“Why is the World so Messed Up?”
(Genesis 3:1-24)
Series: Life’s Biggest Questions (4/6)
Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD
First Baptist Church Henderson, KY
(4-20-08) (AM)
- Take God’s Word and open to Genesis, chapter 3.
If you’re visiting with us we have been asking and answering some of life’s biggest questions in our special 6-week campaign called, “Why.” In both Sunday school and worship we’ve been asking these questions and reading through a daily-reading book throughout the week. So far we’ve answered the questions, “Why am I here, why should I believe in God in the first place, and why should I trust the Bible?” Today’s question is, “Why is the world so messed up?” Genesis chapter 3 will help us answer that question.
Most of us know what happens in Genesis 1 and 2. God creates the earth and everything that inhabits the earth including mankind. He creates the first man and woman—Adam and Eve—and blesses them with a beautiful garden in which to live, the Garden of Eden. God had told Adam that he may eat of every tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warns in Genesis 2:17, “For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
- Stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
1 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.
- Pray.
Introduction:
We’re asking the question, “Why is the world so messed up?” and Rich and Stacy’s skit earlier got right to the answer. They asked various people this question and finally, from the lips of a child, the one-word answer was given: “Sin.” And that is exactly right! Why is the world so messed up? Sin. So now we’re going to expand on that answer by tracing the beginning of sin, its consequences, and how we fix the problem. If you’re taking notes, write this down first:
I. Consider the Conception of Sin (1-8)
We’re going to first consider the conception of sin, its beginning, how it was conceived. And for the answer we’re studying a real, literal, historical story in Genesis 3. If we are Christians we follow the Lord Jesus Christ. His view of the Bible is our view of the Bible. Jesus believed in a literal Adam and Eve. In Matthew 19, for example, Jesus refers to Adam and Eve as real persons and the creation story as a real event so our view of this story is no different from the Lord Jesus who is the Son of God.
Now we read here a moment ago how sin is conceived; how it begins. The Bible says in verse one that there is a serpent there in the Garden of Eden. We learn later that this serpent is identified as none other than Satan himself. Satan, a fallen angel, appears in the Garden by apparently possessing the body of a serpent. Just as the demons during Jesus’ earthly ministry in Mark 5 possessed the bodies of pigs, so Satan takes over this creature, the serpent, in the Garden of Eden.
Time does not allow a full study of the origin of Satan. But write down these two passages: Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-15. There you will read what I believe are passages that speak to the origin and fall of an angel named Lucifer. Sometime after God created all things and called them all “good” (Genesis 1:31) and before God’s creation of Adam and Eve here in chapter 3, Lucifer rebelled against God and became Satan as we know him today.
So the word “serpent” there in verse 1 and following is a reference to Satan. This is also understood in Revelation 12:9 and Revelation 20:2 where we read of “the serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan.”
1 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’?”
It seems odd to us that the serpent speaks, but we must remember that we are reading here about the Garden of Eden before sin, before what is referred to as, the Fall, so we’re reading about creation in its pre-fallen state. In 2 Corinthians 11:3, The Apostle Paul refers to Satan’s “craftiness” in his deceiving Eve and in 2 Corinthians 11:14 he says that “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” So the point here is that Eve is deceived by Satan, Satan who is very crafty at acting like he is good and like he speaks for God. He causes Eve to doubt by questioning the word of God, “Are you sure God said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Verses 2-3:
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.’ ”
Now the Scripture doesn’t record God’s saying that they weren’t even allowed to “touch” the tree, but Adam may have added this warning to Eve in conveying what God had told him. Remember that God created Adam first and gave him the warning about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 2:8-15 that “Adam was formed first, then Eve.” God created man first, intending him to be the spiritual leader of his family. As such, Adam’s responsibility was to convey this warning about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to his wife.
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.
So Eve, deceived by Satan, gives-in to temptation and eats of the fruit. She then gives the fruit to Adam and he eats of it. So Eve is deceived and eats the fruit, but Adam eats without being deceived. He sins with his eyes wide open. Being deceived, Eve fails to follow her husband’s leadership and Adam abandons his leadership role by and follows the wishes of his wife. This is why, as we’ll see in a moment, that God comes looking for Adam. As the leader, Adam bears the greater responsibility for what happened here in the garden. Here is the beginning of sin. What happens next? Verses 7-8:
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.
The purity and goodness of life in the garden is now spoiled, because Adam and Eve partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They knew nothing of evil before, but now their “eyes are opened” and their innocence is gone. Unlike God, they have an imperfect and incomplete knowledge of good and evil. And this knowledge of evil brings shame and guilt. Even the purity and innocence of their bodies is corrupted by sin and they feel dirty and ashamed. And what do they do in response to this shame and guilt? They try to cover it up. The sewing of fig leaves together is an attempt, both literally and figuratively, to cover-up their sinful actions. Now they even fear God:
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.
So here is the conception of sin. It is often referred to as “the Fall.” Adam and Eve together partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and brought sin into the world. And because Adam is the leader he bears the greater responsibility and it is through Adam that we, too, are guilty of sin. The Apostle Paul writes of this in Romans 5:12 where he says it is “through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” So we are born into this world as sinners. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
This is the conception, the beginning, of sin. Now we may ask why God would allow sin to occur in the first place. That’s a good question. I think one possible answer is that it is through the allowance of sin that God teaches us the beauty of goodness. It is easier to appreciate the supreme value of goodness when goodness is set against the black, backdrop of sin and evil. Without the allowance of sin we would know nothing of redemption in Christ, nothing of what it means to be lovingly forgiven by an infinitely wise God.
So when we deal with related questions such as, “Why does God allow evil in the world,” we need to remember that God is good (Psalm 100:5) and infinitely wise and has a good purpose for all that He does. This is why the believer can live in the truth of Romans 8:28, that “God works all things together for good for those who love Him.” God is always at work, beautifully and lovingly working out His perfect plans and purpose in your life and mine. We believe that by faith.
We’ve considered the conception of sin. Secondly:
II. Consider the Consequences of Sin (9-19)
Here comes God! To whom does God appear first? Adam. God appears to Adam first because Adam is the leader. Men, you’re the leaders of your homes. You are God’s man to lovingly lead your wife and children in the things of God. That’s your responsibility.
9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
This is not God’s asking because He doesn’t know. This is God’s asking the way a judge asks a defendant to take the stand. You know, “For the record, state your name. Talk to me Adam. I want you to share with me and everyone what’s going on.”
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?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
Don’t you love that! Adam is the first person to play the “blame game!” He actually blames both Eve and God: “the woman, YOU gave me!” We must take responsibility for our own actions.
I’ve told you about that man working at the construction site who opened his lunchbox. He said, “Aw, baloney sandwich again. Every time I open my lunchbox it’s baloney sandwich. If I see another baloney sandwich I’m going to be sick.” One of his construction worker buddies said to him, “Well, why don’t you ask your wife to make you something else?” He said, “Oh, I’m not married: I pack it myself.”
We cannot blame our sin on anyone but ourselves and we’ve got to take responsibility for our own actions. Adam tries to shift the blame. Eve joins him in the blame game.
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.”
I’ve said before that this whole thing reminds me of the “Jerry Springer Show!” Adam blames God and Adam blames Eve. Eve blames the serpent. Of course, Eve’s statement is partially true: the serpent had deceived her. Adam had not been deceived. He sinned in open rebellion. Eve, however, had been deceived. So what does God do?
14 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.”
Here come the consequences of sin. God curses the serpent and says that He will “put enmity” between the serpent and the woman. There is a sort of natural hatred for snakes by women in the world today, but this curse goes beyond that. Verse 15 is sometimes called “the first Gospel” because it foretells the coming of one from the woman’s seed, a person who will come to “bruise the head” of the seed of the serpent while the seed of the serpent will succeed only in “bruising His heel.” And we have here a reference to the coming of the Messiah, the promised deliver, our Lord Jesus Christ, who will battle the devil. He will come from the woman’s seed. The man’s seed is not mentioned, only the woman’s, which has implications for the virgin birth of Christ. The devil will “strike the heel” of Jesus when Jesus is killed on a cross. But Jesus will “strike the head” of Satan, a fatal blow, by rising from the dead, conquering sin, death, hell, and the grave.
We’re talking about the consequences of sin. The serpent is cursed. Now the woman is cursed:
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.”
Pain in childbirth is the result of the first sin in the Garden of Eden. Furthermore, God says that, because of sin, Adam and Eve will naturally struggle in their marriage. Remember that Adam and Eve reversed their roles in the Garden of Eden. Eve failed to submit to Adam’s teaching and warning about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam then abandoned his role as leader and followed his wife into sin. Because of this, God says, this role reversal will continue to be a problem in days and years to come. Apart from the grace of God, women will desire to “lord it over” their husbands. That’s what the phrase, “Your desire shall be for your husband” means. So, apart from God’s grace, there will be this natural, selfish struggle for self-will between husband and wife. This is why husbands and wives need to understand their roles in marriage. When I do marital counseling I teach what the Bible teaches. Ephesians 5:22-23 says the husband is “head of the wife.” He is leader. The wife, then, graciously submits to her husband’s leadership. This does not mean the husband rules with a club and the wife is doormat. That’s a distortion of the text. We take time to read what God intends for healthy marriages. More on the consequences of sin:
17 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.”
This does not mean that work is a curse. Work existed before the Fall. Adam and Eve worked in the Garden of Eden before sin came into the world. But now, because of sin, work will result in sweat and difficulty.
Then we see that the ultimate consequence of sin is death. God says in the last part of verse 19, “for out of it (the ground) you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Adam and Eve were created to live forever. But now, because of sin, they are spiritually separated from God and will die a physical death. They could have died right then and there, but God in His mercy, allowed them to live a great number of years before finally dying.
Why is the world so messed up? Because of sin. Sin affected all of creation, even the ground. Sometimes God even allows the ground to shake to remind us that we live in an imperfect world and that we are dependent upon Him for everything. How many of you felt God shake the ground early Friday morning? That’s a reminder that God is in control. Every day is a gift from God. We must live for Him.
We’ve considered the conception of sin and the consequences for sin, now, very quickly:
III. Consider the Correction for Sin (20-24)
This is implicit in the text. Look at verse 20:
20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Adam names his wife “Eve” in faith. God had said that she would be the mother of all living so Adam names her that. Eve means, “life” or “living.” From Eve will come life, including, as we learned earlier, life in the Lord Jesus Christ.
21 Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
This verse shows us the correction for sin. Adam and Eve had tried to cover-up their sin themselves. The sewing of fig leaves together was a human attempt to fix their sin. They tried to cover-up their sins, but only God can adequately cover our sins. So what we have here in verse 21 is a picture of the atonement of Christ, the covering of our sins. God does what Adam and Eve could not do themselves. God made coverings for them and clothed them. And God made these coverings by sacrificing a life. He killed an animal in order to provide a covering for their sin.
This merciful act of God pictures how God would ultimately provide a covering for the sins of all mankind. God sacrifices His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, so that His death might result in a righteous covering of our sins.
Without Christ, we try to cover our sins our own ways. We try to live a good, moral life or we follow the teachings of other religions, but it is only through the death of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that our sins may be forgiven. Anything less is on the level of our sewing fig leaves together. That’s man’s attempt to cover his own sins. God must cover our sins and comes by way of a sacrifice, the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us (There is an implication here for the doctrine of the Trinity), 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 (heavenly angels) 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.
This was an act of mercy on God’s part. God keeps Adam and Eve from partaking of the tree of life because, presumably, if they were to eat of the tree of life they would live forever in their fallen state. That is, they would live forever in a fallen body. So God drives Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden and, in His mercy, protects from eating from the tree of life so that they don’t end up living forever in a broken, fallen body. God has better plans for His creation! He wants us to have life, abundant life, found only in the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ, the correction for sin.
Why is the world so messed up? Sin. What is the correction for sin? Jesus.
- Stand for prayer.
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