Adam and Eve

After creating the heavens and the earth, God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. The Lord planted a garden in Eden and placed the man there to work it and take care of it. In the middle of the garden stood the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave Adam a single command: he could eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for eating from it would bring death.

God declared that it was not good for man to be alone, so He brought all the animals to Adam to name, but no suitable helper was found among them. God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep, and from one of Adam's ribs, He formed a woman. When Adam saw her, he rejoiced: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man.' The two became one flesh, living together in perfect harmony with God and each other, naked and unashamed.

The serpent, more crafty than any other creature, approached Eve and questioned God's command. 'Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?' he asked, subtly distorting God's word. Eve corrected him but added to God's command, saying they must not even touch the fruit. The serpent boldly contradicted God: 'You will not certainly die. For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'

Eve looked at the fruit with new eyes. It appeared good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom. She took the fruit and ate it, then gave some to Adam, who was with her, and he ate it too. Immediately their eyes were opened, and they realized they were naked. Shame flooded over them, and they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When they heard God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, they hid among the trees.

God called out, 'Where are you?' Adam explained they were hiding because they were naked and afraid. God asked, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?' Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent, but both were guilty of disobedience. God pronounced judgments on all three: the serpent would crawl on its belly, Eve would experience pain in childbirth and conflict in marriage, and Adam would toil painfully to produce food from ground that was now cursed.

Yet even in judgment, God showed grace. He promised that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent's head—a prophecy pointing to Jesus Christ who would defeat Satan and sin. God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve, requiring the death of an animal and foreshadowing the sacrifice that would cover sin. He sent them out of Eden and stationed cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life. Paradise was lost, but the promise of redemption had been planted.