Genesis 7 Series

Genesis 7

Last week we talked about how the Lord provided a partner for the man. A woman who would complete him and together they would reflect the image of God. They were perfect, their home was perfect, and their relationship was also perfect. Sinless in every way.

We’re not really sure how long this lasted, but we do know that this perfect, human existence came to an end right there in the garden. A place that was so complete, so beautiful, so bright with the glory of God, would soon become a place where the memories of perfection would be overshadowed with the ugliness of sin. Man would forfeit all that God had given him for something so seemingly insignificant – a piece of fruit.

Now before we jump head first into the deep end of the pool we need to do some background checking on this ‘serpent’ that’s introduced here in Genesis chapter three. Because this is the first place that satan himself shows up in the Scriptures.

[Read Genesis 3:1.]

Satan embodies the serpent whom God had created as the most crafty or cunning of all the other animals. Satan is also referred to as the serpent during the end times.

[Read Revelation 12:7-9.]

But lets step back a little bit – when exactly was satan created? Was he a part of the six day creation? Well, no he wasn’t. You see, satan originally was an angel, and we know from the Scriptures that angels were in existence before the earth was created.

[Read Job 38:4-7.]

It’s as if the angels were watching and praising the Lord as He created the universe. Satan was probably right there with them as the high angel lucifer.

But something happened. Lucifer somewhere along the way decided that he wanted to take over and be God himself. And I happen to think it was sometime either during or soon after God’s creation was complete.

In the book of Ezekiel satan is shown through a prophecy of the king of Tyre. (The king was full of evil and exalted himself as a god, just like satan did in the garden. This king, like satan, would suffer the same consequences. Therefore the power and motivation behind this king was obviously satan.)

Now in this passage, satan’s pictured as being in the Garden of Eden in his perfect state. But would soon decide that he wanted more!

[Read Ezekiel 28:11-19.]

God placed satan in the garden. God. Try to wrap your mind around that one. Talk about adding gas to the fire. What was God thinking? Didn’t He know what was going to happen?

Of course He knew what was going to happen. But again, He wanted a relationship with us. Not a relationship with a bunch of mindless drones who have no other choice. But a relationship with intelligent beings who willfully choose to love Him in return for His love. He knew what satan was going to do, yet He placed him in the garden anyway.

A garden that had only one prohibition – don’t eat from that tree!

[Read Genesis 2:15-17.]

So now the stage is set for us to better understand the context of the fall of man itself. And the first thing we’re going to see is:

I. Man rejects God’s authority

[Read Genesis 3:1-6.]

This truly is the saddest day in human history. More sad then 911. More sad than the Hiroshima bomb. Even more sad then the day our Lord died. Because on this day all men died.

[Read Romans 5:12, 3:23.]

The first humans rejected God’s authority and they have passed on that rebellious attitude, that sinful nature to all their offspring. It’s built into our DNA and we’re all born to sin.

Satan, obviously wanting to take over the earth and God’s creation, went to the woman to deceive her into rebellion. He misrepresented what God meant when he lied to the woman and said that she wouldn’t die if she ate from the tree. And the woman listened, and reasoned, and justified rejecting what God had told them. Look at verse six again.

[Read Genesis 3:6.]

The woman justified her rebellion for three reasons. The tree was good for:

- Food

- Beautiful

- Wisdom

And we’ve been following that pattern of sin ever since.

[Read I John 2:15-17.]

- Lust of the flesh

- Lust of the eyes

- Pride of life

All sin can be traced back to these three categories. As I read a list of common sins

today, think about what category they come from: The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life.

- Overeating - Materialism - Gossip

- Alcoholism, drug use - Ego - Murder

- Pornography - Lying - Laziness