The fall of Adam and Eve began in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve’s mistake was the catalyst that brought sin and death into the world. However, their descendants would go far beyond the mistakes of their parents and corrupt the entire world, and animal kingdom. They almost eliminated all good that God intended for the world. These events remind me of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, much later in the New Testament and world history. It would take a while, but things started going downhill after the sin and mistake of Adam. Aside from having children, scripture does not record much about Adam’s accomplishments after this.

However, Genesis 3:1-6:8 offers us a whirlwind tour of well over a thousand years of his ancient family history. The discussion in Genesis 3 will help us understand the fall of Adam and Eve, their sin, and the significant promise of a future Seed or descendant.

The Crafty Serpent 3:1-7

It all started with a seemingly innocent question by a crafty serpent. Back then before the fall, there was peace between man and animals. It was not uncommon for them to talk. It seems strange to us today. However, after the fall, man and animals would not be on talking terms. Animals would later be hiding and afraid for their lives. Hunted down by man for his survival. Because before the fall, mankind was eating an abundant supply of fruits and vegetables. Of course, after Eve’s conversation with this crafty serpent, Adam’s descendants would despise snakes, and associate them with evil and the evil one.

Here is what the serpent said, “Has God not said we could eat from every tree in the Garden”.

Eve replied, “Yes, we can eat from the trees of the Garden, BUT God said, “We cannot eat or touch the tree in the middle of the Garden, lest we die.”

The serpent immediately replied, “You shall not die because God knows you will become like Him, knowing good and evil.”

The serpent was not only questioning God’s Word but God’s intentions. Adam and Eve thought they would die immediately when they ate or touched the fruit of that tree.

However, what happened next made them think twice about God’s stern warning. The defiant serpent took the fruit and ate it right in front of them. Amazingly, he did not die. Even though scripture does not say this directly, that is the only way that Eve could have known that the fruit was good for food.

I can almost hear the snake saying, “This sure does taste good, and you will be wise like God, who knows good and evil.”

The snake was making evil look good but we should all know the truth. True evil is miles away from God and good. Even if it takes a while for its effects to be seen. Eve forgot this simple truth and listened to the crafty serpent who deceived her. Eve took and ate from the forbidden tree. Then Eve gave some to Adam, who was cautiously watching to see if she died. Eve, like the serpent, did not die immediately. Of course, they did not know that God mercifully allowed them to live, but eventually, they would die and return to dust. But as soon as Adam ate the fruit his outlook on life and his wife dramatically changed. Sin was beginning its psychological effect upon man. They immediately knew they were naked and ashamed. They quickly made what I call leaf skirts to cover their nakedness, but God was coming, and they could not hide forever.

What Is The BIG Deal?

It may seem like a small mistake to eat from a tree. Adam and Eve were not killers, so what is the big deal. Adam and Eve were the first people in the world to choose between good and evil. We similarly have a decision will we choose God and good or the way of evil one. Their decision to take from the forbidden tree was similar to men and women today who decide to steal money from the company they work for. The decision to steal could lead to that person losing their job and spending time in jail if the transgression was big enough. The decision of parents today to do such things dramatically affects the lives of their children.

Thus, when Adam decided to take from God’s tree, he violated God’s trust and stole something that God did not want him to have. He also affected the relationship between God and Man.

Adam also lost his job. After all, he was working for God in the Garden and had a lot of perks. Adam needed to learn the hard way that decisions have consequences. His decision cost him a place in the Garden and access to the tree of life. When he lost access to the tree of life, he also lost immortality and eternal life on earth for him and all those who would come after him. His family would suffer through hard times in a Garden that would not produce as good as God’s garden. Later we will talk about God’s Plan recorded in Revelation to create a new heaven and a new earth. But that is miles away from our conversation in this chapter.

After Genesis 3, as I emphasized earlier, the story of Adam starts to decline. The Bible does not record much else about his life and accomplishments other than he had children. Adam and Eve were the first members of the human race who started a domino process that has been perpetuated by the world. For all of humanity sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Romans 3:23. But I am glad the New Testament reveals God’s plan for sin-ridden man. He offered them the gift of eternal life. See John 3:16.

Not only has everyone sinned but we inherited a dying sinful nature. Think for a moment about how you do not have to teach a baby to gravitate toward the wrong things in life. Kids need their parent’s guidance to learn right and wrong. It is because we all are born with a sinful nature. We need God’s guidance to avoid the pitfalls of sin in this life. His forgiveness later described in the New Testament sets us on a new path of life, salvation, and being born again. We all as Christians and non-Christians have problems, but it is better to have God helping along the way. God like a loving Father wants to give us His wisdom and guide our lives. However, Adam’s descendants will gradually do whatever they want, whenever they want, even if it involves murder. When this happened, sin began to dominate and destroy their lives and the first murder took place. However, it was Adam’s sinful mistake that started the process of death in the world. Sin, violence, and bad decisions are still affecting the world today. Of course most people today are not murderers, but sin and bad decisions are still doing a number on all of our lives.

Thank God for providing humanity a way to have our sin accounts forgiven and help in our lifelong struggle between good and evil. I would like to mention that the first good decision we can make is to embrace the gift of salvation Christ offers the world. Romans 6:23 states “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ our Lord.”

There is another reassuring promise in 1 John 1:8-9, “if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I have claimed this promise many times. When we do this we also should ask the Lord to help us to be more like Jesus. It is a lifelong journey. And we need His help and strength to make it through this journey we call life, and He wants to have a relationship with us. Much like He did with Adam and Eve in the Garden.