I did a video interview at the ACG Global conference last week!

Genesis 3

Chapter two ends with perfect marital bliss! To us, PERFECT marital bliss is a bit of a stretch.  But pre-fall, the harmony of the marriage of Adam and Eve was, well, perfect. They were one flesh and “joined” together indicating unity, harmony, togetherness with permanency. They were also pure, sinless and innocent in that they were naked and unashamed. 

This was a heck of a honeymoon. Beautiful scenic location, tremendous accommodations, a happy, caring, loving couple and lots of nakedness. Maybe we should just stop our study of Genesis right here. These first two chapters of Genesis have been amazing!  Unfortunately, the next 48 chapters have a lot of ugliness.

It’s getting ugly

The ugliness shows up in the first verse of chapter 3. “Now the serpent…” there he is. It’s like watching a movie. The movie opens with happiness and relational bliss but even during the opening scenes you know the “bad” is coming. This sense of drama is a part of the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation. The bad guy is here. He is crafty, subtly and wise.

Discontent moves in

He approaches Eve while she’s alone. This is a classic “divide and conquer” strategy. His next scheme is not to accuse but to ask a question. To accuse would put her on the defensive but to ask a question would disarm her. “Indeed, has God said, ‘you shall not eat from any tree of the garden?” Eve replied saying “from the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said ‘you shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” I can imagine when God first told them this, they probably replied without question. ‘Why of course God, we don’t need that tree. You have given us everything we need. You are telling us to not eat it because You care about us and want to protect us. It’s all good, Lord. No problem. We have no need or desire for the fruit of that tree when we have so much else.’ They were innocent and simple and CONTENT with the parameters of the ideal life that God had given them. That was then; this is now. Eve was isolated, questioned, lied to (you shall not die) and discontent moved in.

How should I now live?

Lord, where can we gain the strength and conviction to withstand the same pattern of temptation that Eve encountered. It’s going to happen to us, probably today. “Thy Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.” “Submit, therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  Lord, you have supplied me with every spiritual blessing I need. Help me to apply diligence to my life with Your Word, prayer, reflection, meditation and good old fashion determination (by Your power) to resist the devil and obey You! Amen.