by Jonathan Sarfati

Published: 28 January 2021 (GMT+10)

Summary
Genesis 3 is the most tragic chapter in the whole Bible. Here all the horrors of the world began: death, disease, suffering, pain—and worst of all, sin, the progenitor to all these.

Before the events of this chapter, God had made everything “very good” (Genesis 1:31), but then Satan had sinned. From the biblical text, we can narrow the timeframe for the falls of Satan and mankind.

Satan somehow used a serpent to tempt Eve. This involved deception and questioning God’s words and character. Eve fell into temptation and sinned. Then she induced Adam to sin, which he did despite not being deceived.

It’s no wonder Jesus calls Satan “the father of lies” (John 8:44). In fact, He says that Satan has “no truth in him” and that lying is in “his own character”. Even back in Genesis 3:5, we see that Satan is so saturated with lying that even his first recorded lie implies that God is a liar.
The results were both immediate and ongoing. Adam and Eve realized they were naked, and clothed themselves. Then God interrogated them, and pronounced judgment.

First, the serpent would crawl on its belly, and Satan, behind the serpent, would be destroyed by the coming seed of the woman. This would be the Messiah. Thus even in God’s judgment, there would be a redeemer for man and woman. This chapter also has the first example of bloodshed covering sin, when God killed animals to make coats of skin for Adam and Eve. This would be a type of the Messiah shedding His blood for the salvation of all believers.

Second, Eve and her female descendants would suffer pains in childbirth. Many would also suffer from oppressive male headship. But the correct roles in marriage are illustrated in the NT by comparing husband and wife with Christ and the Church.

Third, because of Adam’s actions, death and thorns would enter the world. Labour would no longer be easy but painful and sweaty.

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Comment: There will be animal sacrifices during the Millennial kingdom. Some passages mention it in passing as the topic of the millennial kingdom is discussed, passages like Isaiah 56:6-8; Zechariah 14:16; and Jeremiah 33:15-18.

Some premillennial scholars think that it may have a memorial function. I am not sure what the function is. While not every aspect of this question is answered in Scripture, it is clear that the continued use of animal sacrifices during the millennial kingdom is a fulfillment of God's prophecies made long ago. If animal sacrifices do not resume in this time period, this will mean God has not kept His promises in this area. Yet God always keeps His promises (Deuteronomy 7:9).