The Temptation and the Fall
Open Your Bible
Genesis 3:1-24, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 16:20
BY Guest Writer
We have a painting in our home, one depicting a distraught Eve being comforted by a pregnant Mary, who is wiping away Eve’s tears. Her eyes focused on Mary’s belly, she reaches out to touch it, even as her own heel is trampling the serpent’s head (Romans 16:20). It’s an achingly beautiful, succinct depiction of what we lost in Eden, and of God’s never-ceasing pursuit to return us to right relationship with Him.
God’s pursuit of relationship with us is there from the start, in the beginning of His Word. From Genesis 1 and 2, we discover how God formed the earth and everything in it, including man and woman, who He made in His image (Genesis 1:27). He gives Adam and Eve the radical opportunity to rule over the world with Him, cultivating its growth. And out of His relational love for them, He gives them a choice about how they will live and work in this world: will they choose to follow God’s way and His wisdom and instruction for life, or will they choose a different kind of wisdom, one that relies on self-sufficiency and autonomy, apart from Him?
God has already provided Adam and Eve with everything they need to carry out this task, instructing them on what is good for them and what is not (“the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” [vv.16–17]). Prior to the serpent’s persuasive lie (3:4–5), enticing them to their own brand of knowledge, humanity dwelled in perfect harmony with God and one another. But after choosing to eat from the forbidden tree, “the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked” (3:7). From this point forward, discontent and shame would be a part of the human condition, disobedience would drive a wedge between creation and Creator.
When God asked Adam and Eve where they were that day in Eden (3:9), He already knew, of course. It makes me think the question was certainly more for their sake than His—it had to be. He asks where we are, too, all the while knowing all the dark places we run to, the many ways we attempt to hide our hearts from Him. But He pursues us all the same, fully aware that while He will ultimately defeat the serpent, that same enemy still actively seeks to destroy us (John 10:10), to lure us away from the God who adores us.
I looked at that painting again today. We’ve had it for maybe a decade, but to this day, if I look at it too long, it never fails to wake me to the indifference of my own sin, to the lie of self-sufficiency—it wrecks me.
Honestly, that’s where I’m at today. What about you?
If God were to ask, “Where are you?”, what would you tell Him? Do you believe it’s safe to come out of hiding? Do you trust that our Creator knows what’s best for His own creation? The God of Genesis 1 and 2, is the same God here in chapter 3; He does not change (Hebrews 13:8). He is still in the business of covering our shame with His own righteousness—even when we disobey Him (Genesis 3:21; Romans 5:8,19). Wherever you are, He waits for you.
Kara Gause is a content editor for She Reads Truth, happily residing with her family in Nashville, Tennessee.
111 thoughts on "The Temptation and the Fall"
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I haven’t thought before about how Adam and Eve traded trusting in God’s knowledge and power for “their own brand of knowledge.” Wow. What a powerful thought. How often do I trust my own brand of knowledge that that is far less than God’s!? When put that way, it makes me wonder why I would ever do that. He is unfathomable in wisdom and I am surely not! My family is in a spot where some changes are coming but we dont know what or when exactly. This helps me to know that I can rest in the Lord and trust and obey rather than scramble and make hasty decisions on my own. I’m thankful for this reading this morning.
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I believe the “HEEL” that Kara is referring to is NOT “HEAL”, but “H-E-E-L”! Please use GRAMMARLY!
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What are everyone’s thoughts on Gods plurality?
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22Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—””
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I believe this refers to the trinity of God- Lord God (the Father), the son (Jesus Christ) and the HolySpirit
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This is the first study I have done with she reads truth. I’m really liking it. But I have to say the conversations that go on in the comments, well God is using them too.
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I’ve seen that painting before and it’s so beautiful…you can view it here: https://www.google.com/search?q=mary+comforts+eve+print&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=isvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjAmqCYwfbmAhXTF80KHellBTsQ_AUoAXoECA8QAQ&biw=375&bih=553#imgrc=ZdbchiwcNdShmM
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Adam and Eve were God’s 1st human creation. Adam names Eve and says she is the mother of all of all living. Cain was their 1st born and Able their 2nd born and we know that the sinful nature was passed from Adam to all who lived after him so his descendants were born after the fall.
Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden until they sinned and part of their punishment was to be sent out of the garden and an angelic guard placed at the entrance so they could never return. Then Cain & Able were born and Adam passed on the sinful nature to all their descendants. Next Cain killed Able.
When Adam had lived 130 years his 3rd son, Seth, was born and Eve considered him a replacement from God for Able. So we know that in a span of 130 years all of these things took place. I think most of that time was lived outside of the garden. One day we will get to know the rest of the story with all of the details filled in. Now we have the important highlights – the progression of history. -
I have questions – so God told Adam and Eve to procreate and full the land before the original sin – has there been any research or references in the Bible that indicate there were other people? The Bible never states how long they were in the garden of Eden – it could have been millions of earth years! And if they were confined to the garden of eden then this could be the time where dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals exhorted? Any thought? Also – when God restores th e perfect earth – then isn’t there a possibility that we are able to procreate still? Since that was the original plan? Is there marriage in heaven?
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Hi Bethana,
the Bible specifically mentions that there’s no marriage in heaven. Matthew 22:30
But I have similar questions like yours about if there where another humans created beside Adam and Eve in the beginning of creation.
And if Adam and Eve had children before the fall?-
I know in genesis 1 god created man & women in his image. And then in gen 2 he breathed life into Adam and then Eve…I’m not exactly sure. But it makes me think there were others.
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We know it wasn’t millions of earth years because God also gives us a genealogy of the men in the Bible – from Adam onwards – and includes how long they lived. Adam did not live for millions of years.
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As for the dinosaurs, we weren’t there and we don’t know how they behaved. If you look at a panda skeleton you may think it’s a viscous carnivore – but it’s a gentle plant eater. What we do know is that God made everything – including dinosaurs. They were all created within those first 6 days and then lived on the earth with Adam and Eve. We simply need to trust the Word and accept we don’t know all the answers to some things. God is always trustworthy.
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