In Genesis 3:1-6 we have the “Fall of Man” in the Garden of Eden. The Devil used a SERPENT to tempt the WOMAN to eat of the forbidden fruit (see Genesis 2:15-17) and then she gave it to her HUSBAND and “he ate.” The moment they partook of the fruit they “died spiritually” and began to “die physically.” Yet there were other consequences in the Fall, as we shall see in our portion, but there is also the promise of a Savior held out to Adam and the woman, and by the grace of God, they believed it. We will break this portion down into 3 parts: 1) the CURSE; 2) the PROMISE; and 3) the REDEMPTION.

1) The CURSE started with the SERPENT in verse 14: “So the LORD God said to the SERPENT: ‘Because you have done this, you are CURSED more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life’” (NKJV). It is quite possible that the Devil chose the wisest and most beautiful animal in the temptation of the woman and yet now it is humbled and made to crawl on its belly and eat dust from that point on.

The CURSE on the WOMAN is seen in verse 16: “To the WOMAN He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’” Even though there is great joy connected with child-bearing, there would also be GREAT PAIN in giving birth. In addition, she would also be SUBJECT to her husband (see Ephesians 5:22-24 and 1st Peter 3:1a). It should be noted that God intended the man to be the “leader” (i.e., head) of the woman from the beginning (see 1st Corinthians 11:3) yet with sin coming in it would not be the woman’s “natural desire” to be in submission to the man.

The CURSE on the MAN is seen in verses 17-19: “Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, “You shall not eat of it”: ‘CURSED is the ground for your sake; in TOIL you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both THORNS and THISTLES it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the SWEAT OF YOUR FACE you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.’” The GROUND was CURSED because of Adam and he himself would have to work hard (removing thorns and thistles and sweating in the process) in order to eat. At the end of his life, he would be buried in the ground that he came from (see Genesis 2:7).

2) The PROMISE of a SAVIOR/REDEEMER is in verse 15: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.” These words were spoken to the serpent, yet here the “serpent” refers to the Devil himself (see 2nd Corinthians 11:3 with Revelation 20:2). He is told that one day a woman will bear a son (see Galatians 4:4-5) who would CRUSH HIS HEAD, though in doing so the Devil would BRUISE HIS HEEL. This is the first “gospel promise,” for it clearly speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ who would DEFEAT THE DEVIL on the cross (see John 12:31-33; Hebrews 2:14 and Romans 16:20). But in order to accomplish this victory He would have to SUFFER unimaginable pain during the crucifixion.

3) The REDEMPTION of Adam and Eve is seen in verses 20-21: “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Also, for Adam and his wife the LORD God made TUNICS OF SKIN, and CLOTHED THEM.” By calling his wife EVE, which means “living,” it displayed Adam’s faith in the promise of the coming Savior/Redeemer. Even though they had both been “sentenced to DEATH,” he knew that it would be through the “woman’s seed” that man could be REDEEMED. In response to Adam’s FAITH, God covered their nakedness (see verses 7 & 10) with the skins of a slain animal, a beautiful picture of God clothing a believing sinner with the “righteousness of Christ” (see 2nd Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:21-26 and Isaiah 61:10).  (466.5)  (DO)