Sermon Tone Analysis

NKJ Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.

The scripture has chosen to begin this description of the fall with a warning, one that is understood when we read this text but often overlooked and unseen in our daily walk.

This is the story of a couple, a married couple.

They are not struggling with finances or rebellious teenagers.

They live in paradise (no inlaws!).

And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"

(Genesis 2:16)

 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.' " 4

She relates the command she has learned.

The key part of that warning is “lest you die.”

The serpent will focus on that part, by undermining the understanding of what it means to die.

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."

The world points out and stays focused on one aspect of truth to win the undiscerning.

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.

The water that appealed to the woman was the acquiring of knowledge of good.

It is obvious that this is what Adam and Eve were after; they wanted to be like God and know good and evil.

The signal of a relationship in distress is biting into the “truth” that the word of God and the people of God oppose.

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.

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.

“Ruah” – breath, wind in this case.

They heard the wind of God.

Judgment – job 38:1 “whirlwind”.

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."