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The Continuity of the Bible

Adult Class

Winter 2005/2006

Lesson 3: The Fall and God’s Response

            Since we have come to know God’s eternal purpose, which is the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ, we can see much more clearly how He has brought His plan to success in history. But the plan for human redemption is only necessary because of our sin, and the story of our sin and God’s immediate response to it is found in Genesis 3.

            The story of Adam and Eve and their fall into sin is a simple one, yet is very profound. It is primarily a story about faith. God gave them minimal instructions for life and also gave them free will to obey or not to obey. Their obedience would be only based on faith. They had to believe that God loved them and wanted the best for them—there was no bad example to which they might appeal!

            In Genesis 3:1-5, the serpent indicts God as a liar and urges the woman to take control of her own life, to set aside faith in God and act as her own god—determining for herself what is good or evil, right or wrong. This invitation to supplant God as the controlling power of our lives is the heart of all temptation. In Genesis 3:6-7, Eve traces the trajectory of sin as she first considers the devil’s claims, then takes the fruit, then eats it—then shares the fatal substance with her husband. Adam is willing; he chooses her leadership rather than God’s. But they both instantly know their failure and inadequacy.

            In Genesis 3:8-13, the man and the woman demonstrate that they have lost something priceless and irretrievable—fellowship with God. They hide from Him and when they are discovered, they shift blame away from themselves, attempting to keep the fiction of righteousness. Now fellowship is broken between each other, too.

            From Genesis 3:14-24, God announces the consequences of their sin, and it is clear that they didn’t intend any of these things to come to pass:

• For the woman there is increased pain in childbearing, yet she will want children.
• For the man there is increased toil as the earth is cursed (Romans 8:18-23).
• Uninvolved animals are killed and skinned to provide clothing for the pair.
• They are then banished from the perfect garden.

            One consequence remains to be examined: the curse and prediction upon the serpent in Genesis 3:14-15. This is the first Messianic prophecy in the Bible, pointing toward a reversal of the fall and ultimate victory by God’s power.

• God indicates enmity (hatred) between the devil and humanity. The devil is not our friend and offers nothing good to us. We must remember that the devil is our consistent enemy and never seeks our good.
• The seed of the devil (his followers) and the Seed of the woman (Messiah) are placed in opposition.
• “He” is Christ—inflicting a fatal blow against the devil.
• “strike his heel” is a reference to a sneaky, harassing attack, but not something that will bring victory (Genesis 49:17, 19).

            The point to this earliest prophecy is that God’s plan for the redemption of humanity is now in progress. There is a promise of grace that is held out to rebellious humanity at the very dawn of our faithlessness and disobedience.

            Here we have a preview of Jesus of Nazareth:

1. His incarnation is promised. The Deliverer will be the “seed” of the woman. He will be human and will come from the family of humanity.
2. His crucifixion is hinted. He will suffer wounds that will be genuinely painful. The devil may even think he has succeeded in the ultimate destruction of humanity by thwarting the plan of God.
3. His resurrection is prefigured. He will inflict a devastating and fatal blow to the serpent and his plans. It is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead that shows the final victory over the devil and the ultimate reversal of his schemes.

            It cannot be overstressed that God’s plan was in place before creation and that the devil was already overmatched when he rebelled against God. Nobody who places himself on the side of the devil has any hope or joy. The devil seeks our full and final destruction, yet he will himself be destroyed by the all-powerful God. In His love and mercy and grace, God has provided a plan for our ultimate salvation and a reversal of all the damage and turmoil done by our sin.