Genesis 2:18-3:13 What Went Wrong? The disruption of creation

Oregano in an apple pie

A small mistake - but a disaster

Looked like an apple pie

Smelled like an apple pie

But it did not taste like an apple pie

The same but different – nasty

Did not accomplish what it was intended to do

What if it was strychnine?

This is what happened in the garden.

All seemed well.

Then it all went wrong.

First let us remember how perfect it originally was.

Perfect activity

Perfect place

Perfect person

And now the Lord provided the perfect relationship

I. The Way it was meant to be: The perfect relationship

A. A perfect discovery

(ESV) Genesis 2 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

(ESV) Genesis 2 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beastof the field and every birdof the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fitfor him.

1. Not good – stark contrast from earlier pattern

2. Pattern of creation – two paired together

3. Recognize his own need for a partner

4. Together to fulfill God’s plan – ministry partnership

B. A perfect partner

(ESV) Genesis 2 18 Then the Lord God said, “… I will make him a helper fit (comparable) for him.”

… 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bonesand flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

1. The same essence – image of God

Genesis 1: 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

2. An established order – created first / names her / she made to help him

3. Recognize the partnership pattern of creation

a. Helper – complete what is lacking in male

b. Comparable – same essence (image of God from ch 1) from rib not earth

c. Opposite? – complement (same but different)

4. “At last” this is the one

5. Fashioned and brought together by God Himself

a. Word: Built – like a building – architected and complex

C. A perfect marriage

(ESV) Genesis 2 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed .

1. Defined: One man / One woman – for a lifetime

2. A commitment before God/men – like a ceremony here

a. A commitment for a lifetime before God

1) God sets the manner – anything else is sinful / adultery / fornication 2) Invocation of a covenant – agreement between people and God – God oversees and enforces and is involved in any violation

b. Before men – society establishes its method – legal – not separate from God’s manner ---- one and the same

1) Not expedience – monetary / protection of assets / enjoyment without commitment

3. A priority over previous family and all other connections

4. A choice to commit and join together in all aspects of life

5. A oneness in the midst of their diversity =

a. Physically pictured through sexual relationship

b. Sexual relationship more than just physical – an emotional bonding as well / spiritual bonding?

c. Intent to deeply bond in oneness at all levels of existence

6. A relationship of openness and intimacy

So what went wrong when everything was so perfect?

II. What went wrong? Listening to the wrong voice about God

A. Challenging God’s authority Genesis 3:1a

(ESV) Genesis 3 1 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’?”

1. The snake

a. Crafty – cunning / slick / not some scary thing / likely attractive and appealing -- like an angel of light – friendly --

b. Walked? Maybe – seems like curse involves him crawling on the ground

c. Talked? Apparently – Brand new environment – who says snakes can’t talk -- an intelligence that exceed that of animals

d. Controlled by Satan

1) Not explicit here / but Satan referred to as that old serpent in Rev 12:9 / John 8:44 father of lies 2) Clear spiritual opponent in New Testament

2. Should have guarded the garden as commissioned

a. If not guarded great risks unfold

b. At greatest risk in midst of comfort

3. Turn God’s clear statement into a question / create doubt / create movement

4. Elohim not Yahweh

5. Usurp God – implication what right does He have to tell us what to do

6. Goal remove God from His place

7. Lesson: Satan comes in an appealing form / offering seemingly sensible thoughts / but opposed to God

B. Twisting God’s Word Genesis 3:1b

(ESV) Genesis 3 1 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’?”

1. Subtle change to what God said

2. Focus on the negatives not the overwhelming blessing

3. Morph it into something less exact / less appealing / missing of blessing

(ESV) Genesis 3 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 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.’ ”

C. Denying God’s consequences Genesis 3:2-4

(ESV) Genesis 3 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

1. When authority of God is undermined – ultimately His clear commands and statements will be rejected for another authority

2. I know God says xxxxx but I say xxxxxx

3. I know better than God / God’s Word does not apply to me

4. Implied: The consequences God has given will not occur / I can escape the consequences or in fact no consequences exist

D. Questioning God’s character Genesis 3:5a

(ESV) Genesis 3 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.”

1. God is a killjoy – your are missing out – He is unfairly restricting you

2. God does not want you to enjoy all that is there

3. Not only will I escape the consequences, but I will benefit and experience good apart from what God says

E. Replacing God with self Genesis 3:5b

(ESV) Genesis 3 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.”

1. No one will tell me what to do

2. I will be my own god

3. I am the authority

4. I will establish what is good from my own life

III. What went wrong? The process of falling

A. Careless with God-given responsibility Genesis 2:15

(ESV) Genesis 2 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

1. When it became a challenge to God’s authority thrown the snake out of the garden – don’t tolerate questioning of God’s authority

2. Refused to listen (not continue to listen)

a. Should have rejected the false words and ended the conversation / not continue endless babble (as Paul would warn)

3. Run from the appeal (when inner connection began)

4. Get help from others in authority

B. Innerdesires > dwell there > choose self Genesis 3:6a

(ESV) Genesis 3 6 So when the woman sawthat 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,

a. Dwell here – entertain the thoughts long enough and they will take control

b. Attractive / external drivers to stimulate inner wants /

c. Inner desires / sensual / What the flesh longs for / hungers for / deep within / human needs

d. Self glorifying / me focused / my benefit /

(ESV) 1 John 2 16 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.

C. Involve others Genesis 3:6b

(ESV) Genesis 3 6 … and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

1. Influence others always

2. Was Adam here all along? I don’t think so / I believe that she went to Adam after she ate to share – Eve was deceived/ Adam chose based on Eve’s words (3:17) not the serpents words

(ESV) 1 Timothy 2 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceivedand became a transgressor.

3. Gratifying (power) to bring others along

4. Justification if others approve / join in

5. Okay if others are doing it

D. Reversal of authority Genesis 3:12

1. Of authority

(ESV) Genesis 3 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

a. Instead of confession - blame

b. Blame ultimately blame God

c. Serpent not given a chance to respond – God knew all about Him