Genesis 3

Now, Genesis 3 has a lot of parts to it. Remember how I said we need to remember the first covenant from Genesis 2:16-17? Well, it’s time!  

The first covenant was established between God and Adam. Adam was gifted the responsibility to share with Eve the knowledge that God told him. In Genesis 3:1-5, Satan deceives Eve by disguising himself as a serpent. He then questions both God’s Word (“did God really say?”) and God’s goodness (“for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be open, and you will be like God.”). Sadly, he’s still using these same tricks today. Eve takes the fruit and eats, gives some to Adam, and both become aware of the knowledge of sin (which is why we live in a broken world today). Historically, Eve has been named the “source of sin” and has been branded as “more sinful.” But the Bible points to Adam, not Eve, as the one who brought sin and death into humanity. Dr. Wiersbe references Romans 5:12-21, which is titled “Death though Adam, life through Christ.” In this passage, Paul points to Adam as being the one to blame, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man…For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!..” Adam brought sin, yet Jesus brings forgiveness and life! Eve was deceived, yet Adam willfully sinned (1 Timothy 2:14).

Now, Eve is not blameless. Yes, the serpent deceived her, but in that moment of deception she questioned the goodness of God and chose her own way instead of trusting God’s way. As a result of their choices, we see that the serpent, Adam, and Eve all received the penalty for their sin. First, God curses the serpent (Genesis 3:14-15). Verse 15 is the first announcement of what Jesus will do as the Ultimate Redeemer. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring [Satan’s family] and her offspring [God’s family]; he shall bruise your head [Jesus’ resurrection], and you shall bruise his heel [Jesus’ death on the cross].” God’s punishment for Eve includes pain during childbirth and unfortunately, submission to her husband. A women’s submission to her husband is not God’s original design for us, but instead a result of sin. According to Dr. Wiersbe, “this submission isn’t identified as a part of a curse or as a mandate for husbands to have sovereign power over their wives. The New Testament makes it clear that husbands and wives who love each other and are filled with Spirit will be mutually submissive.” A Christ-centered marriage is one where BOTH make sacrifices and love each other equally, not where one rules over the other. Even though Eve sinned, God still uses her, a woman, for His ultimate plan to bring a Savior (Jesus!) into the world. While the woman experiences pain in childbirth, Adam’s punishment is daily pain and hardships as he must work the field and be continually reminded that “[he] is dust, and to dust [he] shall return” (Genesis 3:19).  This chapter ends with Eve receiving her name “Eve,” which means “living,” for she is “the mother of all living.” Then, God gifts both new clothes and a new home, since they were banished from the Garden. Fun Fact: Gensis 3 is where we see the first animal sacrifice that was used to cover the result of man’s sin since God made for them “garments of skins” to clothe their nakedness.