Genesis
Foundation Book of the Bible
Eve's 5 Mistakes
Teaching Strategy
The focus of this lesson is to review the first sin. Of special note in this lesson is how Satan tempted Eve and the mistakes she made that resulted in her disobedience and subsequent fall.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Know: Understand how sin separates God from man.
- Feel: Develop an awareness of the role Genesis plays in God’s overall plan for man.
- Do: Use the information gained from Genesis to strengthen our faith.
Body of the Lesson
Discussion Questions
Below are suggested questions to use during the guided discussion portion of the lesson. There are also suggested responses to questions to help students grasp the various concepts. These are provided to assist the discussion and are not considered as “right or wrong” responses.
Answers will vary but in short, Satan, in the form of a serpent tempted Eve to eat fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil which had been forbidden by God.
The basic sin was direct disobedience to God's prohibition of eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The motivation behind it seems to be a combination of doubt and pride. Satan injected doubt by his statement in verse 4. An appeal to her pride (that Eve could be like God) is behind Satan's promise in verse 5.
Genesis 1:26 is a declaration of God's will. Genesis 3:5 is simply a questioning of this statement. Eve was already like God. One of the elements of being made in God's image was the ability to choose. Satan twisted that characteristic to use it against God.
In Matthew 5 Satan uses the tactic of doubt with his statement in the first two temptations, "If you are the Son of God…". It can be argued that Satan also tried to appeal to pride by demanding Jesus demonstrate His power (turning stones to bread and throwing himself down from the tower). Satan also tried to have Jesus lower His faith/trust in God (prove He will save Him). The final temptation of offering Jesus Kingship if he would worship Satan was an attempt at rulership without the price of the cross.
Jesus commanded Satan to be gone (Matthew 5:10). Adam and Eve did not dismiss Satan, but continued to interact with him.
- She compromised with a rebel
- She changed God's word
- She considered the offer
- She disobeyed
- She led Adam to sin
We must realize that God has our best interests at heart because He created us and knows our needs. Yet, in His love for us, He gives us the choice to obey Him. His command to Adam and Eve was simple: do not eat. Today, we have the same choice to obey or not to obey God's commands. We demonstrate that obedience through our faithful submission to the gospel by believing in Jesus and expressing our faith through repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38). Just as Satan attacked Adam and Eve, he attacks us with similar tactics of doubt (i.e. baptism is not necessary for salvation) and pride ("I'm OK…I don't need God" or "I'll obey God on my terms").