Tuesday: The Fall – Part 1
Described as more “crafty” than any other animal (Gen. 3:1, NIV) , the snake became a powerful symbol throughout Bible history. Moses lifted up a bronze serpent on a pole to stop people from dying in a plague of deadly serpents during the Exodus (Num. 21:5-9) .
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
Communicating With the Dead
The same bronze serpent became an object of idolatry and of occult practice and was destroyed by King Hezekiah about seven hundred years later (2 Kings 18:4) . In the book of Revelation, the “serpent of old” is clearly identified as “the devil, or Satan” (Rev. 12:9, NIV) .
Read Genesis 3:1-5. What tactic did Satan use in his attempt to deceive Eve?
The first words uttered by the snake were words of cynicism and doubt: “‘Did God really say?’” (Gen. 3:1, NIV) . Instead of Eve wondering why a snake was talking to her, she was immediately drawn into the faith-destroying taunts. When Satan asked, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” (Gen. 3:1, NIV) , the implication (based on the original language) was that God forbade them to eat from all the trees when, in fact, that wasn’t what God had forbidden them to do.
God’s character is being questioned here. This is a direct attack on Him. The serpent must have confused Eve, because her reply adds a detail that, according to the biblical record, God did not give: “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ’You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” (Gen. 3:2-3 NKJV; compare Gen. 2:17). The part about not touching it, she added, perhaps in her own confusion.
Satan’s success up to this point made him bold; so, he then directly challenged God’s authority: “‘You will not surely die’” (Gen. 3:4, KJV) . The fact that he, in the tree, was touching the fruit and remained alive made his statements believable. He then threw in the final thought: “‘God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (vs. Gen. 3:5, NKJV) . The tempter made it appear that God was not only dishonest but also withholding something good from them.
Satan mixed truth with error. What are some things people believe that are a mixture of truth and error? Why is that always a deadly mix, especially in terms of theology?
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The following comment from Mrs White repeats/confirms the idea that Eve got confused while she was talking with the Serpent, and that she added to the words of God.
"Eve had OVERSTATED the words of God's command. He had said to Adam and Eve, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt NOT EAT OF IT: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." In Eve's controversy with the serpent, SHE ADDED "Neither shall ye touch it." Here the subtlety of the serpent appeared. This statement of Eve gave him advantage [and he quickly made use of it]; he plucked the fruit and placed it in her hand, using her own words, 'He hath said, If ye TOUCH it, ye shall die'. You see no harm comes to you from touching the fruit, neither will you receive any harm by eating it." (EGW, Confrontation p.14)
Was it a deliberate, knowing, addition on Eve's part, when she said, "neither shall you touch it"? I'm sure it was not. Because if Eve had deliberately misrepresented God, then she would have borne "false witness" and transgressed (sinned) at that point. What Eve said was wrong, but it was not a deliberate lie. She was confused.
At this point Eve has not yet fallen. She was still in a conversation with Satan. Adam and Eve were still perfect beings. So the question of confusion should not arise. I find it hard to assume that Eve was confused when she was still perfect.
The devil always twists the truth or creates a counterfeit of the originaland in that way we follow blindly bse something looks like what we kno for instance celebration of Christmas,introduction of rap gospel music and incorporation of secular tracks into christian music;most youths today were lost because the devil has made us believe that there is nothing wrong with dancing,rapping gospel music just like everything else
I understand what you are saying, but there is another side of the story to consider also. Sometimes the criticism of what others are doing is a ploy by Satan to ensure that we are looking away from Jesus and at one another is a judgmental way that is contrary to the spirit of the Gospel. More young people are lost today because of the way that well-meaning but critical church members have treated them than anything else.
I am quite pleased that some are now looking at both sides of the coine. I think we are too quick on the dos and the don't than living Christ in our communities. The young people will follow what we live and not what we tell them to do.
Adam was given a ministry by God to preach faith in eve's life until she was comform to be in the same nature of Adam & God but the devil got a chance to preach doubt into Eve's mind.
The devil would not allow any one to worship God beside himself
When God create man in his image, Satan was insulted.
Given the whole world to rule, subdue & multiply yet he was the best worshiper in heaven he still fight that no one will ever take his place of worshiping God.
Thank you for your comment, Manana. I find it interesting, because I do not find a basis for it in the Bible. So I'm wondering if it is common in your culture to believe that Adam had to preach to Eve how to be "in the same nature of Adam"? Does your pastor preach that?
The Bible teaches that both Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. See Genesis 1:26-28:
Notice that the word "man" actually means "humanity" because it includes the woman. Both "male and female" were created in the image of God. And Gen 1:28 continues by saying that both were given dominion over creation:
Are you saying that Satan was "the best worshiper in heaven"? Why do you say that?
Hallo Inge - I live in Africa where I often have to put on my "African ears" to understand what my countrymen are actually saying. I think this may be the case with what Manana is trying to express. His expression 'worshiping God' probably means "being worshiped instead of God". I am also a bit confused about Adam preaching to Eve .. but if we interpret "preach' as "teach" or "guide" we can possibly better understand that Adam was to stand by Eve and guiding her in a closer walk with God.
Where does it say in the Bible that "Adam was given a ministry by God to preach faith in eve's life until she was comform to be in the same nature of Adam; God but the devil got a chance to preach doubt into Eve's mind." ???? You make it sound like Eve was inferior to Adam, which she was not, according to the Bible.
I suggest that the following thought from A.T.Jones (one of our SDA pioneers) is really worth reading. It relates to Genesis 3:1 where Satan begins to talk to Eve at the tree. (Jones is referring to an element in the Hebrew text that cannot be translated into English) :
"... note the expression with which he opens the conversation. It is an expression which insinuates into her mind a whole world of suspicion. The common version translates it, "Yea, hath God said," etc. The Revised Version gives it the same. ... But no translation can give it exactly. It can not be exactly expressed in letters so as to form a word that would give it truly. Yet everybody in the world is familiar with the expression. It is that sneering grunt (expressed only through the nose) -- c-ugh! -- which conveys query, doubt, suspicion, and contempt, all at once. "C-ugh! hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" And everybody knows that to this day among men there is nothing equal to this sneering grunt, to create doubt and suspicion; and no other expression is used so much by mankind for that purpose. And this is the origin of it." (Ecclesiastical Empires p. 590)
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Our tone, gestures, and even the non-linguistic sounds we make, can carry a lot of weight, and it seems that Satan used all these things in his talk with Eve. He had one "shot" at it, because if Eve had not done the thing Satan wanted her to do, she would have gone and spoken with her husband about it, and that would have meant a very different outcome.
Thanks for that Stewart, very interesting, and makes perfect sense.
Thank you Brendan.
Two Bible translations that try to bring out the doubting/suspicious spirit expressed by the Devil, are the Tanakh (the Jewish translation of the Old Testament), and the Moffatt translation.
The Tanakh reads, "He said to the woman, Did God really say, You shall not eat..?" (Gen 3:1). And the Moffatt translation puts the Devil's question to Eve like this - "And so God has said that you are not to eat fruit..?"
Perhaps the Moffatt translation expresses the contempt in the Devil's voice somewhat better than the Tanakh. But yes, I think Jones' explanation is worth taking on board.
I agree, Who but God can read the thoughts and motives of our minds? or who can speak for another? for when a word is uttered it cannot by any means be retrieved it's gone into eternity forever. James calls the tongue "a fire, a world of iniquity that defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the the course of nature; and is set on fire by hell" James 3:6. Again, in Jeremiah 17:9-10 a description of the heart (i.e. the mind) is given; "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings".
Judgement is best left to God who alone is wise and able to discern the workings of the mind, but it is up to each individual to choose what path to follow.
Satan showed up under the disguise of a serpent because in his true form he would not be readily entertained by either Adam or Eve (Revelation 12:9). He first appeared as a beautiful upright creature to attract or entice and deceive (Genesis 3:14). The cunning usurper would then act by force to take over the planet (Job 1:7).
There was no orderly transfer of power on the planet from Adam to Satan. Not only does the devil assume to himself power on earth and impose on the liberties of mankind, in some cases he also forcibly possesses humans and other creatures (Mark 5:2-13).
Not many consciously choose to serve Satan. They simply choose independence from the Creator and soon find themselves under the power of the intruder. The devil cannot overrule the will, but he imposes as far as he may go, even among those who love Jesus, but carelessly lose their connection, as Peter did and was used by the enemy (Matthew 16:21-23).
There is no middle ground. People either surrender as slaves/servants to Christ or are made slaves to sin or self (Romans 6:16-18). The dragon capitalizes on those who are slaves to self to push them farther than they might imagine before they even realize it.
Therefore the caution to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). Believers ought not to trust themselves to get involved in everything which looks fun. As well it is not a victory to encourage people to preserve their former desires as a tradeoff to get them baptized or retain their membership in church (1 Peter 1:14-16). Pursue godliness and teach others the same.
Proverbs 4：22 state turn not to the right or left in dealings with doctrine of the law of God. God‘s words is law because there wisdom dwells. Eve‘s adding a jot to God instruction denotes her fall and of the world. Now we have a sorrowful thought that not everyone I ever knew even loved will be saved, if this is painful to humankind what about the creator who own everything we call out own.
It is not what my pastor preach it is through reading yo bible and getting revelation through the Holly Spirit
Adam was created in the image of God.
Eve was taken out of Adam presented to him as his helper
Adam represent the first creation in the image but still worship God
Eve represent a church that is faithfull to God
Adam was created to defeat the devil on earth and present to God a blameless generation of pple.
Ephesians 3:9 revealed the mystery of God which was hidden from the beginning of creation.
Christ staped down to finish what he has started in the beginning
So the church must be presented to him spotless, blameless and holly
Jesus like Adam the church his wife was taken out in the same mener from the cross John 19:34 And one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spier and immediately blood and water came out.
Acts 20:28 His own blood purchased the church.
Adam deny the church & fall with it but Jesus took our sins upon himself & died for all.
From to day's study two things have I learnt:
1.We should be content and insightful
2.We should develop as it were 'Blind Faith' in God.
People now in our day are preaching the first lies from the pulpit and the whole world since to be blinded by them.
1- immortality Gen 3:4=live as you please heaven is your home.
2-Sunday the Christian sabbath= Gen. 3:5 if God was withholding information from them, who was to trust that he was the creator? How about serving the gods of your own imagination such as nature, family tradition, etc. The devil has no change his tactics and we should not change our foundation which is the word of God " it is written" and we should make a promise to God of death before dishonor. May the Lord bless us.
Satan commenced his work with Eve, to cause her to disobey. She first erred in wandering from her husband, next, in lingering around the forbidden tree, and next in listening to the voice of the tempter, and even daring to doubt what God had said - In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. She thought, Perhaps it does not mean just as the Lord said. She ventured to disobey. She put forth her hand, took of the fruit, and ate. It was pleasing to the eye, and pleasant to the taste. She was jealous that God had withheld from them what was really for their good. She offered the fruit to her husband, thereby tempting him. She related to Adam all that the serpent had said, and expressed her astonishment that he had the power of speech.
Satan said: "you will know good and evil" -
Was this a lie?
Is it a bad thing to be able to tell the difference between good and evil? Don't we call that discernment or even wisdom?
What did he mean by "know" - was that knowledge or experience?
Why did Jehovah call it "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil", to me it sounds like He was saying: if you eat of it you will get knowledge of good and evil?
After they ate, did Adam & Eve know good & evil?
Satan actually told Eve half-truths because as a result of her eating her eyes were opened (Genesis 3:7) and they became like God (Genesis 3:22). It appears that God didn't even want Adam and Eve to know evil, only good. Evil was introduced to the universe by Lucifer and God says that He "knows" evil, so I think this is knowledge and not experience.
This lesson just portrays what is in todays world. Satan have sugar coated sin to look as if its a way of life. Most people do not even realize that they are living under the spell of sin. We have normalized sin into our societies to be specific our families. Parents are failing to take their role as earthly God for their children. Children have lost the sense of direction and guidance to the extent that they see the things of God as not so important. However, this lesson is teaching us as children of God to each one of us take our role by denying sin in everything we do no matter the form. Satan is using different platforms to cheat us that we will not die with even a touch as he did with Eve. The media which includes television and movies its all intoxicating our minds. Remember that sin start from seeing then it goes into the mind. What kind of programs are we watching on our television, what books are we reading, what movies are we watching. Let us all listen to our conscious when we want to do anything in our daily lives. let us all listen to that small silent voice in our heart, thats the Holy spirit guiding us. PRAYER IS THE ANSWER TO A HOLY LIFE! With prayer satan will never cheat us with his tactics. May the Lord be with you as you are living a prayerful life in 2016!!
Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded man saying,Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,for in the day you eat of it you! Shall surely die.
2:18 And the Lord God said it is not good that man should be alone be alone I will make him a helper comparable to him.
Genesis 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent we may eat the fruit of the trees of the gerden.
3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden,God has said,you shall not eat it,nor shall you touch it,least you die.
9. Then the Lord God called Adam and said to him,where are you?
10. So he said "I head your voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; and I his myself.
17. Then to Adam he said. Because you have heeded the voice of your wife,and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you,saying,You shall not eat of it.
Why did God curse them cz they were going to die any way
Why did he say it is not good for man to be alone? After giving the commandment to Adam?
Why did Eve sit and listen to the serpent if the law was given to her
Why did God say because you have heeded to the voice of your wife and eat.
I'm not sure as to which group I belong to but one thing I know is unless I'm born again I can not c the kingdom of God.
For me worship is every day. Eve listen to critics that defiles her mind and she believed and the whole world was punished. I would rather preach the gospel of Christ than names of churches
Or the love of God His mercy and his grace.
If you doubt ask God,,,. Eve did not ask God or Call Him and ask when someone said different / opposite to Her Gods words?
This is good lesson for all Gods people now days,,,. that we have to call Him ask him in our pray when ever we are in doubt about His Words,, when ever someone teaching different or apposite to Gods words in the Bible.
now days there are so many different teaching about Gods words in the Bible.
Satan mix truth and error....
This is interesting; By Eve availing details which God didn't give, before taking and eating the forbidden fruit, can we say she fell twice? First by adding words which God didn't speak then eating the fruit
If we can start by understanding the mortive of God's creation.
It is able to reveal the reason why Adam was created. What is preaching? telling some one the good news about God or bad if one does have. What did the devil do? told Eve bad news about God and pretend to be
a good guy.Where was Adam 2 busy to realise that Eve is now getting extra attention elsewhere.
The two shall be come one, Eve the helper is not with Adam at the time of her temptation
When Adam comes he seams to be lost not knowing what to say to his wife. But they are still one, Eve gave Adam the fruit he ate. Why because Eve told him that God didn't want them to be wise. Who is now telling who what to do?
His assignment was to tell Eve that this is forbidden fruit. What was the covenant between them and God? The law
Who's law did they obey? The devil So what is that called? Its a choice to worship
The only way to avoid temptation is knowing the law not doubting. How can one know the law if it was not preached
How many people fell in temptation daily coz they only know the wrong part of the law and fail to understand the good part of it.
Sin is not what Eve did but not believing what God promised. The bible state that because of lack of knowledge my pple perished.Before she ate she compared the good part and the bad then decided
How else was Eve going to believe if Adam the one given the law Partake.
The one who was accurate of hearing the voice of God.
If u can discern the devil is not out there he is rt in church. Using saints to accuse one another coz he is the accuser of the saints. Anything that God does the devil will raise pple who will question so he can plant doubt
If I may ask all the 66 books written in the bible where did they get the copies from?
If we believe that they were written by those who were motivated by the Spirit of God, where is he the Spirit 2day?
If Christ lives in us he is the hope of Glory. He is able to reveal to us according to our knowledge and our understanding.
May the Spirit of the Lord open our spiritual eyes So we can perceive things of the Spirit.
So that we can stand together against the enemy.Not to despise one another
Which is the same weapon he used against Adam; Eve. If u want to show yo wisdom despise God.
This days he just twisted it a little by disrespecting other Churches; other pple believing that we are wiser; better
That is exactly what he said to them, Is still the same today, Amen.
I too, have wondered about the "neither shall you touch it..." addition by Eve to the simple and straightforward command "you shall not eat...". A double re enforcement perhaps, similar to Moses's action when he struck the rock when the Lord had simply commanded him to only to speak to it?
However, back to the question of eating and touching. When you touch something you're only exercising your tactile sense, but whatever you eat becomes becomes a part of you; you have ingested it. Sin is like that, it is like a virus that begins to multiply in your body until it has consumed it. It took the blood of an innocent animal to provide an antidote.
It cost the death of our Lord to provide the ultimate antidote, it is provided for us free! but it is up to each person to reach out and take it.
What an infinitely loving God we have, beyond human comprehension. Bless you all.
May I ask a question?
Is it then valid to urgue that by misrepresenting what God had said by adding 'nor shall you touch it' in her reply to satan, Eve actaully sinned before biting the fruit?
I do agree that those practice are wrong, however I believe we focus so much on the wrong instead of should the good. In others yes certain activities music should be preached against, but what should take it's place? That would make a good sermon!
The question that the serpent first posed to Eve was, "Did God say that you should not eat of EVERY tree of the garden?" He knew the answer, but he allowed Eve to the think she had one over him.Eve said, "we may eat of the trees of garden, except the one in the midst." It was a set up for a comeback. When faced with temptation we need not entertain, the devil may make us think we are winning, but he set us up to beat us at the game.
I like the thought Frencene. It reminds me of one of the temptations that the Devil brought to Jesus. (And of course it was a REAL temptation to Him.) The Devil offered Him "all the kingdoms of the world" (Matt 4:8), and yes, in a sense those kingdoms were his to give. What a great advantage it would be in His work! He [and His people] would not have to contend with Imperial or civil opposition. No persecution! The way would be open for the proclamation of the Gospel. But all the kingdoms were offered on the condition that Jesus would [just once] "fall down and worship" the Devil. Tempting? For a moment, yes perhaps it was tempting to that preeminently unselfish Man. The "worship" would not need to continue... and a "token gesture" would suffice. But would Jesus entertain any such thoughts! Absolutely not!
Yet the Devil brought [in essence] the same temptation to the young church at Rome, and little by little, the church succumbed to that temptation, and the kingdoms were finally given into her hand. Initially, the church thought she was "winning"... helping God! And step by step she was able to weave her "universal" faith into the civil legislation of many States. But what a monster she created! And unbeknown to her, she worshiped the Devil when she imagined that she was worshiping the Creator God.