In the first study, we learnt about the world that God created in Gen 1. He declared that all that He had made was good, but that world looks very different from the world we live in today. We live in a world after Gen 3, and today, we will learn about the cause of the brokenness of this world. Christians attribute it to sin and the concept of sin is crucial in our understanding of who man is. Yet, the doctrine and idea of sin has changed over the past 2 centuries. These days, we are less likely to speak of sin, and when we speak of it, it is in a less accusatory tone.
Let's see what the Bible has to teach us about our sin.
Man’s nature is sinful: we give in to temptations and disobey God's commands, sinning against Him.
In Gen 3:1, we are told that the serpent that was “more crafty than any other beast of the field”. Here, the Bible introduces the main antagonist in God’s otherwise perfect world. In this verse, we are also reminded that the serpent was simply a part of the created order. Unlike some world religions that teach a dualistic universe, Christianity understands that God has no comparable enemies. Satan is at best, a created creature. What does this mean? This means that unlike a world of light and dark, good and evil in equal balance, or endless conflict (dualism), the Bible tells us that God alone is sovereign over all and that He rules over all things, including Satan and all creation. Satan is simply not God's equal.
Gen 3:1-5 records for us a conversation between the serpent and the woman. In his first question to the woman, the serpent casts doubt on the very words of God (Gen 3:2). God’s gracious words in Genesis 1 are the means of God’s provision and the evidence of his love toward creation but in Genesis 3, the serpent’s words in the form of clarifications and innocent questions create doubt in the woman's mind about the very nature of God. He asks innocently, “Did God actually say...?”, choosing to highlight God’s prohibition and casts Him in the light of a petty taskmaster or a stingy provider.
In her reply in Gen 3:3, Eve makes a fatal error. She does not pay attention to the exact words of God, and distorts what God says. She makes Him out to be more strict and more lax than He actually is simultaneously. In verse 3, she adds to God’s commands (contrast Gen 2:16 and Gen 2:17), saying that cruel old God did not even allow them to touch the tree. At the same time, she makes light of the consequence for disobedience by taking out the judicial assurance that they will surely die. In both instances, by misquoting God, she is misrepresenting God. She has twisted the words of God and distorted Him, ignoring what He has chosen to reveal of Himself - the kind and generous Creator, full of love and righteousness. She turns Him into something else - the selfish and stingy God. We learn that sin is therefore, not just disobeying God’s words and open rebellion (even though it is no less than that), but the very abuse and blasphemy against God Himself.
The serpent's reply in Gen 3:4 is no longer a subtle question, but a full-blown, outright lie.He contradicts God directly, and in verse 5, depicts God as an ultimately selfish and petty deity. According to the serpent, God will advance His purposes at the cost of Eve’s good. This is completely untrue and especially terrible when you think of how, two chapters ago, God introduced Himself in the most generous of terms, as a God of utter joy, blessing the world in creation and a God who delighted in the man and woman He created.
We realise in Gen 3:6 that the man was also present which this exchange was taking place. Both man and woman were accountable as they both ate the fruit, in a direct contradiction of God's commands. But this verse also shows us the nature of sin. In Gen 3:6, the Bible gives us insight into Eve’s motives - not just her rebellion against God, but the lustful desires of the flesh, eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-16). For verse 6 to say that “the tree was good for food” to Eve meant that every other tree became immediately insufficient. For the tree to be “a delight to the eyes” meant that every other gift seemed scornful and pathetic. For verse 6 to say that the tree was desirable to make one wise meant that Eve’s heart ceased to trust in God and she sought to chart her own life course, stepping foolishly beyond God’s wise providential care. There exchanged the truth of God for the lies of the serpent.
Man’s world is broken: the world, work, relationships, life itself are in a fallen state.
In Gen 3:7, we are told that Adam and Eve tried to hide their shame and also tried to hide from God (Gen 3:8). With the opening of their eyes in verse 7, they become aware of their nakedness. In order to cover it, they sewed together fig leaves of clothing. There was no concept of shame or guilt before sin entered the world. Things were always right, but once sin entered the world, new emotions of guilt and shame entered this world. The physical covering up was indicative of the guilt that came with turning against God. Not only did they gain some knowledge and put some clothes on, they also hid from God. This vertical relationship has now been broken. There is no longer mutual trust as they knew that they had turned against God. God knew what they had done, but still came down to look for this man and woman. Yet, all they did was to hide, overwhelmed by this new feeling of guilt. They were also afraid of God and this is a new feeling as cosmic distrust arising from sin had entered the world.
We are told that God came down and walked in the Garden, in the cool of the day and tried to draw them out with a question (Gen 3:8) . God did not judge them immediately, but in fact, wanted to stage a meeting with them. God posed a question to them (Gen 3:11) and in the process gave them a chance to admit their guilt. But they play a blame game, and we see how the order that God has placed in the world is now inverted.
There are consequences to man's sins. Creation is now being cursed, a stark contrast to the blessings given in Gen 1. The serpent will be despised, and there will be enmity between the offspring of the women and the offspring of the serpent. This will be a constant reminder and symbol for evil and sin. The woman will bear children in pain, and her relationship with her husband will also be affected (Gen 3:15-16). Having children is a joyous event, and is part of God's command. But now, what He has commanded continues to be carried out in a difficult and painful affair. The marital relationship will also be affected as it is no longer one of mutual trust and support, but breaks down easily with each party seeking to exercise authority over the other.
The ground will be cursed because of the man' sin. Man's daily living is also now made difficult, as the ground is now cursed. Man was made to work, but now it is difficult. And finally, man's life comes to an end in death. No longer can they live with God eternally, but death comes as a result of sin. We know this instinctively, that death is not supposed to be a part of life. Do we see the brokenness in this world? What about our own lives? This is all a result of sin. Gen 3 also teaches us that sin is not something abstract and outside of us. All we need to do is to look in the mirror, and we are staring at sin in the face. We have offended God Himself.
Man’s hope is God: God is our faithful provider, ultimate Saviour and great hope.
Is there all there is? Gen 3 does not end with these curses, but also ends with a glimmer of hope. God clothes them with garments of skin (Gen 3:21). God the generous Creator continues to provide for sinners. He provided garments from skins, to replace the flimsy fig leaves. This is the first animal sacrifice, and the picture of sacrifice continues to unfold in the rest of the Bible. We may try to hide our sins and attempt to redeem ourselves, but that will not work. God has to provide and protect us.
He also sends them out and does not allow them back into the garden (Gen 3:24). Why is banishing them from Eden a good thing? Man is not not living as they were meant to be. Imagine what it will be like to live in this state forever! This is a possibility if they continued in the Garden and ate of the fruit of the tree of life. This would mean living in the state of sin forever. Moreover, they could not continue to dwell with a holy God because of their sin. Their relationship with God has been broken.
In Gen 3:20, Adam called the woman "Eve", meaning "mother of the living". Why does he do this? The clue lies in Gen 3:15. This is the beginning of God's plan of redemption. This is the thread of the Gospel that is being pulled in the rest of the Bible. There will be enmity between two groups of people, but there will be an individual who will deal a fatal blow to the serpent, while suffering a momentary pain (bruising). This is the promise that sin will be crushed. This is the hope of Gen 3:15. Years later, we know that Jesus Christ is the promised serpent-crusher. Thus, from Gen 3 onwards, God's people are always waiting for this Promised Son.
Gen 3 helps us understand our fundamental sinful nature. It explains why our world is the way this is. But it also tells us that we have a great hope in Christ.
Reflection questions
What is your understanding of Man’s sinful nature? Is there something you learnt or were reminded of tonight?
What are some ways you struggle with sin in your own life, or see the effects of the curse in the world today? How do we live effectively in a sinful world?
What have you learnt about God’s attributes in tonight’s study?
Modified from chapter 2 of "The Gospel Primer: Far as the curse is found".