Genesis Ch 3. Fall of Man.

1. Gen 3:1,4,5

1-1> Satan knows God’s command

He subtly twisted God’s command as if it is too strict and not fair to Eve.

He challenged the meaning of God’s command and changed it into the opposite way.

He made God is selfish and not just.

He made her to doubt about God’s love, His righteousness and His judgment.

He made her to be proud and be like God.   

1-2> Serpent was instrument of Satan or manifestation of Satan. (Rev 12:9, 20:2; 2 Cor 11:3)

A. OT Perspective

                a. In Pentateuch, there is no clear explanation about the existence of Satan.

                                What does the chapter 3 mean to the people of Israel who experienced the exodus?

                                They still clearly saw the devastate effect of disobedience of God’s command. 

                b. In other OT, the existence of Satan and his character as accuser was described briefly.

(1 Chr 21:1; Job 1:6; Zech 3:1,2)

                                Satan’s motive to fall (Isa 14:13-14)

                                Satan’s beauty before the fall (Ezek 28:11-15)

B. NT perspective.

                More clear revelations are recorded in NT.

Since this topic demands us to look up the whole bible,

                We will keep this in mind while we study the whole Bible.

                I pray that we will study about the Satan more deeply for the spiritual battle against him..

2. Gen 3:2,3,6

2-1> Eve did not know God’s command accurately. (V2,3)

                She added her thoughts into God’s command. (V3)

                She minimized God’s command into optional/possibility (V3)

                                In summary, she did not have absolute attitude toward God’s command. (v2)

2-2> Her heart was changed. (V6; 1 Jn 2:16)

            Good for food (the desire of the flesh)

Pleasing to the eye (the desire of the eyes)

Desirable for gaining wisdom (the pride in possessions)

2-3> She was deceived by Satan. (1 Tim 2:14)

Because she did not know God’s command accurately.

It is possible Adam did not teach Eve about God’s command thoroughly.

2-4> Adam’s disobedience

                God’s command was given to Adam, not to Eve.

                        He was supposed to teach her about his command and to keep it. (Gen 2:15-17)

                He was not deceived, but purposely disobeyed God’s command (1 Tim 2:14)

He allowed his wife to lead him spiritually.

                        He failed to exercise his spiritual authority at home.

    Adam is also responsible for her and his action as well. (Gen 2:15;Rom 5:12)

3. Gen 3:7-19

3-1> The results of disobedience

Shame (V7); shameful of them

Fear (V10); afraid of God

Isolation (V10) Hiding from God

Broken relationship with God (V10) and with other people (V12, with nature (V13).

3-2> Judgment of God

                Serpent: crawl on your belly and eat dust. (V14)

                Eve: increased pain in childbearing. Be ruled over by husband. (V16)

                Adam: painful toil to eat, return to dust. (V17-19)

                                They were expelled from the Garden of Eden. (V23)

4. Gen 3:15

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring [seed] and hers; he will crush [strike] your head, and you will strike his heel.”

4-1> There is enmity Between You and the woman, between your offspring and hers.

Your offspring: Satan and unbelievers

Her offspring; Christ and those in Him

                Christ will defeat the Satan. (Destroy him)

                Satan will only bruise Christ’s heel (suffering)

4-2> He will crush your head and you will strike his heel

                Probably, OT people did not understand who this ‘he’ is and what he will do.

                In NT, this prophecy fulfilled in Jesus. (Rom 5:12-19;1 Cor 15:45-49; Heb 2:14,15)

4-3> This is called first gospel.

5. Gen 3:21

21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

                Garments of skin are contrast with the fig-leaves (v7)

                Garments of skin are involved with killing animals suggesting a sacrifice for sin. (Lev 17:11)

                This could be a shadow of the reality that God would kill a substitute to save people.

6. God’s command (Gen 2:16-17) and Adam’s disobedience (Gen 3:6)

2:16 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.”

3: 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

6-1> God’s command (Gen 2:16-17)

           God gave them freedom and they can do anything under the authority of God. (v16)

God limited their freedom through this single command. (v17)

This command is the only sign to distinguish between God and Adam.

God wanted Adam to know that God is the standard of good and evil.

                        Whatever God said is good, it is good. Whatever God said is evil, it is evil.

The Word of God should be the absolute standard between good and evil in our life.  

                                                Not Satan’s deception Nor my own reasoning.

                The people of Israel probably learned this truth through their failure.                                                     

6-2> Adam’s disobedience

Adam had perfect freedom to choose God or to reject God.

But, he purposely chose to disobey God because of Eve.

Adam wanted to be the one who decided what is good and evil.

Because of his disobedience, he lost the title of prophet, priest and king.  

                        Fallen men wanted to be the absolute standard for their lives.

Fall men consider themselves as God and act like God.

                        Fallen men decide what is good and evil by themselves (not by God’s command)