Session 2: The Fall

Genesis 3

Adam and Eve are tempted by the serpent and disobey God. They have to leave Garden of Eden, but God has a plan to bring mankind back in communion with him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sbBYWu612k

Source: LifeKids TV on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sbBYWu612k

Discussion:

Why does the serpent tempt Eve and how?

The serpent (Satan) attacks God by tempting those who love him to disobey him.

The serpent starts by putting doubt in Eve's mind on God's intention behind his instructions, suggesting that God is "holding out on you" (in the video) or withholding something good from Adam and Eve.

Once there is some doubt in Eve's mind, the serpent goes further and baits her by telling her that not only will she not die, their eyes will be opened, they will be like God and they will know good and evil.

What happens after Adam and Eve disobey God?

Before they were disobedient, Adam and Eve saw all of the goodness of God and his creations. After they disobeyed God, their eyes were open to their shame - they recognised they were naked and hid from one another.

They also realised that they sinned, and they hid from God because they were afraid - their image of him became distorted and they no longer lived in harmony with him. Instead, they hid from him because they were afraid of him.

Here, "death" from eating the apple meant that they could no longer live in harmony with God, and had to be separated from him and leave the Garden of Eden. They would no longer live in harmony with all creation and each other, and pain and decay would enter the world. Man's human will would be weakened (concupiscence).

Did God stop loving Adam and Eve and abandon them?

God continued to love Adam and Eve. Even as they left the garden, he clothed them and and continued to provide for them.

God also has a greater plan to bring mankind back into communion with him. As he cursed the serpent, he said "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise your heel". The seed of a woman (i.e. mankind descended from Eve) will eventually gain victory over the power of evil. How will this victory be obtained?