The Fall in the Garden Genesis Chapter 3

The Fall in the Garden – Setting the Stage Adam was created first out of the dust of the ground before Eve and was made a “living soul” (Gen. 2:7) Eve was formed from a rib of Adam (Gen. 2:21-23) One proof of a real Adam is the tracing of the lineage of Jesus back through David to Adam (Luke 3:23-38)

The Fall in the Garden – Genesis 3 The Players Adam – the first man (Gen. 2:7) Eve – the first woman (Gen. 2:21-23) God – The Trinity - Let us make man in our image (Gen. 1:27) Satan – Serpent in Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1) Cherubim – guarding angels keeping Adam and Eve out of the Garden after their sin; same as the cherubim (two angels) found on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant (Gen. 3:21)

The Fall in the Garden – Genesis 3 The Set Place: The Garden of Eden, the most beautiful place on earth – the first woman (Gen. 2:21-23) Geographic Location: Somewhere in the Middle East, and perhaps in Ethiopia Time – Soon after God had created Adam and Eve – no children had yet been born Scenery – Lush garden with many trees for food

The Fall in the Garden – Scene 1A – The Serpent Tempts Eve Eve is in the Garden of Eden The Serpent appears who is called “subtle” in the KJV but the Hebrew word aruwm means “crafty” (Gen. 3:1a) The Serpent appears challenging God’s word, saying “Has God said, You shall not eat of EVERY tree in the Garden of Eden? (Gen. 3:1b) Eve responds correctly saying, “God has said that they may eat of EVERY tree except for the middle tree in the Garden of Eden.

The Fall in the Garden – “Food for Thought” on Scene 1A Eve does not know the Serpent but listens to him. The Serpent was apparently a beautiful creature before being cursed. Eve is not listening to God but to one of His creatures (in this case a creeping thing). Eve doesn’t mention the tree not to be eaten as the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil but Adam was told about it before God made Eve. She also doesn’t mention the tree of life so perhaps Adam and Eve were not told about what they were but were just told not to eat of the tree. Eve knew what God’s rule was – you may eat of every tree by the middle tree, which was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The Fall in the Garden – Scene 1B – Eve and Adam Fall to Temptation The Serpent now instead of hinting at God not telling the truth, now lies in contradiction, saying “Ye shall not surely die: For God knows that your eyes shall be opened, you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil”. (Gen. 3:4-5) Eve responds by looking at the tree as seeming delicious (good for food) – taste, pleasant to the eyes – sight, and a tree to make one wise; two of the five senses, she took it and also gave it to her husband Adam (Gen. 3:6).

The Fall in the Garden – “Food for Thought” on Scene 1B The Serpent tempted them with the same sin he committed of wanting to become as God. Eve may not have been near Adam at the time of being tempted or perhaps Adam would have heard or seen what was coming. The Serpent tempted Eve at her weakest point – she may have been hungry at the time or looking for some fruit to eat. The Bible doesn’t what type of fruit is eaten – we all think of an apple but that is not specified in the Bible.

The Fall in the Garden – Scene 2 – God seeks Adam and Eve Adam and Eve know they are naked and so they sewed fig leaves to make aprons (Gen. 3:7). Adam and Eve hid from God’s voice. (Gen. 3:8). God asks Adam where he is (Gen. 3:9). Adam said he was afraid of God and hid himself because he was naked (Gen. 3:10). God asks Adam who told him he was naked and did he eat of the forbidden tree? (Gen. 3:11) Adam said Eve gave it to her (Gen. 3:12) Eve said that the Serpent tempted her to eat (Gen. 3:13)

The Fall in the Garden – “Food for Thought” on Scene 2 Just as we try to hide from God when we sin, Adam tried to hide from God as well. Adam knew better and took of the fruit from his wife without being tempted which is in some ways worse than Eve. Adam then blamed his wife Eve for giving him the fruit although he knew better. At least Eve was honest that she was tempted by the Serpent and ate of the forbidden fruit.

The Fall in the Garden – Scene 3 – God curses the Serpent, and puts a curse on Adam and Eve Serpent’s Curses (Gen. 3:14-15) – Cursed more than all cattle and every beast. – Have to move on belly and eat dust the rest of your life. – Put enmity between the Serpent and Eve and their seed – Jesus will bruise the Serpent’s Head. Eve’s Curses (Gen. 3:16) – Will have great sorry and pain conception – Adam will rule (give dominion, reign) over Eve. Adam’s Curses (Gen. 3:17). – The ground is cursed with work to raise crops – Thorns and thistles will spring up; you will eat grains – You will sweat and work hard to make bread until you die

The Fall in the Garden – “Food for Thought” on Scene 3 Sin always brings curses but we are freed from the curse of the penalty of sin by Jesus death on the cross Paul talks about a new law where the husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and died for us. The wife is to love the husband and submit “respond” to him. If a husband will love his wife as Christ loved the church, he will receive a better response.

The Fall in the Garden – Scene 4 – God kicks Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden Adam names his wife, Eve (Gen. 3:20) as she is the mother of all living things (first woman on the earth). God made coats of skin for Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21) God said that they had to keep Adam and Eve from eating of the Tree of Everlasting Life or they would live forever in sin (Gen. 3:22) God cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden to protect them and because of their sin (Gen. 3:23) Cherubs with flaming (Hebrew – “hawfak – means flashing, brandishing) swords in multiple directions to keep anyone from coming near the Tree of Life (Gen. 3:24)

The Fall in the Garden – “Food for Thought” on Scene 4 God made Adam and Eve coats of skins (Herbrew, “owr” which means animal hides or skins) The killing of animals would lead to God asking for an animal sacrifice from Cain and Abel and pointed to the eventual Lamb of God. God had to keep Adam and Eve from eating of the Tree of Everlasting Life so God had to expel him from the Garden Because of man’s sin He needed a Savior, a Spotless Lamb of God.

Jesus was sent to the earth to bruise the Serpent’s head. He died on the cross to pay for our sins and He has defeated the Serpent! The Prince of Peace