Learning From The Mistakes Of Others

THE FIRST (Really) BIG MISTAKE

1. We know the story: Garden of Eden, the serpent and man. (Genesis 3)

2. God gave man clear directives and warning: Genesis 2:16-17

3. They disobeyed: The end result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience was not only that, as God had said, ‘in the day that you eat of it (tree of good and knowledge) you shall surely die…’, but it caused a genetic fact in the human race…

4. …through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned… (Romans 5:12) - In Adam all die… (1Corinthians 15:22)

REVISITING THE DETAILS

1. Now the serpent was more cunning (crafty) than any other… ~ Genesis 3:1

* Cunning, crafty, subtle… (clever at achieving one’s aims by deceitful methods)

* The serpent is satan, the devil: (Revelation12:9, {20:2})

THE SERPENT'S APPROACH Genesis 3:1-7

1. The serpent challenged God’s Word and God’s love - Did God really say…?

* Satan attempted to cause doubt what God had said.

2. Questioning and deceptive specifics…

* Did God say not to eat of ‘every tree’ of the garden? (craftiness)

* Woman’s response: We may eat, except for one tree, we can’t eat of ‘nor touch it’ or we’ll die.

3. Satanic denial of God’s Word

* You will not surely die. (v.4)

4. The serpent accused God of being motivated by desire to suppress man’s possibilities

* For God knows that in the day that you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

* Satan is saying that God wants to ‘limit’ you.

5. The allurement: So when the woman saw that the tree was… (v.6) (Decision point – what God said vs fruit)

* Good for food… Pleasant to the eyes… Desirable to make one wise…

6. She took of the fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Adam!!!)

* Their eyes were opened, they knew that they were naked, made coverings out of fig leaves. (v.7)

* The fall of man.

GOD'S CONVERSATION WITH MAN - Genesis 3:8-13

1. Hiding from God (v.8) – Sin changes relationships

2. God’s first question: Adam, Where are you? (v.9)

* Did God really not know where Adam was? Why was He asking?

* Adam answered: I heard Your voice… I was afraid because I was naked… and I hid myself.

3. God’s second question: Who told you that you were naked (v.11 – refer to Gen. 2:25)

* There was a dramatic change that had happened.

4. God’s third question: Did you eat of the tree? (v.11)

5. Adam’s answer: The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate (v.12)

6. God’s question for woman: What have you done?

* Woman answered: The serpent deceived me, and I ate (v.13).

V. ENCOURAGEMENTS FOR US - Learning from their mistakes, looking to God and His Word

Provision of salvation – Genesis 3:21 – God made tunics of skin and clothed them

1. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (methods, deceit, trickery). ~ Ephesians 6:11

2. For we are not unaware of satan’s schemes (evil purposes & designs). ~ 2Corinthians 2:11

3. Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ~ James 4:7