July 5th 2026 Genesis ch 3 v 1 - 9.
Moses, The author of Genesis here lists the steps leading to the entrance of sin into the heart of the divinely created individuals, who had started life with such clean hearts and so much promise. Disobedience and sin obscure the picture. Though these beings were morally upright, they had been given the power of choice; and they were subject to the power of the tempter at any moment. The test was inevitable. The garden was a beautiful creation, filled with abundant provision. Man's environment left nothing to be desired. One prohibition, however, had been placed upon the man and woman. Every tree, shrub, and delicacy could be theirs, except the fruit of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." This exclusion seems to have produced the atmosphere in which human minds welcome the appeal of the tempter. V 1. The serpent. The writing presents the seducer as one of the animals, which was much more subtle than the others. The Hebrew word contains the idea of exceptional shrewdness. (Rabbinic legend has it that the serpent walked erect.) He had the power of speech and talked freely with his victim. He was wily, sneaky, crafty. Later writings will identify the serpent with Satan or the devil. In the light of later Scripture truths, we are right in concluding that the serpent was a specially chosen instrument of Satan for this test. In Rev 12:9 the tempter is called "the great dragon ... that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan" The word nahash, meaning to make a hissing sound, undoubtedly refers to the kind of being known to us as a serpent. Paul declares that Satan fashions himself into "an angel of light" (2 Cor 11 v 14). He chose the craftiest, the most subtle, the most cautious of the animals and took full control of him for his disastrous work. Jesus said of Satan: "He is a liar, and the father thereof" (Jn 8 v 44,. Rom 16 v 20; 2 Cor 11 v 3; 1 Tim 2 v 14; Rev 20 v 2). The method of deceit the serpent employed with Eve was to distort the meaning of God's exclusion and then hold it up to ridicule in its new form. The tempter pretend to be surprised that God should be guilty of issuing such a command. Then he sought to break down the woman’s faith by sowing in her mind doubts, suspicions, and false pictures of the Almighty and his motives. It was a deliberate attempt to reflect on God. When faith fails, the sure foundation of moral conduct collapses. It is only a small step from unbelief to sin and disgrace. V 2,3. The woman said. To have discussion with the tempter is always dangerous. Unconsciously, the woman was revealing a willingness to come to terms with the tempter. She did not have the advantage of Jesus' words in Mt 4 v 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. She was innocent, naïve, and unsuspecting, and no match for the wily enemy. She was unwilling to stand by and see God misrepresented and so she courageously attempted to correct the serpent’s statement. But she quoted God's exclusion inaccurately, adding the word touch. V 5. Ye shall be as Gods Now that Eve had entered into the conversation the seducer advanced his more powerful argument. He quickly suggested that man's great desire to be on a par with and truly like God had been deliberately thwarted by divine command. He charged the Creator with selfishness and with a spiteful falsehood, representing him as envious and unwilling for his creatures to have something that would make them like the omniscient One V6. The woman saw . . . took . . . did eat . . . gave. The strong verbs tell the story vividly and clearly. Something happened in the thinking of the woman. Gradually the fruit took on new significance. It was attractive to the eye, desirable to the taste, and powerful to give new wisdom. She took a new step into the field of self-deception. She not only wanted food that was delicious and attractive, but she was desirous of power. She believed this fruit would satisfy all her desires. The next step was automatic and immediate. She took ... and did eat. The tempter was not needed after that moment. Eve took up his work and presented the well-recommended fruit to her husband, and he did eat. V 7. The eyes. .. were opened... they knew. The word pakah. pictures a sudden miracle. The promise of the tempter was fulfilled quickly, instant perception was given. They saw and knew. But what they saw
was far different from the rosy picture painted by the serpent. Conscience was rudely awakened. They saw their nakedness, spiritual as well as physical. And then shame and fear were born. When Adam and Eve realized that they were out of touch with God, a terrible loneliness overwhelmed them. Remorse and its inevitable miseries followed. Their loss of faith had subjected them to all these attendant woes. They hastily made aprons or girdles to provide some measure of concealment as they sought a remedy for their bewilderment, loneliness, and guilt. V 8. The voice of the Lord God . . . in the cool of the day. They might hide from God, but they could not escape him. The loving Creator could not overlook their disobedience, nor could he leave quivering sinners in their emotional need. They were his own.His holiness must come, clothed with love, to seek, find, and judge them. Ordinarily, the approach of God's footsteps brought them joy. Now, terror and dread paralyzed them, though the Lord did not approach in thunder nor call harshly. V 9. It is easy to imagine the sweetness of the divine voice, as it sounded out through the trees in the stillness of the evening, calling, "Where art thou?" Of course God knew where the man and woman were. But he was appealing to them, seeking through tenderness and love to win a favourable response. And he was seeking to lead the transgressors gently to a full conviction of their sin. Though Justice was dictating the procedure, Mercy was leading. The Judge would render the decision and pronounce the sentence
News from the Church
New dates
12th July……Gift Day
15th July …. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
if you just want to talk well that’s OK too
5th August..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
ANSWERS TO 28th June QUESTIONS
1) Joshua 2) Two 3) A harlot who lived on the walls of Jericho 4) Jordan 5) The land promised to Abraham and his descendants 6) The Priests carrying the Ark 7) Harvest time, the river was in flood
8) No they waited for all to cross over 9) 12 stones taken out of the river 10) Jericho 11) They marched around the city once a day for 6 days. The 7th day they marched around the city 7 times then blew their trumpets and the people shouted and the wall fell down 12) Rahab and her family 13) Rahab had helped the 2 spies 14) Yes 15) Achan16) He was stoned to death
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is about Joshua AND Judges
1 Who were the Gibeonites?
2 Who caused the Sun to stand still?
3 Who was Caleb’s daughter?
4 Who received Joseph’s share of the Promised Land?
5 Did the Levites have a share in the land?
6 What is special about Shiloh?
7 How old was Joshua when he died?
JUDGES
8 Who wrote the book of Judges?
9 Why is it called Judges?
10 How many years of their history does it cover?
11 Who was Adoni-Bezek?
12 How many judges ruled during this period?
13 Can you name them?
14 What was special about Ehud?
15 What was Shamgar noted for?
16 Who is Sisera?
God Bless