Good morning or afternoon or evening everyone

We’re carrying on our mid-week series on Genesis and we find ourselves at Genesis 3; the first seven verses. So turn with me to this passage and read it and then we can reflect on it together.

I don’t know whether you find this when reading this familiar passage but I find this passage has a depressing inevitability about it. We have had two chapters chock full of creativity, life, a sense of “rightness” in so many ways, not least of all in relationship. How uplifting it is. But here we come to the dark reality. It was said of Richard Nixon (former president of the USA) whilst he was in deep trouble in the Watergate Crisis, that he looked at a picture of John Kennedy and said: “They look at him and see what they could be; they look at me and see what they are.”

There is a temptation (no pun intended!) to write off this type of passage as something not really to be taken seriously; talking snakes, eating forbidden fruit, fig leaves. What’s all that about?

But we must take it seriously; because if we engage with this passage as intended; this is a mirror. We will see ourselves and as Richard Nixon said, we will see what we are.

Watch how the devil works:

In verse 1 he asks what is seemingly a reasonable question: but he exaggerates. He questions the goodness of God and what God is like. Hear the sneering and false outrage when the devil says: “Did God REALLY say?” The devil is saying: “That is outrageous; how dare he; doesn’t he know you have a right to what you want; it’s for you to decide – not God”

He also adds in an exaggeration as God did NOT say that Eve couldn’t eat of any tree but of just one. Temptation always exaggerates itself. It seems to be THE thing. The odd thing is when we look back at temptation, it often seems quite trivial and we wonder quite how we fell for it.

Eve should have – as we should do – say “No – go away” but instead she now opens up a conversation with the tempter; never a good idea but we are so easily drawn in aren’t we?

Now the devil goes from exaggeration and sneering to an outright lie – which is craftily covered with what appears to be truth. Always be careful of a half truth; you never know which half you have. See if you can spot the mock outrage, the lie, the painting God as a spoil sport, the sense that God has deceived you and the temptation.

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

See how the devil weaves and twists and turns.

Then Eve looks at the fruit. When we look at temptation, yet again it seems big. If you were advising Eve – what would you have said at that point?

We see in verse six that Adam was with her. Why didn’t he say anything? So in the same way we need to be (especially to our Christian friends) – their eyes and ears. Never in a word of judgment but wise, full of compassion and clear, whilst staying alongside them; as best we can.

I find the moment when the fruit was crunched a sad moment. It is as if this is a pivotal point. The moment when everything changes. This passage seems to go headlong with a crushing inevitability to that point. And for Adam and Eve, the promise of temptation has been found to be nothing except broken promises and a bitter aftertaste. And where is the devil now? It now seems prior to the temptation he was the friend – saying “it’ll be alright – don’t worry.” Now after the consummation of temptation he runs round the other side; the tempter has now become the accuser.

And what do you make of the cover up? Later on they will hide in the trees – and although we don’t know which tree they hid behind; we certainly know which one they didn’t hide behind.

John will pick up this passage next week but as we reflect on the mess that Adam and Eve find themselves, I wonder if they ever wondered: how on earth did we fall for that? We knew it was wrong – but we did it nonetheless? Why did we do it?

And how about us? How do we fit into this famous narrative? Do we find this account echoing in our lives?

Perhaps reflect on this today; but be assured that you can also be utterly forgiven and washed clean; such is the wonder of God. And that is found by drawing close to him; not hiding and revealing all to him – you will find a God who is true to his word. He is faithful and just and will forgive your sins if you confess.


Category: The Bridge , Thought for the week