Genesis 3
- Introduction
- Review Chap 1
- Review Chap 2
- Genesis 3
- Vs. 1 - Satan is introduced (Gen. 3:1)
- More crafty than “any beast” not any “other”. Thus serpent not identified as a beast.
- Verses Identifying this as Satan
- 2 Cor. 11:3 – “as the serpent” - Not full identification just warning
- Rev. 12:9 – Serpent of Old – Satan.
- Satan’s initial statement:
- Misrepresentation of God’s Word. “any tree”
- Supposition Regarding this Occurrence
- Proposition 1: Satan spoke through the serpent
- Proposition 2: Satan was a literal serpent
- Proposition 3: Satan spoke at that time as a literal serpent
- Proposition 3: Satan deceived the serpent.
- It is my supposition Proposition 3 is most likely.
- What can we learn from Satan’s actions?
- Implication: Satan can use God’s creation in a deceptive manner - 2 Cor. 11:14
- Implication: Animals experience consequences based on others actions - Mat. 8:32, Lev. 20:15-16
- Vs. 2-3 – Eve Responds to Satan’s Query
- Eve said “not touch”, this was not God’command (Gen. 2:17)
- Eve also said “lest” meaning “might”
- Rev. 22:18-19
- How can man Die?
- Physical Death – Gen. 35:18
- Spiritual Death – Eph. 2:1
- Eternal Death – Rev. 21:8
- Die to the world (Col. 2:20) / Die to sin (Rom. 6:2)
- Was once asked why the middle of the Garden?
- Deu 30:19-20 - I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live…
- Closest Verse to answer this.
- Vs. 4-5– Satan Lies to Eve
- Satan is referred to as a Tempter in the Bible
- Mat. 4:3
- I Thess. 3:5
- Man can resist temptation
- Jas 1:12 - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.
- 1Co 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.
- Jas 1:14 - but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
- Pro 4:14-15 - Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.
- Mathew Henry Points out the Following:
- Satan tempted Eve to tempt Adam; Job by his wife [Job 2:9], and Christ by Peter [Mt. 16:21-23].
- He tempts by those close to us who havethe most influence upon us.
- Satan lies in regard to man dying.
- Some cry out “Discrepancy!” but there is no discrepancy here.
- Spiritual death with one transgression against God’s Word (Eph. 2:1 above).
This consequence was immediate
- Physical death also came about - (Gen. 3:19)
How Many Years did Adam Live? – 930 - Gen.5:5
This consequence was not immediate.
- Titus 1:2 “…God, who cannot lie”…
- Satan tells man they would be like God knowing Good and Evil, but they fall short elsewhere…
- I John 1:5- “God is light and in Him is no darkness.”
- I John 3:1-5 - “… In Him is no sin”…
- Why did Eve even talk to Satan? He deceived her.
- At what point should she run? When she hears something contrary to God’s Words.
- Vs. 5- Eloheem is a plural word.
- God is a plural God of one.
- The pronoun references to God’s actions in chapter one are He.
- The reference of God to Himself is “Us”, “Our” – Gen. 1:26
- It is my believe that using the word “gods” in vs. 5 would be incorrect.
- The comparison is to God.
- Vs. 6-7 – The fall of Man into Sin
- Fall? More like Jump…
- I Jn. 2:16– Lust of Flesh, Eye, Pride of Life ..
- Satan’s arguments were based on this.
You want it, it won’t hurt the flesh, Your Eyes will be open, You can be like God!
- Eve’s Responses were of this nature.
Good for food, Delight to eyes, Wisdom
- She Ate / He Ate
- Adam’s Response? He was taken down from inside.
- In many homes, families are being taken down from inside, because they don’t say no.
What they hear, see, wear, read; dating, curfews, boundaries…
- Families are being taken down from inside, because they don’t say yes.
Christian Fellowship, Attendance, Bible Study, evangelism, good works…
- This was the beginning of poor leadership and operating without Authority..
- Vs. 7-10– Consequences of Sin and God’s Standard of Modesty
- Proper realization of sin
- It’s not comfortable (though it gets more so as your heart hardens)
- Brings shame
- Note: It causes man to hide himself from God – Vs. 8,10, Is. 59:1-2
- Vs. 9– “Where are you” - When People Looked for Christ he was always doing what was right
- Mark 3:31-35, Luke 2:48-49, Mark 1:35-37
- Modesty
- Even though they made loin coverings, they realized they were still naked.
- Loin coverings – Thigh and waist coverings – Aprons – larger than Most Swim trunks or bikinis.
- Does one have to be completely naked to stir sexual desire?
Snugness and a lil peak
Two Way Street
.Matthew 5:28 - but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
.Job 31:1- "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.
.I Thess. 4:3-6– defrauding (Take advantage of)– stealing their purity.
- Vs. 11-13 – The Questions and the Responses
- The first and second blames
- God and woman are blamed by Adam.
- Woman blames serpent.
- What is missing? Self Control, Repentance
- Vs. 14-19–Further Consequences of Sin Entering into the World – Lowest to Highest
- Vs. 14-15 - Curse To The Serpent - Serpent symbol of this sin and subject to life long lowliness, based on action of others.
- “I will put enmity”
- Enmity is hostility or hatred.
- Previously, the issue was between God and Satan, now man was thrown in as well.
Man has brought this trouble upon me!
- "Between thee and the woman ..." Woman here stands for mankind – “her seed”
- "Thy seed ..." - the followers of Satan
- "her seed ..." that is the seed of woman.
- "He shall bruise thy head ..."– Bruise here means “snap” or “break”
- The blow inflicted by man (that is Christ) will be destructive.
Hebrews 2:14-15
- "Thou shalt bruise his heel ..." – The blow by satan – crucifixion – minor wound.
- Vs. 16 - Punishment to Eve
- Vs. 16a – Reproduction pain is increased – (Indication births had already occurred).
- 16b - The language of “desire” is not sexual, but that of the female’s will.
- “The entrance of sin has made that duty a punishment, which otherwise it would not have been. If man had not sinned, he would always have ruled with wisdom and love; and, if the woman had not sinned, she would always have obeyed with humility and meekness; and then the dominion would have been no grievance: but our own sin and folly make our yoke heavy.” – Mathew Henry
- It is only in sin, that subjection seems a burden
Is it a burden to be in subjection to Christ?
Mat. 11:30 – “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
- Vs. 17-19 –Punishment to Adam
- Why? Because he listened to a voice other than God’s.
- You will live by the ground – It won’t cooperate.
- You will die in it.
- Basically – You are subject to it.
- Vs. 20-21 – Eve and Revisiting Modesty
- Mother of all - Eve’s concern and worry over everyone.
- The Lord clothed the man and woman because they were not modest (10)
- God clothes them with his standard, not man’s.
- Kethoneth meaning Robe, this covered not only their loins but everything under the neck.
- Some have stated this was just for protection:
- Consider: That no shoes for protection were given.
- Consider: In Duet. 29:5 – God felt it important enough to protect Israel’s feet with sandals which did not wear out. Why important then and not in Genesis.
- Consider:Eph. 6, in illustrative fashion God considered the shodding of the feet a necessity.
- Point: The Genesis standard of modesty was reinforced by God in many places in the Bible. It was not the same as a protective standard.
- Vs. 22-24 –God Prevents Ultimate Dwelling of Sinfulness
- They had knowledge, but not wisdom or fruit of the spirit.
- God allow sin living forever? Not even.
- No longer was man allowed to be in the Garden.
- Speculation on Cheribim, the garden, the sword, I will pass.
- Closing with Secular History of the Fall of Man
- In the British Museum, is located the temptation seal. It was found in the most Ancient civilization known, Sumer, In the city of Akkad (Achad - Gen. 10:10-12) It dates back 5,000 + years. Shows a man and woman reaching for the fruit of a tree with a serpent behind the woman. One of our earliest records of man.
- 5000 + years also is the Adam and Eve seal. It is located in Museum in Pennsylvania. Shows a naked male and female bowed low and being driven forward by a snake.
- The Bible is once again confirmed by man outside of scriptural text.