At the end of both creation accounts, we saw mankind in its purest state. The man and woman, created in the image of God, lived in a world of perfect harmony. They had nothing to hide—both from God and from each other. They were naked and felt no shame. But all of that was about to be changed as following the desires of their heart would cause mankind to lose their innocence.
We are introduced to a mysterious and cunning figure: the serpent, described as more crafty than any other creature. But who exactly is this serpent? It may be one of the great sea creatures or sea monsters mentioned (Genesis 1:21), created by God on the fifth day of creation. John later writes about this creature in the Book of Revelation.
The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. – Revelation 12:9 (NIV)
Our Doubts
The serpent, known as the evil one, the adversary, the enemy, and the deceiver, is described by these adjectives for good reason. His favourite phrase, even now, reflects his cunning question to the woman: “Did God really say…?” The deceiver’s question to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” remains his favourite strategy.
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)
He begins by planting seeds of doubt, causing us to question God’s commands and His intentions. The deceiver seeks to make us wonder if God’s instructions are truly good or if they are simply restrictions designed to hold us back from reaching our full potential. The deceiver used mankind’s desire for the fruit to disrupt their perfect relationship with God, creating a rift between them. The deceiver strategically approaches them before they have eaten from the tree of life and gives them the confidence to disobey God. His goal is to maximize harm, approaching them before they can eat off the Tree of Life.
Interestingly, in the middle of the garden stood two significant trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The man and woman lived in the garden daily, with access to every tree. Yet, they did not pursue the tree of life but instead allowed their hearts to long for the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Perhaps it’s human nature to be drawn to the one thing we’re told we cannot have. The serpent capitalizes on this by painting God as withholding something good. The temptation was not just the fruit—it was the promise of being “like God,” of gaining wisdom, power, and independence.
Mankind didn’t just want knowledge; they wanted autonomy, to define good and evil for themselves. Even today, when given the choice, we often prioritize things that elevate our status in this fallen world rather than pursuing what brings us closer to God. Like the first man and woman, we are drawn to desires that lead us away from the source of true life.
Both the man and woman were present in the garden when they were approached by the deceiver. The conversation seems to have taken place primarily between the deceiver and the woman. The woman answered the serpent that they were permitted to eat fruit from the trees in the garden, however, God had given them a specific command regarding the tree in the middle of the garden: they must not eat its fruit or even touch it, or they would die.
Our Assumptions
“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.” – Genesis 3:4-5 (NIV)
The serpent assures mankind that eating the fruit will open their eyes and make them like God, knowing good and evil. The deceiver is not entirely truthful when describing the aftereffects of eating from the tree of knowledge. While it is true that mankind would gain the knowledge of good and evil after eating the fruit, the deceiver frames this partial truth with a lie: “You will surely not die.” This statement directly contradicts God’s command and warning about the consequences of eating from the tree.
The deceiver emphasizes the immediate and enticing benefits of the act while dismissing or denying the serious consequences. Mankind’s actions at this moment represent a deliberate choice to disobey God. Both individuals involved sinned together, fully aware that their actions went against His explicit command. Like the couple in the garden we too make false assumptions about God that diminish His glory.
For instance, when we view Him as someone to be feared rather than as a loving, gracious Father, we undermine the depth of His compassion and mercy. By teaching others to fear God in this way, we overlook the loving grace that has constantly been extended to us, rescuing us time and time again. Additionally, when we compare God to our earthly parents and place human limitations or expectations on Him, we diminish His true nature. Assuming that God would act like our parents or put words in His mouth based on our own experiences limits our understanding of His infinite wisdom and perfect love. In doing so, we fail to grasp the full magnitude of God’s glory and His unique, sovereign nature.
Our Justifications
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 (NIV)
Before Eve eats the fruit, she goes through a process of rationalization, convincing herself that the act is justified. First, she observes that the fruit is good for food—it fulfils a basic need. Then, she notices that it is pleasing to the eye, appearing desirable and enticing. Finally, she sees that it is desirable to gain wisdom, offering something more than just sustenance—a promise of deeper knowledge and understanding. This pattern of reasoning mirrors the actions of mankind in the garden, where the decision to eat the forbidden fruit stems from similar thoughts. We, too, allow our desires to cloud our judgment, prioritizing immediate gratification over obedience to God’s will.
We are very similar to the first couple in the garden when it comes to rationalizing our actions before going against God’s will. Just like them, we often engage in logical reasoning to justify our choices. We tell ourselves things like, “It’s good for me,” or “It looks harmless; what’s the worst that could happen?” Sometimes, we convince ourselves that we can try something just once and not be drawn into it. Ultimately, the desire to have what we want—regardless of God’s guidance—takes precedence, as we focus on immediate gratification rather than the fallout.
Our Guilt
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. – Genesis 3:7 (NIV)
After disobeying God, the couple instinctively tried to clothe themselves because they knew they had done something wrong. In their shame and guilt, they believed that by covering themselves, they could hide their sin, both from themselves and God. Just like the couple, when we fall into temptation time and time again, we often put on a facade to appear guilt-free, trying to deceive both God and the people around us. However, while we might be able to fool others with our outward appearance, we can never fool God.
The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
God sees straight through any covering we put on and looks directly into our hearts. There is no point in hiding our true selves from Him. Yet, despite knowing this, we continue to hide our shame, guilt, doubts, and thoughts from God, refusing to let Him in and face our true selves. This struggle is a reminder that true healing and restoration only come when we stop hiding and allow God to see us as we are, embracing His grace and forgiveness.
Our Denials
But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? ” – Genesis 3:9-11 (NIV)
When God calls out to Adam and Eve in the garden, asking, “Where are you?” it’s not because He doesn’t know their location—He knows exactly where they are. It’s an invitation for them to come out of hiding, confess, and return to Him. However, instead of owning up to their actions, they engage in the blame game. Adam blames Eve, saying, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit,” while Eve blames the serpent, claiming, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” This refusal to take responsibility mirrors human behaviour today, as we often point fingers rather than acknowledge our mistakes. Yet, God’s question remains constant: “Where are you?” It’s a call for accountability and a reminder that even in our failures, He desires a relationship with us.
When man responds to God by saying, “I was afraid because I am naked; so I hid,” he expresses how sin has exposed him and created a sense of vulnerability and shame. Before disobeying God, mankind were innocent, but sin shattered that innocence, making them feel unworthy to face God. This response reflects how we often retreat in shame after sin, feeling distant from God, even though He is always ready to offer forgiveness and reconciliation.
Our Response
God is asking questions to which He already knows the answers because He is not seeking information, but rather giving us an opportunity to reflect on our actions. God knows our hearts, and when He asks, it’s not to gather facts, but to provide us a chance to come clean. By asking, He invites us to acknowledge our wrongs and shows us the opportunity to express a heart of repentance, even if we are not yet ready for complete change. It’s a way for God to open the door for honesty and self-reflection, allowing us to turn back to Him with a genuine heart.
The response that God desires from us is one of repentance. We must let go of our pride and egos, humbling ourselves before God. True repentance brings us closer to Him, knowing that our sins have already been forgiven, and it opens the way for healing and restoration in our relationship with Him.
Discussion Questions
- Who is the serpent, and what was God’s purpose in creating him?
- Why didn’t the couple choose to eat from the Tree of Life and instead desire the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge?
- Is the deceiver being truthful about the consequences of eating from the Tree of Knowledge?
- In what ways are we similar to the first couple in the garden? Do we use similar reasoning when going against God’s will?
- What made the couple instinctively try to clothe themselves after disobeying God?
- Why does God ask questions when He already knows the answers?
The Jordan Valley 
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