Genesis
Lesson 11Genesis 3:1-7
In this lesson, we look at Adam and Eve, who are living and working in the garden when they are confronted by sin and Satan. We will encounter a pivotal decision point in the history of mankind, and we will see its failure to make the right decision, leading to the fall of mankind. In subsequent lessons, we will be examining that fall in greater detail, and its effects on all of God’s creation.
For now, let’s take a close look at Satan, his intellect, cunning, and his ability to tempt us when he believes that he has a reasonable chance of succeeding. Let’s also critically examine Eve’s reaction to his temptation. Finally, let’s consider Adam and his response to Eve’s sin.
Read Genesis 3:1-7 and consider the following:
- Who does scripture tell us is the serpent, the snake, in this narrative? (see Rev. 12:9 and Rev. 20:2)
- What can we learn from the following scriptures about the history of Satan before he came into the garden and enticed Eve to sin?
- Isaiah 14:12-15
- Ezekiel 28:11-19
- Was Eve surprised when an animal — the serpent in this case — spoke with her? What possible conclusions can we draw from this encounter regarding upright serpents and talking animals? (see Gen. 3:1-3, Gen. 3: 14-19, and also Numbers 22:28)
- Satan appears to have been very methodical in the planning of his first encounter with humans. List some of the things that Satan seems to have considered before approaching Eve.
- Referring back to Genesis chapter 2, we noted that God created man and gave him responsibilities, as enumerated verses 8 through 17. What is the greatest responsibility that God has given man? (see also 1 John 5:3, Romans 2:13 and Luke 11:28)
- In which verse in Genesis did God tell Eve to not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Why was God upset when she did eat from it?
- List three ways in which Satan tempted Eve to eat the fruit. Is there a pattern here that we can also see play out today, whenever we are tempted to sin?
- It is apparent that Eve fell for Satan’s lies, picked some of the fruit, took it to Adam, and they both ate it together. What does Genesis 3:6 tell us regarding the physical location of Adam at this point?
- It may be easy to come to the conclusion that Satan chose Eve to tempt because he believed her to be the weaker of the two humans in the garden. However, what tricks, lies, and schemes did Eve have to employ to get Adam to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? What resistance did Adam offer in trying to avoid sinning against God?
- Referring to the previous question above, what can we then deduce regarding Satan’s plan, with which when he decided to go into the garden and tempt man to sin? What does Paul write in 1 Timothy 2:14 concerning this?
- What does God tell us regarding how we can get rid of Satan, i.e., how do we get Satan to leave us? (see James 4:7)
- What does Paul tell us about God, temptation, and ourselves in 1 Corinthians 10:13?
In this lesson, we have examined many things concerning Satan, sin, temptation and our responsibility to resist sin and avoid being tempted. We can also infer that we clearly have a responsibility to help each other when one of us is tempted, or perhaps has even sinned. We must help others resist Satan’s lies, and we must not allow ourselves to also be caught in the same snare.
May God strengthen your faith this week, and enable you to resist whatever it is that Satan is tempting you with — so that you can obey God’s will for your life and not fall into one of Satan’s subtle traps. Keep strong in your faith and your knowledge of Christ and His Holy Word, and you will grow stronger with each passing day. Our work in the kingdom must continue; and we cannot allow Satan to slow us down or take away from the work that God has placed before us, just as he had given Adam and Eve the work of caring for His garden.
Thanks for studying with us.
In Christ,
Wes
[2010]