What was Adam and Eve’s sin? What did they do that was so bad they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden? Was eating the forbidden fruit all that important?

Let’s take a look. I was thinking about this and reading Genesis 3. Satan didn’t tempt them with some awful sin. No. But, it touched the core of all sin—independence from God. Pride in thinking they could be like God. That they could run their own lives. That they knew more than God. Sins aren’t the issue. Sin, the sinful nature, is our problem.

Adam and Eve’s Sin – Independence

All sins have their root in independence. All through the Old Testament, we read how His people turned from God to go their own way. And all through the prophets, God pleads with them to return to Him. (Read Isaiah 53 to read the prophecy telling of the price Jesus Christ was to pay to reconcile them and us to God.)

What can we learn about their decision. First of all, it wasn’t an impulsive decision. They knew the rules, so to speak. God had warned them, probably multiple times (like He did in the Old Testament times). After Satan deceived Eve, they had time to consider their options.

Adam and Eve’s Sin – What did they choose?

After considering both sides they made their choice:

• they chose to believe Satan
• they chose to cast their lot in with Satan
• they chose to take sides against their creator
• they chose to believe the deceiver rather than their creator
• they chose independence

Today, when we sin, we choose not to believe God, we choose not to believe He is enough and has our best in mind. When we sin, we choose to believe Satan, whatever the temptation is, whatever fear, whatever mistreatment might result, whatever hurt to our pride. Let’s choose not to believe the deceiver.

This week, will you choose to believe God with me, to completely trust him with your life? Will you join me in asking for forgiveness?  Will you accept his offer of reconciliation? 

Words to light your path

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way..

Kind Father, Help us to look deeper than our individual sins, to our core sinful nature. That is what You want to replace with the life of Your son. You want to wash us clean. Make us completely new. Open our eyes to see Your plan for us.

For more on this topic see Seeds of Forbidden Fruit.