3.     DISOBEDIENCE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN

"The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden"

Aim

To show what happened when Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

Synopsis

God had prepared a lovely garden for the man and woman to dwell in. It was called the garden of Eden, which means "delight". It was full of trees that were "pleasant to the sight and good for food". A river watered the garden and Adam was to "dress it and keep it", though no weeds or thistles yet spoiled it. In such pleasant surroundings Adam and Eve were able to enjoy the beautiful things that a loving Creator had provided for them. God decided to test their love for Him.

Genesis 2:15-17; 3

THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL: Genesis 2:15-17

In the midst of the garden of Eden God had planted two special trees - the "tree of life" and the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil". Adam and Eve could eat of the fruit of every other tree in the garden, but of this second tree God said: "thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (2:17). They were not even allowed to touch it (3:3).

This command was very simple and God warned that if they disobeyed they would "surely die". Disobedience of God's law is sin and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

DISOBEDIENCE IN EDEN: Genesis 3:1-6

For a while all went well, but in this garden of Eden there was a very cunning animal called a "serpent", to which God had given the power of speech. Genesis 3:1-5 tells how the serpent told a lie and the woman believed the serpent instead of believing God. The serpent, like all other animals, had no understanding of right and wrong, for God had not given it a mind like man's. It had overheard God's words to Adam and Eve, but thought that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, surely that would make them as wise as the angels. So it said to Eve, "ye shall not surely die".

Once this thought had been put into Eve's mind she began to wonder about that tree. She could see that it was "good for food" and "pleasant to the eyes", and the more she now looked at its fruit, the more she desired it. And if it would really make her wise like the angels, as the serpent suggested €

Suddenly Eve put forth her hand and took of the fruit and ate it. Then she offered some to Adam "and he did eat".

Eve had been deceived by the serpent's lie and disobeyed God's command. Adam sinned too, choosing to please his wife, rather than to obey God.

SIN BRINGS SHAME AND FEAR: Genesis 3:7-13

As soon as Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they knew that they had sinned. They suddenly felt ashamed and afraid. So they sewed fig leaves together and made aprons to cover themselves. Then they hid in the garden, knowing that God would be angry. This is just what happens when we sin. As soon as we realise that we have disobeyed God's ways, we feel ashamed and guilty before Him. When God called to Adam, guilty Adam blamed Eve, and when God questioned Eve, she blamed the serpent. But they themselves had known God's law and had disobeyed.

GOD'S PUNISHMENT: Genesis 3:14-20

Upon the Serpent. Because the serpent had lied and deceived Eve, God cursed it. It was to go upon its belly and eat dust all the days of its life.

Upon Adam. God told Adam, that, instead of living in the beautiful garden where everything was in harmony with God, they would be driven out. From now on he would have to work hard to provide food for himself and Eve. The earth would now grow thorns and thistles making this task more difficult. In the end Adam would die and return to the dust of the earth from which he was made, for God said, "Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return" (v. 19). Man therefore became a dying mortal creature because of sin, for "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Because we are all descended from Adam we share that same nature, and we die.

Upon Eve. Eve was told she was to have much sorrow and be ruled over by her husband.

GOD PROVIDES A COVERING: Genesis 3:21

Adam and Eve had covered themselves with fig leaf aprons to try to hide their shame, but this was not acceptable to God. He provided them both instead with a coat made from the skin of an animal. God had a wonderful reason for this that taught Adam and Eve a lesson about sin. To provide the skins, an animal had to be slain and its blood shed. This all pointed forward to the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, through his death God provided a way for us to have our sins covered or forgiven. When a person is baptised, the Bible speaks of that person "putting on Christ" (Gal. 3:27), just as Adam put on the covering God provided for him.

DRIVEN OUT OF THE GARDEN: Genesis 3:22-24

After God had told Adam and Eve of the punishment for their sin, He drove them out of the garden of Eden "Lest they should take also of the tree of life and eat and live forever". So God drove them from the garden and placed at the east of the garden, cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life (vv. 22-24).

LESSON FOR US

It is very easy to be tempted to do wrong. Eve's first mistake was to listen to the serpent's words. If we listen to the suggestions of those who do not love the Truth, we will disobey God too. The only way to be sure to obey Him, is to keep His Words in our minds. Let us be like the psalmist, who said, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11).

Sin was brought into the world by man's disobedience, and because we are the children of Adam, we must die too. But God does not want all men to die forever. In His mercy He has made a way for our sins to be forgiven - through baptism into the Lord Jesus Christ.

Learn to love God's laws and put them in your heart, so that you may grow up to be baptised and to have God's gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).

ADDITIONAL NOTES

In Genesis 3:15 God tells of enmity (or hatred), that would always be found between the "seed of the serpent" and "the seed of the woman". The serpent's "seed" are all those who do not know God's ways and do not love the Truth. The woman's "seed" are all those who speak the Truth (as Eve first did, 3:2-3).

There is only one who has ever perfectly obeyed the Truth; that is, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are told that the serpent's seed would "bruise his heel" (3:15). This was fulfilled when the enemies of the Truth (the wicked Jews and the Romans) put him to death upon the cross. Because of his perfect obedience to God, he did not remain in the grave, but God raised him after three days. The "serpent's" attack on him was but a "bruise" that was healed.

The "seed of the woman", however, was going to "bruise the head" of the serpent's seed (3:15). This would be a fatal blow. Because the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the grave to die no more, sin and death have lost their power. He has destroyed them and opened the way to life eternal for all those who love the Truth and put their trust in him.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. What was the one commandment which God gave to Adam and Eve?
2. Who tempted Eve to break this commandment?
3. What is sin?
4. What did God say would happen to Adam and Eve if they sinned?
5. What happens to all people because of the sin of Adam and Eve?
6. What covering did God provide for Adam and Eve ?
7. What did God do with Adam and Eve after they sinned?

Detailed Answers

1. How did Adam and Eve disobey the command of God in the garden of Eden?
2. How did God punish Adam and Eve for their disobedience?
3. (a) What covering for sin did God provide for Adam and  Eve?

        (b) Whom does this point forward to?

Additional Answers

4. Tell what happened as soon as Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree.
5. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life". What does this mean?
6. Tell what is meant by the following:-

1. the seed of the serpent;
2. the seed of the woman;
3. thou shalt bruise his heel; and
4. it shall bruise thy head.