In The Beginning... Series

In The Beginning…

Genesis is the “Book of Beginnings”. Nearly everything that we know about our existence and the universe began in the Book of Genesis.

The beginning of time.

The beginning of the world.

The beginning of the human race.

In Genesis chapter one we find the beginning of the universe – the earth – plants and animals and the human race. In Genesis two we see the beginning of a family – in Genesis four we find the beginning of worship but here we also find the beginning of war. (Cain killing Able) As we proceed through the book Genesis we see nations, governments, and kingdoms arise. We see another new beginning after the flood. In this book we find the beginning of slavery, of jealousy, of envy, of lust and idol worship and so much more – but what I would like to focus on this morning is chapter three verses one through fifteen

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'" The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 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 loin coverings. They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself." And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." Genesis 3:1-3:15 (NASB)

I. The Beginning of DECEPTION

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'" The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!”

What can we learn about him from this first mention in Genesis chapter three?

1. He is subtle – crafty – clever – sneakier.

2. He is the author of doubt.

3. He is the author of deception.

4. He is the chief of liars.

5. He is the enemy of God. He is ruler of a powerful kingdom standing in opposition to the kingdom of God.

Satan is the father of lies. Jesus said this about Satan:

"He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”