Transcript Lesson 6 for February 9, 2013 “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God.

Lesson 6 for February 9, 2013
“Now the serpent was more cunning than
any beast of the field which the Lord
God had made…” (Genesis 3:1)
What do the Bible and the Spirit
of Prophecy tell about the
identity and the look of the
serpent who talked to Eve in
Eden?
“He laid hold of the dragon,
that serpent of old, who is the
Devil and Satan, and bound
him for a thousand years”
(Revelation 20:2)
“Satan assumes the form of a serpent and enters Eden. The
serpent was a beautiful creature with wings, and while flying
through the air his appearance was bright, resembling
burnished gold. He did not go upon the ground but went from
place to place through the air and ate fruit like man. Satan
entered into the serpent and took his position in the tree of
knowledge and commenced leisurely eating of the fruit”
(E.G.W. “The story of Redemption”, cp 4, pg. 32)
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the
wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the
woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from
any tree in the garden’?”” (Genesis 3:1 NIV)
Apparently, the serpent wanted Eve to explain God’s order
about the trees in the garden to him. Nevertheless, that was
not his intention.
1. He wanted to pose doubts regarding God’s generosity,
How could God not let them eat all those delicious
fruits?
2. He wanted to invite Eve to argue with the master of
deception.
““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)
Then temptation was clear, The tree is good, its fruit will give
you wisdom instead of death… will you believe God or the
evidence?
“The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit
from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You
must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the
middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or
you will die.’”” (Genesis 3:2-3)
What did Eve’s answer imply? What can we learn from
this short conversation between Eve and the serpent?
1. Knowing the dynamics of Satan’s original attack.
What can we learn through Eve’s story about the
dynamics of Satan’s temptations?
2. Trusting God’s word over our senses.
How does Eve’s story help you to better value
God’s Word?
3. Committing our ways to God.
How can you trust God’s Word more fully and
completely?
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and
pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some
and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he
ate it” (Genesis 3:6)
Which facts apparently made
the divine order unfair?
1. It was good for food.
3. It was desirable for
gaining wisdom.
Eve was tempted by the devil;
she valued her rationing and
feelings over God… and she
sinned.
Adam was not deceived like Eve
was; he valued his feelings
towards her over God… and he
sinned.
“Adam regretted that Eve had left his side, but now the deed was done. He must be
separated from her whose society he had loved so well. How could he have it thus? His
love for Eve was strong. And in utter discouragement he resolved to share her fate. He
reasoned that Eve was a part of himself, and if she must die, he would die with her, for
he could not bear the thought of separation from her. He lacked faith in his merciful
and benevolent Creator. He did not think that God, who had formed him out of the
dust of the ground into a living, beautiful form, and had created Eve to be his
companion, could supply her place. After all, might not the words of this wise serpent
be correct? Eve was before him, just as lovely and beautiful, and apparently as
innocent, as before this act of disobedience. She expressed greater, higher love for him
than before her disobedience, as the effects of the fruit she had eaten. He saw in her
no signs of death. She had told him of the happy influence of the fruit, of her ardent
love for him, and he decided to brave the consequences. He seized the fruit and
quickly ate it, and like Eve, felt not immediately its ill effects.
Eve had thought herself capable of deciding between right and wrong. The flattering
hope of entering a higher state of knowledge had led her to think that the serpent
was her especial friend, possessing a great interest in her welfare. Had she sought her
husband, and they had related to their Maker the words of the serpent, they would
have been delivered at once from his artful temptation. The Lord would not have
them investigate the fruit of the tree of knowledge, for then they would be exposed to
Satan masked. He knew that they would be perfectly safe if they touched not the
fruit”
(E.G.W. “The story of Redemption”, cp 4, pg. 36)
Compare the temptations Satan suggested to Eve and the ones he suggested to Jesus
(Matthew 4:3-10). Can you find any resemblance?
“IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD…”
In His human limits, everything Jesus was observing and experiencing suggested that
the baptismal announcement was wrong. As Eve did, Christ had to choose between His
perceptions and analysis and God’s Word. Now we can see the significance of His
answer, “Man shall not live by bread alone [by what he sees and analyzes], but by every
word that comes from the mouth of God”
Why wasn’t Jesus deceived by “the
serpent of old”? How can we overcome
as He did?
“Early in the morning they left for the
Desert of Tekoa. As they set out,
Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to
me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have
faith in the Lord your God and you will
be upheld; have faith in his prophets and
you will be successful”
(2 Chronicles 20:20)
After Adam and Eve’s sin, God came close to them and
judged them. God asked several questions during the
judgment,
 “Where are you?” (Gn. 3:9)
 “Who told you that you were naked?” (Gn. 3:11)
 “Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat
from?” (Gn. 3:11)
 “What is this you have done?” (Gn. 3:13)
After analyzing the evidence, God pronounced sentence.
He began by
condemning Satan
(Genesis 3:14) since
he had been already
judged (John 16:11)
and declared guilty.
Then He offered
forgiveness for man
through the grace of
the Gospel (Genesis
3:15). That grace
came before the
condemnation.
He declared the
woman guilty and
announced the
consequences
(Genesis 3:16)
He declared the
man guilty and
announced the
consequences
(Genesis 3:17-19)
and the Earth’s
curse.
“Then I saw another angel flying in
midair, and he had the eternal gospel
to proclaim to those who live on the
earth—to every nation, tribe, language
and people. He said in a loud voice,
“Fear God and give him glory, because
the hour of his judgment has come.
Worship him who made the heavens,
the earth, the sea and the springs of
water.”” (Revelation 14:6-7)
The message of the first
angel is very similar to
God’s judgment in Eden.
 First, the Gospel (v. 6)
 Then, the judgment (v. 7)
 And both within the Creation framework!
“When Satan heard the word, “I will put
enmity between thee and the woman,
and between thy seed and her seed,” he
knew that man would be given power to
resist his temptations. He realized that his
claim to the position of prince of the
newly created world was to be contested,
that One would come whose work would
be fatal to his evil purposes, that he and
his angels would be forever defeated. His
assurance of certain power, his sense of
security, was gone. Adam and Eve had
yielded to his temptations, and their
posterity would feel the strength of his
assaults. But they would not be left
without a helper. The Son of God was to
come to the world, to be tempted in our
behalf, and in our behalf to overcome”
E.G.W. (The Review and Herald, May 3, 1906)