Man had been placed in the garden by God, and given a task (to tend it and to keep it)—and a prohibition—(Gen. 2:17). Man was created to rule over the animals. The Bible was written as a textbook for man—and like any textbook it does not expect the student to understand everything in the first few chapters. There are many questions left unanswered which are taken up at later times. The fact that a serpent speaks is exceedingly strange for the Bible is not Aesop’s Fables.

The Bible makes a very conscious distinction between man and animals. In the previous chapter it explained that Adam gave names to the animals. (Clearly the animals could not do that themselves!) A speaking serpent is incongruous against the background of the Creation account. Speaking animals would seem to belong to paganism which has no concept of creation. Yet it is only later that we learn that the serpent was an instrument of another power. In Genesis 3 all that is not immediately relevant is omitted. All we are told is that the character of the animal made it a particularly well-adapted instrument for the power that used it, and we learn that it was created by God a beast of the field. That is very important for there was an order of authority in the creation. That order was: man ruling over beast; man ruling over the creation.

Satan planned to interrupt that order—to take the lowliest of the beasts and make that beast rule over man. He wanted man to listen and to follow the lowliest of the beasts rather than for man to obey and follow God. He approached the woman first to induce her to lead her husband astray, and thus further disrupt the natural authority of man over woman.

The Temptation

We can learn a lot from this first encounter with Satan:

1. He wants to confuse us (3:1 “Yea, hath God said…”)

He does the same in our minds: “Maybe that verse doesn’t really mean what it looks as if it means. Maybe God doesn’t mean for us to take that literally. Maybe … Maybe … Maybe …” Satan’s strategy is to make us doubt the reliability and applicability of the clear teachings of Scripture. We must not believe him!

2. He wants to cloud the nature of God (3:1)

Of course God hadn’t said that! In fact, he said that Adam and Eve could eat from any tree of the garden—except the one (2:16–17)! But you see how Satan operates. He twists what God has said. And he takes one small restriction, placed upon us for our good, and makes God out to be a spoilsport. He says things like: “God is always trying to spoil your fun. What’s the matter with looking at a little soft porn? After all, you’re not hurting anyone.” Or, “Why does God care what you do with your money? Doesn’t he want you to enjoy life?” In the face of such lies, we must remember that our God is good, no matter how the devil paints him!

3. He wants to salve our consciences (3:4)

Sin isn’t that big a deal, the devil tells us. “OK, God said don’t eat from the tree. But come now, do you really think he’s going to kill you over this? Go ahead. You know he will forgive you.” Have you ever heard him talk like that? Don’t believe it. The devil is a liar; God hates sin, and “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).

4. He wants sin to look good (3:5)

There was some element of truth to that statement. Adam and Eve, who had never before known evil, would surely know it now! But do you see what Satan was doing? He was convincing Eve that sin would actually enable liberation and self-actualization! And he is still telling the same lies: “Go ahead and separate from your wife. You’ll finally be free.’ “Go ahead and take out your frustration. You’ll feel much better.” “Go ahead and vent your anger towards God. It’s cathartic.” Lies, all lies! Sin will never make you free. Adam and Eve were promised liberation, but instead (3:7) they received shame. They were promised that they would become like God, but instead they found themselves (3:8–10) hiding from God.

Sin’s seductive promises always turn out to be a mirage! Those relationships we enter against the will of God leave scars that may never fully fade. Those extra trips to the buffet leave us miserable for the rest of the day and place some of us on operating tables. And what about the nicer car, the bigger TV, the latest gadgetry, and the younger wife? All those things grow old and outdated—leaving us just as empty as we were before. Selfishness and sin never keep their promises.

Their Shame

Instead of getting what Satan promised, the first sinners found themselves naked and ashamed. Instead of admitting their sin when confronted, they made excuses! Blame-shifting is a universal human disease. Ever since Adam and Eve, it has been part of our sinful human nature: “I know I sometimes lose my temper. But that is just the way God made me.” “I know I shouldn’t talk to my wife that way, but I’m under a lot of stress at work.” “I know I shouldn’t read these racy romance novels, but my husband isn’t exactly a knight in shining armor anymore.” But anytime we begin a sentence with “I know I shouldn’t … but,” we are on dangerous ground. We ought simply to stop with: “I know I shouldn’t.” God has made himself clearly seen in creation, in the human conscience, and, most of all, in his Word, so that we are “without excuse” (Rom. 1:20) when we sin against him.

Their curse & promised redemption (Genesis 3:15)

Sin would affect every aspect of their lives and our world. It ruins all that it touches. Death would now be a reality. Chapter 5 dramatically illustrates this by repetition of the phrase “…and he died.” But, one day a child of the woman would destroy the works of the devil forever. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” Galatians 3:13

sources:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v4/i3/fall.asp

Kurt Strassner, Opening Up Genesis (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2009), 33–36.

There are many comments on the old post, but none actually addressed a question that I asked. What does “Kenite” mean? On his “Answer to Critics” page, Murray states:

What about the use of the word Kenites? It is a Hebrew word that has only one meaning, “sons of Cain.”

Strong’s Concordance and the Brown-Driver-Briggs’ lexicon do not give this definition. None of the commenters addressed this issue (other than Kendall Rycroft, who simply says that I am wrong), this is probably because they just pasted in comments they previously posted on a “I-know-Murray-is-right-because-I-can-look-up-words-in-Strong’s-concordance-and-anyone-who-criticizes-him-is-Satan’s-seed” forum (e.g., Bill). Strong’s concordance is a valuable tool for Bible study, by the way, it is not my intent to disparage it.  I plan on addressing its value in my upcoming post of Arnold Murray.

To help me with the next post, I would like to ask two questions for my commenters.

1. Could you name a source (other than Arnold Murray) for the word “Kenites” meaning “sons of Cain”?
2. Are there any printed materials or materials that Arnold Murray has written online?

I asked for printed materials because I do not have the time or desire to go through a lot of audio messages. I will be glad to compare Murray’s own words with the teaching of the Scriptures. I realize there is some information on his website, but there is really not much there. Any additional sources would be appreciated.

About commenting:

• If this is your first comment, I will have to approve it before it is public. If you have had comments approved in the past, it will show up immediately. 
• I am looking for resources in this comment thread, not arguments. If you think Murray is right, then you can post your arguments on my next post about him.
• Don’t expect me to answer comments on this post. I will on the next and I’ll give you a chance to defend Murray…

Thanks in advance!

Three burials are mentioned in the final chapter of Genesis, and each is significant. Burying a beloved father.

But Jacob was able to go with confidence and peace because he was sure of God’s promise and presence (Genesis 46:1–4). In the crisis hours of life, God speaks to us and assures us when we take time to worship. Furthermore, Jacob knew that God had gone before him and that Joseph was there making everything ready for him. The future is your friend when Jesus is your Lord and you follow Him.

Egypt was a haven for Jacob and his family, and there God protected them and built of them a great people. But Jacob knew that Egypt was not his home, Canaan was; and he wanted to be buried there with the others who had made the same pilgrimage of faith. He was a testimony in life, and he wanted to be a testimony in death. Despite his mistakes and failures in life, Jacob ended well.

What should believers do for their family before God takes them in death? Just what Jacob did. He praised God for the past. He told his family what God had done for him and how God had blessed him. God had redeemed him and shepherded him all his life (Genesis 48:15–16).

In a masterful way, Joseph wove these two purposes together as he spoke roughly to them, accused them of crimes, and insisted on their bringing Benjamin to Egypt. Outwardly, he was a stern ruler; but behind the scenes, he was a weeping brother.

When Joseph saw that his brothers’ hearts were humble, and when he heard them confess their sins, he knew it was safe to reveal his identity to them. Our Lord knows just how to work in our lives to bring us to submission. Joseph could have fed them and their father without going through this lengthy procedure, but it would only have further ruined their character.

Joseph explained to them that God had sent him before them to preserve the nation so that Israel could be a blessing to all the earth (Genesis 12:1–3). God’s providential purpose did not minimize their sins or negate their responsibility (Acts 2:23; Acts 3:13–18), but it did help to ease their fear and sorrow. Joseph further reassured them by givingthem rich gifts and promising to care for the whole family. The gifts he sent home helped to give Jacob the assurance he needed that Joseph indeed was alive.

Explanation. For two years, Joseph was forgotten by the chief butler, but he was not forgotten by the Lord. It is disappointing to depend on people, for often their help never comes (Psalm 60:11; Psalm 146:3). Speaking to the world’s greatest ruler, Joseph was careful to give all the glory to God (Genesis 41:16, 25, 28, 32).

Exaltation. God always exalts the humble “in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). Joseph started as a servant, but then God made him a ruler ( Matt. 25:21 ). He experienced suffering before God gave him glory (1 Peter 5:10). God invested thirteen years in making a man out of Joseph; when it comes to building character, God is never in a hurry.

Expectation. Joseph’s new name probably means “the one who furnishes nourishment to the land.” He married an Egyptian wife, and she bore him two sons who were given significant names: Manasseh (“one who forgets”) and Ephraim (“double fruit”). Joseph determined to forget the past and live for the future. In the Bible, forgetting means “not holding it against another.” Joseph certainly did not forget what his brothers did, but he did not hold it against them. Instead, he concentrated on living a fruitful life to the glory of God.

Tamar’s purpose was good, but her plan was wicked. Leaving the signet and staff was like leaving fingerprints, because each man’s was distinctive. Judah was quick to condemn Tamar for sinning, but what about his own sins toward Joseph and Tamar? Why is this sordid chapter in the Bible? For one thing, we see the contrast between Judah’s sin and Joseph’s victory (Genesis 39), and we realize the importance of purity. But the main reason is to add another link in the Redeemer’s family tree (Genesis 38:29; Ruth 4:18–22; Matthew 1:3). How gracious God is to mention a prostitute like Tamar in the genealogy of the Savior!

The key to Joseph’s conduct was his godly character, and the basis for that character was his recognition that he belonged to God and served Him (Genesis 39:9). “The LORD was with Joseph” is often repeated (Genesis 39:2, 3, 21, 23). The Lord is with us as we work, and we should do our work as unto Him (Ephesians 6:5–8). He is with us when we are tempted and will show us the way to escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must keep away from temptation (Romans 13:14); and if it gets too close, we must run away (2 Timothy 2:22). It is better to flee and lose your garment than fall and lose your character.

“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.” At this call, Jacob decided it was time to clean up his act. The household is ordered to remove all their gods and cleanse themselves to worship the Lord. Three deaths are recorded in chapter 35, for death is one of the facts of life. Jacob’s obedience to God did not prevent him from experiencing trials. He lost a friend, Deborah; a favorite wife, Rachel; and then his beloved father. (In spite of what he said in Genesis 27:2, Isaac lived for forty-three years after that!) Perhaps the greatest sorrow of all was the sin of his firstborn son Reuben. Sin is expensive, and this one cost Reuben the birthright (Genesis 49:3–4; 1 Chronicles 5:1).

Genesis 32 still finds Jacob trying to escape – this time he is still trying to escape his brother Esau. If you don’t deal with problems, they rarely just go away! They will be waiting for you when you come back. One minute Jacob prayed for God’s help, and the next minute he devised some new way to appease his angry brother. He reminded God of His great promises and then acted as though God had never spoken. This is the conduct of a believer who needed to be broken before God. He prayed to be delivered from Esau (Genesis 32:11), but his greatest need was to be delivered from himself. Jacob was broken to be healed and weakened to be strengthened. When he surrendered, he won and became a “prince with God.” His limp would be a constant reminder that God would be in control of his life.

In spite of God’s hand obviously at work in the life of Jacob, he trusts to his old scheming to deal with Esau. We find Jacob bowing (Genesis 33:1–7), bribery (Genesis 33:8–11), outright lying (Genesis 33:12–16), and then moving off in another direction (Genesis 33:17–20). Esau went south and Jacob went east! It would still be some time before Jacob goes to Bethel where he needed to be…

Jacob was literally between a rock and a hard place. He discovered that God was with him and working for him and had a perfect plan for his life. Jacob may have been separated from home, but he was not separated from heaven.

Jacob’s family and fortune were built by the house of Laban. Laban tried to trick Jacob and make him poor, but God overruled and made Jacob a very wealthy man. In fact, God even blessed Laban because of Jacob, and the old trickster admitted it (Genesis 30:27)! It was God’s blessing and not Jacob’s schemes that increased the flocks. God was keeping the promises He had made at Bethel (Genesis 28:13–15). When we are in difficult situations, we can trust God to care for us.