Welcome to Genesis 3, where the beautiful story of humanity turned sour. We have the first introduction of the enemy, who is man’s adversary, and always opposing God’s purposes.
1. THE PIONEER OF SIN
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made…
The serpent was not the enemy, it was only a vessel used by the enemy. The Bible is clear that this enemy is Satan (Rev. 12:9, Rev. 20:2). To understand the personality and patterns of Satan, listen to these sermons:
- “The Catalogue Of Angels – Part 1 (Satan)” by Pastor Dammy
- “Salvation Over Satan” by Pastor Temilolu
2. THE PLAN OF SIN
Genesis 3:1 …and he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
When we take a careful look at the dialogue between Satan and Eve, we will see how tactical he was. While we keep in mind the graciousness and abundance that God called us into (refer to Chapter 2 review), let us observe what I call Satan’s 7-point-strategy:
1. The Deceit:
Satan employed deceit. “The serpent was more cunning…” He is, from head to toe, deceitful. His temptations offer a luring into a wowing experience while blurring the person to its devastating effect.
2. The Doubt:
Satan did not deny that God had spoken. He simply questioned whether God had really said what Eve thought He had said. He cast doubt in her heart. “Has God really said…?”
3. The Discontentment:
One of Satan’s goals is to make us discontented with everything God has given us. Adam and Eve were permitted to eat of all the trees, but Satan focused on the one prohibited tree, causing much discontent in their hearts, and led them to sin. Contentment and gratitude have their ways of leading us into more holiness in conduct, while discontentment and complaints will open doors for all manners of temptations.
4. The Displacement:
Due to the doubts and discontent in her heart, Eve’s response was so weak that it strengthened the tempter and his temptation. Eve omitted the word “FREELY” (Gen. 2:16), shifting her gaze from the graciousness of God. She then added to God’s Word. “You shall not eat from it or touch it…” We do not find the touch part in God’s command. Not only did Eve make God’s word less gracious by omitting the word “freely”, she also made it more grievous by adding “or touch it”.
5. The Denial:
Seeing that Eve had fallen for his tactics, Satan launched his next tactic: “You surely shall not die!’” Ah. He denied God’s word. That’s calling God a liar.
6. The Desperation:
Satan wastes no time in launching the next tactic. He’s desperate for the soul of every man. When he said “For God knows…”, he broke their confidence in God. That means God didn’t have their best interests at heart. He then added his own lie as the “new truth”. He said “your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.” Hmmmmn… “…become like God” is the self-deception that caused Satan’s fall, and he used the same for the fall of man.
7. The Diet:
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. (v. 6) We can see that with this tree, Satan attacked through the three points of temptation. To understand this better, listen to Pastor Dammy’s sermon titled: “Let’s Talk About Overcoming Temptations Part 3”
3. THE PUNISHMENT OF SIN
Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings.
The moment they ate of the tree, everything about them changed. You’d notice:
- The Shame:
Their eyes opened naked and their first feeling was that of shame, fear, and guilt. - The Seclusion:
Their shame led them to hiding themselves from God, as though the creature can actually be out of the sight of the Creator. God would want to be with them and fellowship with them, in a very natural and intimate way. But shame, fear, and guilt had sent man into hiding. Sinful man can no longer approach the Holy God. - The Sentence:
Both physical and spiritual death were the result of sin, just as God said. The moment Adam and Eve sinned against God, their souls were separated from God, and their bodies began to die. Then God pronounced His sentences on Satan, the woman, and the man. Each of them “collected” their portion.
4. THE PLAN FOR SALVATION
Genesis 3:15 And I will make enemies Of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.”
In this verse, God preached the first gospel. He prophesied the doom of Satan that will come through the Seed of the Woman (Jesus Christ). It was as if God could not wait to announce His plan of salvation, to bring deliverance through Jesus. Right in the mess of everything Satan did, God has His redemptive plan in favour of man! In His mercy and love, God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden, so that they won’t access/eat the tree of life, as that’d make man live forever as sinners!
Before I draw this review to a close, I want to call our attention to the provisions made to cover the shame of man.
A. Man’s Provision:
“and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings.” (v. 7)
Adam and Eve’s clothing is the model for every false religion in the world. They try to cover man’s sin and shame through works. Every attempt to cover our own nakedness before God is just as foolish. We need to let Jesus cover us (Rev. 3:5,18), and put on Jesus Himself as our garment (Gal. 3:27). Fig leaves are a picture of self-righteousness. It is irritating to God!
B. God’s Provision:
“And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” (v. 21)
In order for Adam and Eve to be properly clothed, a sacrifice had to be made. An animal had to die (Heb. 9:22). Is this not the picture of our righteousness as believers? Christ had to die so we can be made righteous. The only thing Adam and Eve had to do was receive their new clothes; same way we receive God’s righteousness as a gift. Concerning your righteousness in God, always remember that:
- Your covering has a source – God, not you.
- Your covering is by a sacrifice – Jesus, not your efforts.
- Your covering is by a substitution, not a personal achievement.
- Your covering has an eternal safety, not temporary.
Beloved Gogolights, never forget that Satan is already under our feet, and very soon, God will crush him finally under our feet (Rom. 16:20). Hallelujah!
Grace to you, Church!
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