Genesis 3:1-3

The First Sin

We can learn the most from these chapters in Genesis if we do not ask questions the text was not written to answer. So “why is the snake talking?” and “why is the woman not alarmed by it?” are not important. What is important are the words actually in these verses, and that is what we will focus on.

For one, the text makes it clear that the serpent was created by God. This is not some evil that existed before God put the world in order. This serpent was part of God’s creation, and it chose to trick Adam and Eve. While talking about the serpent, it is also interesting to point out that Satan or the devil is not mentioned in this story. It is only later in the Bible, particularly in Revelation, when Satan is described as “that ancient serpent” (Rev. 12:9).

The second, more interesting, aspect of these three verses is what the woman says to the serpent. She says that if they eat the fruit of the tree or touch it, they will die. This is not what God tells the man in Genesis 2. Nothing is mentioned about touching the fruit of the tree. Interestingly, God gave the man one rule, and it seems like the man made up a second rule. He makes this rule to prevent them from breaking the first rule, the real rule. In a way, religion was being created early on in the garden. To protect the relationship with God, Adam makes another rule for his wife and himself to follow. This is the danger of religion. Making rules instead of focusing on the relationship with God. And it was already happening in the Garden.