Garden of Eden
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)
Adam and Eve are in the beautiful Garden of Eden. God has commanded them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What do they do?
The Fall
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6)
Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit. They realize they are naked and feel shame. God expels them from the Garden of Eden. Sin has entered the world. What do they do next?
Obedience
Adam and Eve obey God and continue to live in the peace and harmony of the Garden of Eden. They enjoy His presence and the beauty of creation. God gives them a task to name all the animals.
Seeking Forgiveness
“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)
Adam and Eve seek God’s forgiveness. He clothes them and promises a future redemption through their offspring.
Blaming Each Other
“And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” (Genesis 3:12-13)
Adam blames Eve, and Eve blames the serpent. God punishes them, but also provides for them as they leave the garden.
Realization and Conversation with God
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:8-9)
Adam and Eve realize their nakedness and hide from God. He calls out to them and they confess their disobedience. God pronounces judgment and expels them from Eden.
Naming the Animals
“And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.” (Genesis 2:19)
Adam and Eve diligently name all the animals, fulfilling God’s task with joy and obedience. They are blessed with wisdom and understanding.
Rest and Enjoy
Adam and Eve rest and enjoy the fruits of their labor, basking in the love and presence of God. They learn the importance of both work and rest in God’s creation.
Post-Fall Life
“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel.” (Genesis 4:1-2)
Adam and Eve live outside Eden and have two sons, Cain and Abel. They experience the hardships of a fallen world but continue to trust in God’s promises.
Temptation by the Serpent
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1)
The serpent tempts Eve by questioning God’s command. Eve is deceived and eats the fruit, then gives it to Adam.
God’s Curse
“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;” (Genesis 3:16-17)
God pronounces judgment on Adam, Eve, and the serpent. They are expelled from Eden and face a life of hardship, but God promises redemption through their offspring.
Cain and Abel’s Sacrifices
“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” (Genesis 4:3-5)
Cain and Abel offer sacrifices to God. Abel’s offering is accepted, but Cain’s is not. What do they do next?
Cain’s Offering
“And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” (Genesis 4:5-7)
Cain is angry and jealous of Abel. God warns him about sin, but Cain does not listen and eventually kills Abel in a fit of rage.
Abel’s Offering
“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:9-10)
God confronts Cain about Abel’s murder. Cain is punished and becomes a wanderer, but God places a mark on him to protect him from being killed.
Post-Fall Life Continued
“And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.” (Genesis 4:25)
Adam and Eve have another son, Seth. Their descendants begin to call upon the name of the LORD, continuing the story of God’s promise of redemption.
