In the Beginning - The fall
We are “in the beginning” of our timeline as we search for God’s timeless truth. Last week we stepped into Genesis and saw God created everything in just six days. The Creator didn’t need brushes or clay, but instead, spoke planets, oceans, plants, and animals into existence. While God created mankind in those first six days, His shaping of man was different from the rest of creation.
Genesis 2:7 | Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.
God handcrafted Adam, the first man, as well as Eve, the first woman–
Genesis 2:21-22 | So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
The handcrafting of mankind isn’t the only thing that makes the creation of man unique.
Genesis 1:26-28 | Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
Man was the only part of creation made in God’s own image. They were also given a purpose or job to do as God set them apart to rule over and care for the rest of His creation. Adam and Eve, perfectly crafted by God, living in the perfect Garden of Eden, were given just one rule to live by:
Genesis 2:16 | But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
You might already know that God’s one rule for Adam and Eve gets broken. We don’t know exactly how long it takes before Adam and Eve choose to go their own way instead of God’s way, but we do know there’s someone else in the garden who gets Eve wondering what breaking God’s rule might be like:
Genesis 3:1 | The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
We know from Revelation and Ezekiel that the serpent here is not just a snake, but instead, is the enemy - Satan. He is shrewd, or clever and underhanded, looking to deceive, or trick and trip up, mankind- God’s precious, image-bearing creation. His question is ridiculous since all the trees in the garden were given to Adam and Eve to eat from except for one, but he knows this. Just a little twisting of the truth trips Eve up–
Genesis 3:2-3 | “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
A quick reread of Genesis 2:16 reveals that Eve herself has now twisted God’s words. She’s no longer standing on truth and because of this, her footing is rocky. Satan seizes the opportunity to appeal to Eve’s desires–
Genesis 3:4-5 | “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
Sure enough, Eve desired the knowledge and independence painted in Satan’s misrepresented reality.
Genesis 3:6 | The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
In that very moment, not only are the lives of Adam and Eve changed, the entire world is transformed by sin and death.
Romans 5:12 | When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
The serpent is punished (Genesis 3:14-15), woman is punished (Genesis 3:16), man is punished (Genesis 3:17-19), and even the very earth God created can feel the consequences of sin (Genesis 3:17b-18; Romans 8:20).
But the most tragic consequence of mankind’s decision to sin, or go their own way instead of God’s way, is seen just before those punishments are doled out. God comes near to Adam and Eve in the garden–
Genesis 3:8a | When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden.
And instead of excitement and a desire to be with their creator-
Genesis 3:8b | they hid from the Lord God among the trees.
The relationship they were designed to have with God was lost. The account of the fall in Genesis reminds us of a tough truth that although it is hard, is timeless: Our sin separates us from God.
Isaiah 59:2 | It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
Thankfully, even in the garden, God had a plan to restore our relationship with Him. We’ll see that later in time, but for now, remember this timeless truth- our sin separates us from God, revealing man’s need for a Savior.
What is sin?
Why is sin a problem?
What drew Eve to eat from the forbidden tree?
What draws you to sin even when you know it is wrong?
In your experience, how does sin impact your relationship with God?
Right now, do you feel close to or far from God? Why?