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Explore the Bible Lesson for Sept. 20: Humanity’s Fall
Hilary Ratchford, member, Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Charlotte
September 08, 2015
2 MIN READ TIME

Explore the Bible Lesson for Sept. 20: Humanity’s Fall

Explore the Bible Lesson for Sept. 20: Humanity’s Fall
Hilary Ratchford, member, Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Charlotte
September 08, 2015

Focal passages: Genesis 3:1-7, 14-19

“Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?” That famous line brings back memories of an extended stay with my maternal grandparents one summer. My “Omi” and “Opi” had filled their giant strawberry-shaped cookie jar with delicious treats that were very tempting to my siblings and I as young children.

We knew the cookie jar was only to be opened by Omi and Opi, but after pacing back and forth in the kitchen without a grandparent in sight, you can guess what my brother and I decided to do. Of course there were consequences to our disobedience – bellyaches, scolding and spanking.

Just as my siblings and I rebelled against our grandparents’ authority, Adam and Eve defied the boundaries that God set for them in the garden (Gen. 3:3). They were tempted by the serpent and led to believe that fulfillment can be found outside of God.

The crafty creature twisted the very word of God and portrayed Him as withholding good from His creation. Rather than acting in obedience and trust, Adam and Eve doubted God’s good intention and provision. They took things into their own hands – literally, they took fruit – which resulted in shame.

Scripture tells us they not only tried to cover their nakedness but they hid from the Lord too. What promised to be fulfilling (“your eyes will be opened and you will be like God”) only proved to be empty (Gen. 3:5).

As a result of their disobedience, Adam and Eve leave things in shambles. God’s once perfect creation becomes corrupted by sin. They exchange His blessings for judgment and a curse: God curses the serpent and the ground, Adam and Eve are punished and expelled from paradise, and the effects of sin are felt by all of creation. Yet in the midst of judgment, God still demonstrates grace. Genesis 3:15, referred to as the protoevangelium (“first gospel”) by biblical scholars, points to the future hope of Christ, the One who will crush the head of the enemy (Satan) and defeat sin and death forever.