we replaced him, not as angels but something more. Still beings designed to glorify God, nonetheless.

The Tempter brings forth a pattern of temptation that leads to sin that still affects us today.

The Pattern of Temptation and Sin

Question the authority of God and His Word (v.1)

God’s very word spoke the world into existence. God establishes His Word as the command of mankind to obey. God’s Word is foundational to our existence and living. It is no wonder Satan would begin with questioning God’s Word.

The question is cunning as it is more a suggestion allowing Eve the opportunity to question God via His Word. So, both God and His Word are not questioned.

What makes this part of the temptation dangerous? Derek Kidner said it this way,

It smuggles in the assumption that God’s Word is subject to our judgment.

Eve never said, let me ask God about this. Or let me ask my husband who might know something more than I do. Instead she became the judge of God’s Word and like a fish who sees a lure in the water she is hooked.

Application

In our doubts and questions, we must seek clarity in His Word for His Word.

Remember we are not the judges of the Word because the Word did not originate with us.

Reinterpret the Word (v.2-3)

Eve’s response to the serpent is correct until she overcorrects. What does she do here? She is adding to the Word of God. God never said you cannot touch it and will die, just eat of it.

In Eve’s judgment of the Word she now reinterprets it, perhaps unknowingly.

Application

Scripture is clear that we are not to add or take away from the Word of God. We are not the arbiters of truth. God is.

Far too often we reinterpret Scripture into what we want it to say, not what it says. Why? Because we don’t like the constraint or we want to justify our rebellion to it.

Hear the lie that sin is good (v.4-5)

Now the serpent knows he has got her. She has reinterpreted the Word and it has become a lie. He now presents more lies that leads to the temptation that sin(rebellion against God) is good.

In this case, she would become like God. The appeal of the lie of sin is that it will bring to life freedom, security, happiness, etc. Again, Derek Kidner speaks into this,

The climax is a lie big enough to reinterpret life (this breadth is the power of a false system) and dynamic enough to redirect the flow of affection and ambition. To be as God, and to achieve it by outwitting Him, is an intoxicating program.

The lie of sin leads reorienting life around it. When this happens, we move from simply hearing the lie to believing the lie.

Believe the lie that sin is good (v.6)

Eve moves from hearing the lie to believing the lie is good. It is good on all levels based on how she looks upon the tree- good for food and delightful to look at and desirable for obtaining wisdom.

Materially, aesthetically, mentally, and spiritually belief in the lie that brings disobedience is that it would bring enrichment to life. But, enrichment to life not from God, but from self as she would be like God.

In all the various wordly systems and “truths” presented today, it is no different. Self help, pop psychology, manifestation, new age, humanism, etc all are founded in human beings being the ultimate help to themselves.

Temptation is born in the lie

From hearing the lie to believing the lie temptation is born. James testifies to this:

James 1:14–15 “14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.”

Now the choice lies ahead, give in to the temptation born from lies and act on it or deny the temptation.

Have you ever seen that video of little kids that are under a study where they are left by themselves with a plate of cookies on the table. They are told not to eat of them and wait. The temptation is present and they can either resist or act.

We are constantly in the same place when we deal with temptation and sin.

Act on the temptation that becomes disobedience and sin.

Temptation is not sin, though we may deal with or have a proclivity in certain temptation to sin. Entertaining temptation typically leads to sin. Why? Because sin corrupted all of humanity after this event. Our nature is sin as the NT testifies to over and over again. We cannot beat temptation without the presence and help of God by His Spirit, through the wisdom of His Word, and the regeneration of our hearts in Christ Jesus.

When we act, verse 7 becomes a reality for us. The true promise of the fruit of sin is shame, not life.

Our response as Christians: make war.

Romans 8:13 CSB

13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

By the work, death, and resurrection of Jesus we make war with our temptation and sin. We don’t entertain it.

In our shame and guilt we have a choice to react. How did Adam and Even react?

Our Reaction To Guilt in Sin

Cover it up by their own works. (v.7)

In an inadequate manner, Adam and Eve sew fig leaves to cover their nakedness, a poetic way to reveal they now bear shame.

We know from later text their solution is inadequate because by 3:21 God intervenes with a sacrifice of animals to provide adequate covering.

Scripture is clear on this, Isaiah 64:6 “6 All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.”

This text is not speaking about regenerated believers, but those who are separated from God in their sin. Dead in their sin. In that nature any good work is like a filthy rag because it cannot balance the scales of our sin against a holy God. Thus, God needed to intervene.

A famous Christian hip hop artist explained it well in one of his lyrics:

I was created by God but I didn’t wanna be like Him, I wanna be Him The Jack Sparrow of my Caribbean And now look at us all out of Eden, Wearing designer fig leaves by Louis Vuitton, Make-believing But God sees through my foolish pride, And how I'm weak like Adam, another victim of Lucifer's lies. But then in steps Jesus, All men were created to lead but we needed somebody to lead us More than a teacher, But somebody to buy us back from the darkness, You can say He redeemed us,

Hide in our sin (v.8-10)

Adam and Eve hear God coming and they hide from Him. How foolish it is for them to try to hide from their Creator, who is eternal, who is all knowing, all seeing, all powerful.

But that’s what sin does. It diminishes our view of God to believing that we wield some kind of power above Him.

But like children I also think deep down they know they cannot be more powerful as well. This is why they hide.

Hiding in our sin does no good and yet we think what is done in secret is kept in secret.

Psalm 90:8 “8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.”

Hebrews 4:12–13 “12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.”

Often our sin leads us to hide from God, His Word, and His people (the church) because we don’t want it exposed. Instead of repenting, we hide. But God who is Light will expose what is in the dark at some point.

Blame/refuse to accept responsibility (v.12-13)

Lastly we see in verses 12 and 13 that man and woman respond in blame. he blames her, she blames the serpent, and ultimately both blame God.

Adam- the one You gave to me.

Eve- The serpent with implication being a part of God’s creation.

Ownership of our sin and faults is critical. If we don’t think we have sin then there is not need of God. We don’t take ownership of it.

We live in a world right now where blaming anything and everyone else is king and not accepting responsibility for one’s actions follows.

We won’t see it this week in detail, but if you look at the rest of chapter 3 you will notice that God doesn’t accept blame or refusal of responsibility.

The New Testament agrees:

Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;”

Ephesians 2:1 “1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins”

Colossians 1:21 “21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.”

1 John 1:8 “8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

We cannot pass the buck. We must know, recognize, and acknowledge our state of sin and the actions in sin that come with it.

But, as our Christ connection reveals, where we have failed and fallen, Christ has succeeded.

Christ Connection

Where we failed, Christ succeeded.

The clearest example of this as Christ fulfilled what we could not is Matthew 4:1-11 when Jesus is facing temptation from Satan.

Jesus is tempted to abuse His divinity to provide for Himself instead of trusting in the provision of the Father. He is tempted to abuse the will of God along with His divinity to do a miracle in saving Himself. Jesus is tempted to build a kingdom apart from the Father if He would worship Satan.

All Satan did was attempt to fracture the relationship the Son has with the Father. To detour the thread of redemption of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus. But Satan can’t:

1 Corinthians 15:45–49 CSB

45 So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 Like the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; like the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Romans 5:19 “19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

Romans 5:21 “21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The thread of hope that we will capture all throughout Genesis is pointing to Jesus- the hope of the world.

How do I glorify God from this text?

Recognize the pattern of temptation and sin that can easily ensnare you.

No one is immune. We have seen some of our greatest leaders even fall.

Be quick to recognize and acknowledge your sin.

Don’t justify it, don’t think it is not worse than someone else’s.

Let the Lord draw you out of it.

Leave that sin at the cross of Jesus

Be quick to repent, quick to seek help, and quick to embrace the grace, forgiveness, and new life in Jesus.

Let God reclaim His glory in your life!

Conclusion

I want to end with the question God gives to Adam and Eve. “Where are you?” Why does God ask this?

It is not because He can’t find them or doesn’t know where they are. It is like a parent who knows their child has done wrong and asks what happened.

God is drawing them out of their shame. He is working to expose their sin, not so He can condemn, but that He can extend grace.

God draws us out of our sin into His grace. The question is begging for them to repent. To turn from their sin to trusting that God is good and will take care of their problem.

God has taken care of our eternal, deeply spiritual, and life changing problem of sin. As we have studied and will study, the thread of brokenness is pulled, but that thread will become a thread of redemption in the hands of a loving God by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Is the Lord asking you right now, “Where are you?”

If so, how will your respond?