Have you ever wondered why the world seems broken? Why is there so much pain and suffering? Where does all the hate, violence, selfishness and greed come from?
The Bible tells us that God created a world which was “very good”.[^1] It was perfect and functioned according to the design of the Creator – until sin arrived. Genesis 3 tells us the story which is summed up by the Apostle Paul: “as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Romans 5:12 KJV).
Enter, the Serpent
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made”
(Genesis 3:1).
God appears in the Bible without explanation. The serpent is introduced in the same way. Other sections of the Bible help identify the serpent as, “that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world”.[^2] In Genesis 3, Satan is acting through an animal to attack God’s purpose in creation.
Elsewhere in the Bible, we learn that Satan is a rebellious angel who is an enemy of God and now works to deceive, accuse, and destroy mankind as God’s image-bearers.[^3]
The Temptation
The serpent does not deny God’s existence or authority. He begins by questioning God’s word. He subtly reframes it and plants seeds of doubt in Eve’s mind. The strategy is devastatingly effective.
“And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?’”
(Genesis 3:1).
God’s original command to Adam is generous: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat” (Genesis 2:16,17). The emphasis is upon freedom of choice and abundant provision. In contrast, the prohibition is singular and clearly defined.
The serpent repeats God’s words, but subtly inverts their emphasis: “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). What God framed as overwhelming provision is recast as unreasonable restriction. The focus shifts from all that is provided to the one thing that is forbidden.
The Lie
The serpent now goes beyond questioning God’s word, to calling God a liar. God had said “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”[^4]
“Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. 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.’”
(Genesis 3:4,5)
The implication is clear: God is holding something back. There must be something in God’s character that delights in restriction. Perhaps He wants to limit joy. Perhaps He fears human freedom. Perhaps He cannot be trusted. God begins to look less like a loving Creator and more like a cosmic killjoy.
The central question shifts from “What has God said?” and becomes, “Is God really good?” Eve is tempted to doubt God’s word and then question His character. This challenge lies at the heart of all sin: rejecting God's authority and ignoring His word shows our lack of trust in Him. We act as though we know better, we desire things He withholds, and we prefer our own ways and our own rules instead of following His.
Eve is Deceived
The serpent’s work is done, and the Genesis 3 narrative now focuses on Eve’s response. The Apostle Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NIV) that “Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning”. Until now she has been totally satisfied – but that has changed and she now has a desire for something more than God has given her. She wants it precisely because God denied it to her.
Her deception by the serpent meant that, although there was an abundance of food in the garden and no lack of beauty, she now viewed the forbidden tree differently:
“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”
(Genesis 3:6).
She saw . . . she took . . . and she gave. As Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world and mankind was forever changed.
The harmony of Eden was shattered. Yet Genesis 3 does not end with loss and judgement alone. Amid the ruin, God speaks a word of hope.
To the serpent God declared that one day a descendant of the woman would come who would crush the serpent’s head, though he himself would be wounded (Genesis 3:15). This is the first promise of a Saviour in the Bible. Even as sin enters, God reveals that He already has a plan to defeat it. The rest of Scripture unfolds this promise which culminates in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The story of the first sin is not only an explanation of why the world is broken; it is the beginning of the story of how God brings forgiveness, restoration, and blessing through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is why there is a gospel to explore.
[^1]: Genesis 1:31
[^2]: Revelation 12:9 (ESV)
[^3]: Isaiah 14:12-17; John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8
[^4]: Genesis 2:17