The Fall Of Man Series

The Bible records that the original couple Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan and sin marred God’s creation including mankind. The fall of man tells the story that is basic for the rest of the Bible. God’s plan to redeem fallen man. To save humanity lost in the fall. We are looking at the deception by the father of lies.

Genesis chapter 1 tells the creation story. In chapter 2 the creation story is again told. This time from a different viewpoint. This time it is a preview to the fall of man. In the Chapter 1 account the name for God is Elohim. “In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth,” The name of God is the majestic powerful creator.

In the chapter 2 account of creation the name Yahweh, the Lord is used. Tis is the personal name for God. It is the name for God that is used when he is in relationship with his people. Elohim is God is transcendent, majestic and set apart. Yahweh God is near. God is both transcendent and immanent. He is set apart and near.

There is a relationship between God and man in the Garden of Eden. The relationship between God and man is seen in this verse: So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)

We understand this from the creation account. Adam and Eve had a relationship together and were as one flesh. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

In Genesis 2 we have the prohibition that God gave. They were to eat from any tree, all but one. They were not to eat from one tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and tend it. 16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:15-17)

God made Adam and Eve with a will to make a choice. They had the option of obeying God and his command or disobeying. The pull or lure to disobey is temptation. The world of Adam and Eve was one where temptation is present. But why have temptation in the Garden of Eden?

Adam has the opportunity to test his obedience and prove himself faithful. To overcome the temptation to disobey God and obey out of love is to achieve a victory that brings honor and glory to God.

The serpent is mentioned first in the beginning of chapter 3. Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1) The serpent is connected directly to Satan, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan (Revelation 12:9)

The temptation and the fall began with the serpent luring Eve to disobey God. The deadly hook is baited. There is the distortion of truth. Satan begins a conversation with Eve about disobeying God. The serpent is telling Eve to give disobedience some consideration.

There is a progression in the strategy the serpent uses to tempt Eve. It starts just a little confusing. The serpent asks, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1) That’s not exactly the situation. God said , “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat;7 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17) There is a confusing half-truth.

It is enough confusion that Eve corrects the serpent of on aspect of what he distorted but then she begins to add something we have not heard before. She said we must not touch it. Then Satan’s next statement is an outright lie. The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! 5 For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will [a]become like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5) Satan is deceiving Eve into thinking God is actually taking advantage of Adam and Eve.

In his deception Satan pretends to be the friend of Eve protecting her from God, the enemy. Satan lies, he lures, and he destroys. It was a dominoes. Eve at the fruit and Adam ate the fruit. Satan distorted the truth and destroyed the relationship Adam and Eve had with God.