The Blame Game (Genesis 3:6-24) *All verses in NKJV, unless otherwise noted*
– We are in Genesis Chapter 3: Adam and Eve in the Garden, the “fall” of man…
– This story can teach us so much about our human nature, consequences of sin, and who God is…
– HOW IT STARTED: Genesis 3:1-6, Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 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, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For 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.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
– Pastor Crystal preached a great message on this last week. All about satan/the enemy/the serpent… his tricks and tactics and nature… so I’m not going to go into it, but these verses set up the story.
– One interesting thing she said: How long had the serpent been whispering in Eve’s ear before she gave into the temptation? A long time, probably. I wonder too, did Eve ever tell Adam what was happening, or was this his first time? Why didn’t they mention the harassment to God, himself?
– Entertaining sin in your mind is the first step to making it a reality… and suffering the consequences for it… Sharing your struggle interrupts this process, and gains you support.
– Genesis 3:6-11, So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
– This illustrates our human nature, and we can see it so clearly in the behavior of children.
– Adam and Eve both knew it was wrong to do, but didn’t understand the consequences, because they hadn’t seen any consequences yet in their lives. They need to take their Father’s word on it.
– Eve saw that it looked and sounded good… Adam was right there with her the whole time, too!
– They knew they screwed up, so they hid. That’s what kids do. Intrinsically, when they know there is danger, they and run and hide. Not because it is the best protection from consequence, but because it is in their nature to do so…
(Example: Rescue/Search for people in fires: Children hide, under covers, in closets, etc… Teenagers hide in the bathroom, their “safe space”. Adults are found behind exit doors and in exit pathways because they know they need to escape and not just hide…)
– This kind of childish behavior is not acceptable in your life with Christ. It is time to grow up, and accept responsibility for your actions. Stop blaming others…
– 1 Cor. 13:11, When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
- The Blame Game doesn’t work with God.
– Adam said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
– Eve said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
– The truth is that they both knew it was the wrong thing to do, and they both chose it anyway.
– Why do we always try to lie about what is in our hearts? Like God doesn’t know!
– Our flesh is driven by biological survival. Your emotions drive you. You see life choices only in terms of better or worse, choosing what feels better always, without truly considering the consequences.
– Romans 7:21-25a (NLT), I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…
– Even knowing the truth, we need more to be a successful Christian… we need the Holy Spirit.
– 1 Peter 1:3, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
– We see the contrast between flesh and spirit when we see the choices Adam made verses the choices Jesus made:
– Adam stood by passively while Eve was tempted. Eve entertained the thoughts of sin, and did not resist the enemy, and didn’t reach out for support, from Adam or from God…
– Jesus, being 100% man and 100% God, took a humble position, endured the cross…
– Adam and Eve BOTH need to Reject Passivity and Accept Responsibility:
– Knowing the truth and relying on “will power” will not make you successful, long-term. You must rely on the Holy Spirit inside you. The power is in God, not your flesh!
– You must be intentional. You must choose. You know the day is coming. You must be ready!
– 1 Cor. 10:12-13, Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [d]bear (endure) it.
– I’m always disappointed in people who put themselves in harms way, and then act surprised when they get hurt or injured. (Example: Sign that says, “Don’t go past this point.”)
– Example: Story of young Australians going to deep in the jungles of Loas for party, drinking, zip lines, swimming… far from any quality medical care… several have died… WHY GO???
– Don’t put yourself in spiritual harms way by what you watch, who you hang out with, etc…
– Psalm 1:1-3, Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (This describes what to do, AND also what NOT to do…)
- Actions have consequences. Sin leads to death.
The serpent received consequences:
– Genesis 3:14-15, So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
The woman had consequences:
– Genesis 3:16, To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”
The man had consequences:
– Genesis 3:17-24, 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’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” 20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
– Blaming each other didn’t resolve any responsibility (I’m sure the serpent made his own excuses).
– The consequences of your actions are real, whether you know fully what they are, or not.
– Genisis 3:2, (Eve corrected the serpent)… And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 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, lest you die.’ ”
– Adam and Eve knew what God said, that eating of this particular tree would lead to their death. Maybe they didn’t fully realize what that meant. Or that it would mean death for every human for all time…
– This decision to disregard the consequences is now known as “The Fall”. BUT, you are condemned by YOUR OWN SIN, not just because of Adam. He just made it possible for you.
– Romans 5:12, Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
– Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
– The punishments they received still affect us today: childbirth is painful, work sucks, and snakes still slither, but what is more important are the consequences of YOUR current choices and sin.
- There is no forgiveness of sins, without the shedding of blood.
– Genesis 3:21, Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
– This represents the first animal sacrifice, blood shed of the innocent animal, to cover the shame of Adam and Eve after they sinned. This event is often seen as a precursor to the Jewish sacrificial system that will come.
– It is definitely evidence that sin has a cost. Clothes were not needed before, but they are now.
– Hebrews 9:22, And according to the law almost all things are purified (cleansed) with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness).
**Jesus Christ is our sacrifice for sin: Not to cover it, but to forgive it entirely!
– No amount of our own works, or “sewn fig leaves”, could cover our sin and shame. Only Jesus’ blood!
– Alter Call – – prayer –
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