We need to remember that Adam was Not deceived by the serpent. It was Eve. Adam stood right there and allowed the serpent to beguile his wife. He did not tell the serpent to be silent. He did not take Eve by the hand and lead her away from the serpent, explaining the importance of staying away from the serpent and reminding her what God said concerning the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam did not even cry out to God to intervene on their behalf. Why? Because he was intrigued with idea of being like God, knowing good and evil.

Adam watched Eve reach for the fruit and eat it. She didn’t stop breathing or keel-over and physically die. She gave some to her husband “who was with her” and he ate it. Yet the spiritual death (sin) was immediate: 1) THEIR EYES WERE OPENEND and they saw that they were naked (their righteousness was gone). 2) THEY TRIED TO COVER UPTHEIR SIN (with fig leaves). 3) THEY HID FROM GOD IN FEAR (Not reverential fear). When God asked, “Who told you that you were naked. Have you eaten from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?” 4) ADAM RESORTED TO BLAME-SHIFTING. Adam first blamed God and then Eve, in the same breath: “The woman You put here with me – she gave me some fruit, and I ate it.” Eve blamed the serpent. “The serpent deceived me and I ate.” Genesis 3.

By the next generation, the very next generation, their first born son, Cain, murdered his brother, Abel (their second born son) because God “looked with favor on Abel and his offering,” but not on Cain and his offering: “Cain brought SOME of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering – fat portions from some of the first born of his flock. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

But Cain did not rule over it (sin). It (sin) ruled over him. Cain talked Abel into going “out to the field”, and murdered his brother. When God confronted Cain, CAIN LIED to God: “I don’t know.” Then HE BECAME DEFENSIVE: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Anger/Jealousy gave way to hatred and hatred gave way to murder. Genesis 4; Matthew 5:21,22; 1 John 3:11-15.

Part 3 to follow…