Last week, we saw the power of God on display as he spoke planets into existence and formed everything we see around us. More importantly, we learned what the Scriptures have to say about the unique nature of mankind in that we were made in His image. Not only that, but we were made with a purpose, both male and female, in order that we might have a relationship with God and enjoy His creation for eternity.
This week we turn to Genesis 2 where we see the first limitation placed upon mankind. Verses 16-17 say, “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 “but 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.”
Here, we see God’s love and care for Adam and Eve through the prohibition of partaking from the Tree of Knowledge. Much like an earthly father might place limits on his children in order to keep them safe, or because he knows what is best for them, so does the Father of Adam and Eve. But, what is made explicitly clear is the command to abstain from eating the fruit of the Tree. Yet, the Scriptures reveal in Genesis 3 that Adam and Eve fail to obey God and do, indeed, eat the forbidden fruit.
As promised, there are very serious consequences for their rebellion against God and the rejection of his commandments. There are at least four major results that we can note from the text.
First, we find that death comes as a result. But this death is much more than just a simple physical death. This was a complete death. This includes the physical ending of life as well as a spiritual separation from God. By rebelling against God, they cut themselves off from the source and giver of life. The result was death as they no longer enjoyed the life-giving relationship they once did.
Second, guilt is introduced into the heart of man. In 3:7-10, we note Adam’s response to his situation and see how he is now aware of his sin and tries to hide from God. The reason Adam hides is because he knows his guilt and can do nothing but try and avoid his Father.
Next, we see that hostility and division came into the created order as a result of their sin. Whereas Adam and Eve had experienced nothing but peace and blessing up till this point in their relationship, sin has now entered the picture bringing tension, hostility, and division to mankind.
Lastly, mankind is introduced to difficulty. Because of their sin, aspects of life that used to be pleasurable or painless are now filled with difficulty and hurt. The effects of sin on Adam and Eve’s posterity are recognized through the pain that is now involved in childbirth. Verse 17 reveals that the consequences of sin affect the natural world itself in that the ground is cursed. Natural evil now abounded in creation and mankind would constantly be plagued with difficulty. Verse 17 notes that work will become difficult and often fail to produce what is desired. The Bible demonstrates the far-reaching effects of Adam Eve’s sin that extend over every area of the natural world.
Thus, we see that there were severe consequences for humanity as a result of Adam’s sin. We were made to live in perfect relationship with Him, but sin (on a global and on a daily level) wrecked this communion and demonstrates the severity of rebelling against God.
