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Genesis 3:6-7

Isn’t it amazing what the human race substitutes for the will of God? Notice some of the reasonings of Eve. Instead of continuing to remember God’s command she reasoned, “That looks tasty.” Instead of remembering the multitude of things that God had freely provided that she was authorized to eat, she thought, “How lovely it is.” Instead of heeding the solemn warning of her creator regarding death in the case of disobedience, she thought, “Well, I would like to be wise.” She risked everything and gained nothing but death for her trouble. She is not alone in her awful choices. Men and women this very hour commit sin for much less. You and I and the human race have followed her in these choices (Romans 3:23).

The lessons to Israel (and us) are these:

• False teachers are to be shunned. Satan was a false teacher, i.e., a liar (John 8:44), and liars are not to be heeded.
• Temptation is to be resisted. The very fact of God’s command implied that they were able to keep it (Deuteronomy 30:19). Eve didn’t have to eat of the fruit. Israel was faced with countless temptations in their wanderings. They were able to resist temptation and obey. Often they would not (Exodus 32:1-8).
• Personal sin often has consequences for others. There is a tendency to follow, especially loved ones, into sin. The price is doubly high. Remember Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5).
• The price of following someone else in doing evil. Adam had a choice and he knew better. Israel constantly struggled with this (Exodus 23:2).
• It’s outside the scope of our text but we need to note that when God says that a consequence will follow, it does. God was giving no idle threat in His command to Adam and Eve. He said they would die and they did that day (Genesis 2:17).
• The source of shame. It began at the beginning and is because of sin. Perhaps it was added at the moment of their sin to ask as a further restraint on them.

Finally, compare the choices that Eve made (and that we make) and compare them to the choice our Lord made in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). Notice the conditions of Eve and then Jesus. Notice the power of the temptations themselves. Notice that Jesus made the right choices. Let him be our example. See also: The Tested and Certified Christ.