GENESIS
The Fall of Man
© 2007 Eric Bain
NOTE: This sermon is available in audio format @ www.sanctuary-church.com
BI – When we don’t follow God it puts relational distance between us… and that distance kills!
Alright… grab a Bible and open up to Genesis, Chapter 2, verse 4. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover this morning. We’re actually going to cover Chapter 2 & Chapter 3… So let’s get to it.
GE 2:4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
Alright… This is clearly the beginning of a new story that the narrator is about to tell us. But, didn’t the narrator already tell us this story? I mean, wasn’t Genesis 1 all about the creation of the heavens and the earth? So, am I wrong here, or are we about to hear the whole story again? (pause) Well, the answer, if you’re not aware, is… yes! Yes, Genesis 1 was about Creation... and now, as we move into Genesis 2, we are about to be told of the creation events, again. Only this time, we’ll be getting the story told to us with a different focus…
ILL – It’s kind of like this… Has anybody here ever seen a movie about WWII? Name one…
• Saving Private Ryan
• Flags of our Fathers
• A Bridge Too Far
• Band of Brothers
OK, all of these movies are about WWII… and they all tell different stories… but just because they’re different, that doesn’t make the reality of WWII any less true. In addition… it doesn’t necessarily mean that any of these stories are any less accurate. Because, they can all be accurate… but just talking about different aspects of the same greater event.
Well, the same is true for Genesis 1, and Genesis 2 (put hands up & illustrate)… they both talk about the same creation event… but each story tends to focus on different aspects of that event.
So, if you think about it, the question put before us this morning – as we get started – is not so much… How is Genesis 2, specifically different than Genesis 1? But rather… as we begin to read Chapter 2… What is the focus of the story as it begins to unfold? And what is the point the story is trying to make? (pause)
Let’s keep reading…
When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-- 5 and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground-- 7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Alright, let’s pause again… I want you to notice something that the author has begun to do that is virtually unique to this story… He calls God, the LORD God. (Only done one other time in the Pentateuch – Exodus 9:30)
Now, I’ll go into what’s going on here, specifically in the Hebrew, but what you really need to know is that this is a combination of two different Old Testament names for God. And each of these names has a unique emphasis of meaning.
ILL – Two Names that I am commonly called
• To begin with, you have this name, God (Elohim).
o This is the name that the narrator used throughout the entire Genesis 1 creation story.
o It’s actually kind of a generic term for deity… just like the word god (in English) can mean any god (Buddhist, Mormon, Hindu… Christian). However when we Christians get a hold of this generic word, we tend to apply it like a name. “God!” Well, the same is true here with the Jews.
o Only, when they apply Elohim (God)… it carries the connotation of creator God.
o The all powerful – one and only God that has created the universe and everything in it.
o That’s why in Genesis 1, when we learned about the six days of creation… this was the name that was used.
• But now, as we move into Genesis 2, the author adds this name, LORD (Yahweh).
o This is the personal name for the God of the Hebrews.
o And this name has a deeply relational aspect to it.
o It’s the name that’s used when God is specifically dealing with his people - his followers – and his covenants with them.
Nonetheless, as the creation story of Genesis 2 begins, the narrator uniquely combines these two names… LORD God… Yahweh Elohim… Relational-creator God… Why do you think he does that?
We don’t know yet, but I bet that it has something to do with the focus of the story… and the point it’s trying to make. Let’s keep reading…
GE 2:8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
For the sake of time, skip to verse 15…
GE 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it… you will surely die."
Note: It seems that in the garden, the man was allowed to eat from the Tree of Life… but not the Tree of Knowledge.
Also Note: At this point – at least to some degree – we’re beginning to see the focus of the story?
• It’s about man… and the LORD God. (--- Pause)
• It’s about man… and Yahweh Elohim
• It’s about man… and the deeply relational-creator God of the universe.
• But it’s not just about any man… it’s about the man… the very first man. The man a relational-creator God, created out of the dust of the earth and placed in a garden.
• A garden of great beauty and supply… and a garden of freedom… there is only one rule – You must not eat from the tree of knowledge. AND this rule was to protect the man.
• Because when you eat of it… you will surely die.
• The garden is a place of Relationship between Yahweh Elohim & the man
GE 2:18 The LORD God said, "It is not good… for the man to be alone. (pause) I will make a helper suitable for him."
GE 2:19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
GE 2:23 The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called `woman,’
for she was taken out of man."
GE 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
GE 2:25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
You may remember that at the end of the creation story in Genesis 1, we learned that as the 6th day came to a close, God looked back over all that he had created and saw that it was not just good… but very good.
But now, in Genesis 2, we learn that at some point on the 6th day, after the LORD God had finished making the man, he looked at him and said…
GE 2:18 "It is not good…"
(pause)
For the man alone – although he was strong – his strength was inadequate. He needed a helper.
• If we had time to pause, I could wax eloquent about how that speaks loads into some of the false claims of our modern culture.
o About self-reliance
o And what it means to be in relationship
Nonetheless, after going through all the other creatures that had been made from the dirt… and finding nothing suitable… the LORD God set about the process of making something unique… a creature not from the dirt… but from the man himself.
This new creature would be the man’s ideal helper. We read that this creature will be, suitable for him. However, a more literal translation would say that this new creature… will be… like-opposite him.
In other words, God set out to personally designed a creature that would, not just come from the man’s side, but be by his side… to make up for the man’s inadequacies. This creature would be so ideal, that when paired together, the man and his like-opposite, would literally become one flesh. ILL - Like two pieces of a puzzle that fit together so perfectly, the seam is virtually unnoticed… and yet together they reveal one picture.
• They are n¬ot the same… they are opposites!
• They are not equal… and yet the woman is essential! – making up for the inadequacies the man.
In Genesis 2, we’re told that God created… and the man named… (pause) and woman came into existence. And with that, the institution of marriage was born… and then God declared… only then God declared…
It was very good!
Chapter 3…
GE 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, `You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?"
(pause)
Now, did you catch what just happened?... It was very subtle… Let me read that again…
GE 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, `You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?"
Now, if you’re anything like me, you probably keyed in on the fact that the serpent twisted God’s words. Cause, God didn’t really say, “they couldn’t eat from any tree.” That makes God sound repressive and controlling. Rather, God said they couldn’t eat from only one tree – the tree of knowledge. You see, there was great freedom in the garden. And yet, the very first words out of the serpent’s mouth are deceiving! And unfortunately, Eve fell into that deception.
NOTE: We’re going to talk more about that in a couple weeks as I do a message on this specific section of the story.
But for now, there’s something even more subtle going on that I want you to notice. And that’s that for the very first time in the story… Yahweh Elohim… the LORD God… the relational-creator God of his followers (pause) is only referred to… as God.
In other words, it’s as if the narrator himself wants us to know that there is something different about this serpent. Because, while the serpent recognizes that God is the one and only creator of the universe… he does not speak of him in the relational way of a follower. (pause)
I will tell you right now, in case you are not aware… the voice of the snake in the creation story, is ultimately the voice of Satan. Again, we’re going to talk much more in a couple weeks. But for now, let me reference you to the Book of Revelation, where John, the author, has a vision. And in writing about that vision, he says…
REV 12:7 There was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But the dragon was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.
In other words, Satan… through the snake… deceives Eve… leading her and the whole world astray. And Yahweh Elohim… the relational-creator God… is now just God. As Eve & Adam partook in the forbidden fruit… and disobeyed Yahweh. (pause)
• Now, I personally don’t believe that they understood that what they did was wrong.
• However, as followers of God – in relationship with him… they began to not follow.
There would be consequence…
• The ground & the serpent would be curssed
• There would be shame in their nakedness.
• Life would become more difficult!
• And things… things like the relationship between man and woman would become more complex & harder to manage than they were originally designed to be.
• But most significantly… not following Yahweh Elohim would lead to distance… distance between God and humanity.
• Distance between the source of life… and humanity
Let’s pick up the story in verse 20… (the close of this narrative section)
GE 3:20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
GE 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life - and eat - and live forever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
There’s so much to contemplate in this important text… But a couple of critical notes:
• Although the disobedience of Adam & Eve will put distance between God and humanity, the narrator wants us to know… this does not change the relational nature of God. For the story closes with God once again being referred to as Yahweh Elohim… the relational-creator God of the universe. This alone, leaves us with hope.
• But also, the story leaves us with the hope of new birth… For, Eve is to be the mother of all the living.
So, Genesis 2, in spite of it’s tragedy… ends with us looking forward. Forward in hope…
• Hope for relationship with God…
• Hope for life… in new birth
• And that brings me to one last critical note: Something new has been introduced to the Genesis story…. death!
Here’s what I’m getting at… What covers the consequence of Adam and Eve’s disobedience? Garments of skin. In other words, innocent life had to be sacrificed in order to cover the shame of sin.
Well, this is pattern will be repeated all throughout Biblical history… until we come to Christ! And in Christ, the ultimate sacrifice of innocence will take place…
• A sacrifice to cover the sins of humanity once and for all.
• A sacrifice to bring humanity and God… back, into personal relationship.
• And a sacrifice that will allow eternal life for all of God’s followers.
What is the Focus of the Second Creation Story?
• The Focus is on the relationship between humanity and God (the man & the woman & Yahweh Elohim)… and how sin affects that relationship.
And what is the ultimate point…
• Sin leads to the death because it terminates our relationship with the source of life!
• But Yahweh Elohim overcomes…
o Through the sacrifice of the innocent (Christ)
o The hope of New Birth (In Christ)
o & the promise of Eternal Life… for those that will obey & follow!
COMMUNION
© 2007 Eric Bain
