Sin, Rebellion, Separation from God, and Death[1]
Why do we miss it? Because in Genesis chapter three, that tree of knowledge of good and evil comes into play. It is a unique chapter because we have a serpent that is present, and the text does not really tell us why, other than the fact that the Lord God had made the serpent. The serpent talks and they seem to have a straightforward dialogue. The dialogue is about this tree and the instruction of the very words of God. The serpent takes the very words of God and quickly twists it: ““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) It is quest for power, and that’s interesting because it even goes back to that word “crafty.” Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.[2] With that language it was telling us that the serpent was an individual that was acquiring wisdom and power. We find that connection in the words that the serpent uses of basically saying, “Hey, you too want power.” Well, sure enough, the deception occurs, and Eve makes the decision here. It says very clearly in the text that Eve took, and she ate, and she gave some to Adam, who was right there with her. From that point in the story, things are a little different. Immediately their eyes are opened, and they realize they were naked. So, the first thing they did was cover themselves up. This issue of covering was probably more than just physical; it was also an issue of their spiritual exposure that has now taken place. So, we get this storyline of them trying to hide in the garden and God comes and walks in the garden, which apparently was a repeated thing. The great question occurs: “But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”” (Genesis 3:9, NIV)
God knew exactly where Adam was, but he wanted Adam to realize where Adam was. Instead of repenting of his sin, the very first thing Adam did was blame Eve. Eve blames the serpent. God banishes the serpent and makes him crawl on his belly, and God makes a statement about one from the seed of woman would come, and there was going to be a great conflict. The word used in our English texts a lot of the time is “enmity.” There is going to be a struggle between one of the seed of woman and the serpent and his offspring. Even more specific is that there is one that will one day come and crush the head of the serpent.
At the end of chapter 3, God made garments of skin. And it was God who drove them from the garden, so they could not have access to the tree of life, and therefore stay in that condemned state. One of the main points from chapter 3 as well is that where there is sin there is death.
Then in chapter 4 of Genesis, there is death. Cain kills Abel. In chapter 5 of Genesis, there is a genealogy of death, where they live, and they die. They live, and they die. They die. They die. All except for Enoch, who walked with God and then he was no more. There are these anomalies along the way.
Another unique anomaly is in chapters 6-9, where we get the story of Noah. Noah was not better than anybody else, but he found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Instead of washing the entire system away, God preserves Noah and his family. This is a picture of incredible grace because when Noah gets off the boat, there is sin.
Then in chapter 10, we have the Table of Nations, and it tells us and shows us that, post-Flood, the entire world was populated again, and then we get a microcosm that led to a lot of sin. In chapter 11, we have the Tower of Babel. It is there we see humanity coming together to make their name great. It is all about making their name great. God intervenes, and their language is confused, and people are disbursed.
[1] J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hayes, Living God’s Word: Discovering Our Place in the Great Story of Scripture
[2] The Holy Bible: New International Version
Surrendered and Free 