CREATION AND THE FALLEN

1. Lesson 6 for February 9, 2013 CREATION AND THE FALLEN

2. THE SERPENT OF OLD “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made…” (Genesis 3:1) What do the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy tell about the identity and the look of the serpent who talked to Eve in Eden? “He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:2) “Satan assumes the form of a serpent and enters Eden. The serpent was a beautiful creature with wings, and while flying through the air his appearance was bright, resembling burnished gold. He did not go upon the ground but went from place to place through the air and ate fruit like man. Satan entered into the serpent and took his position in the tree of knowledge and commenced leisurely eating of the fruit” (E.G.W. “The story of Redemption”, cp 4, pg. 32)

3. THE ASTUTENESS OF THE SERPENT “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”” (Genesis 3:1 NIV) Apparently, the serpent wanted Eve to explain God’s order about the trees in the garden to him. Nevertheless, that was not his intention. He wanted to pose doubts regarding God’s generosity, How could God not let them eat all those delicious fruits? He wanted to invite Eve to argue with the master of deception. ““You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”” (Genesis3:4-5 NIV) Then temptation was clear, The tree is good, its fruit will give you wisdom instead of death… will you believe God or the evidence?

4. ENGAGING IN A DIALOGUE WITH THE DEVIL “The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”” (Genesis3:2-3) What did Eve’s answer imply? What can we learn from this short conversation between Eve and the serpent? • Knowing the dynamics of Satan’s original attack. • What can we learn through Eve’s story about the dynamics of Satan’s temptations? • Trusting God’s word over our senses. • How does Eve’s story help you to better value God’s Word? • Committing our ways to God. • How can you trust God’s Word more fully and completely?

5. DECEIVED BY THE EVIDENCE “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:6) Which facts apparently made the divine order unfair? It was good for food. It was pleasing to the eye. It was desirable for gaining wisdom. Eve was tempted by the devil; she valued her rationing and feelings over God… and she sinned. Adam was not deceived like Eve was; he valued his feelings towards her over God… and he sinned.

6. “Adam regretted that Eve had left his side, but now the deed was done. He must be separated from her whose society he had loved so well. How could he have it thus? His love for Eve was strong. And in utter discouragement he resolved to share her fate. He reasoned that Eve was a part of himself, and if she must die, he would die with her, for he could not bear the thought of separation from her. He lacked faith in his merciful and benevolent Creator. He did not think that God, who had formed him out of the dust of the ground into a living, beautiful form, and had created Eve to be his companion, could supply her place. After all, might not the words of this wise serpent be correct? Eve was before him, just as lovely and beautiful, and apparently as innocent, as before this act of disobedience. She expressed greater, higher love for him than before her disobedience, as the effects of the fruit she had eaten. He saw in her no signs of death. She had told him of the happy influence of the fruit, of her ardent love for him, and he decided to brave the consequences. He seized the fruit and quickly ate it, and like Eve, felt not immediately its ill effects. Eve had thought herself capable of deciding between right and wrong. The flattering hope of entering a higher state of knowledge had led her to think that the serpent was her especial friend, possessing a great interest in her welfare. Had she sought her husband, and they had related to their Maker the words of the serpent, they would have been delivered at once from his artful temptation. The Lord would not have them investigate the fruit of the tree of knowledge, for then they would be exposed to Satan masked. He knew that they would be perfectly safe if they touched not the fruit” (E.G.W. “The story of Redemption”, cp 4, pg. 36)

7. JESUS AND THE SERPENT Compare the temptations Satan suggested to Eve and the ones he suggested to Jesus (Matthew 4:3-10). Can you find any resemblance? “IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD…” In His human limits, everything Jesus was observing and experiencing suggested that the baptismal announcement was wrong. As Eve did, Christ had to choose between His perceptions and analysis and God’s Word. Now we can see the significance of His answer, “Man shall not live by bread alone [by what he sees and analyzes], but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” Why wasn’t Jesus deceived by “the serpent of old”? How can we overcome as He did? “Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem!Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful” (2 Chronicles 20:20)

8. GRACE AND JUDGMENT IN EDEN After Adam and Eve’s sin, God came close to them and judged them. God asked several questions during the judgment, • “Where are you?” (Gn. 3:9) • “Who told you that you were naked?” (Gn. 3:11) • “Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Gn. 3:11) • “What is this you have done?” (Gn. 3:13) After analyzing the evidence, God pronounced sentence.

9. GRACE AND JUDGMENT IN EDEN “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”” (Revelation 14:6-7) The message of the first angel is very similar to God’s judgment in Eden. • First, the Gospel (v. 6) • Then, the judgment (v. 7) • And both within the Creation framework!

10. “When Satan heard the word, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed,” he knew that man would be given power to resist his temptations. He realized that his claim to the position of prince of the newly created world was to be contested, that One would come whose work would be fatal to his evil purposes, that he and his angels would be forever defeated. His assurance of certain power, his sense of security, was gone. Adam and Eve had yielded to his temptations, and their posterity would feel the strength of his assaults. But they would not be left without a helper. The Son of God was to come to the world, to be tempted in our behalf, and in our behalf to overcome” E.G.W. (The Review and Herald, May 3, 1906)