Here’s a super fun and easy to understand summary of Genesis 3. Help your family learn all about the Fall as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God.
The Sneaky Snake
Adam and Eve were living their best life in the Garden of Eden. God had also given them the freedom to eat from any tree… except for one—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
God had warned them, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die”.
But one day, a sneaky snake came up to Eve, hoping to tempt her into breaking God’s rule. The snake asked: “Did God really say you can’t eat from any tree?”
Eve told the snake they could eat from every tree except the one in the middle. She added: “If we even touch it, we’ll die!”
The lying snake said, “You won’t die! God just knows if you eat it, you’ll be just like Him, knowing good and evil.”
Tempted by the idea of being super wise like God, Eve looked at the fruit, and it seemed so delicious. She just couldn’t resist! So she took a bite and shared it with Adam. He ate it too.
A bad choice
This turned out to be a big mistake. Suddenly, Adam and Eve realized they were naked—something they hadn’t noticed before. Feeling shame, they quickly grabbed some fig leaves and made clothes for themselves.
Later, they heard God walking in the garden. Scared, Adam and Eve hid among the trees. God called out, “Where are you?” Adam answered, “I heard you, but I was afraid because I’m naked, so I hid.”
God asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” Adam blamed Eve: “She gave me the fruit.” Eve blamed the snake: “It tricked me!”
In response to their bad choices, God did this. First, He told the serpent it would crawl on its belly and be enemies with humans. To Eve, God said childbirth would be painful and her husband would rule over her. To Adam, God said the ground would be cursed, making growing food hard work. He would have to work hard all his life and eventually return to the dust he was made from.
In short, Adam and Eve’s bad choice to disobey God – their sins – did not only affect them, but all humans after them. This includes their sons, Cain and Abel.
Out of the Garden of Eden
But even though they made a big mistake, God showed He still cared for Adam and Eve’s needs by making clothes from animal skins for them. He then sent them out of the Garden of Eden.
To stop Adam and Eve from eating from the other important tree—the tree of life—and living forever in their sinful state, God placed angels (called cherubim) and a flaming sword at the entrance of the Garden of Eden to block the way.
At first, we might think that God kicking Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden is a bit stern.
But it was actually an act of love from God, as allowing them the risk of living forever in their fallen state would be even worse. By keeping them from the tree of life, God was making a way for His future plan to save and redeem us humans through His son, Jesus.
Questions to ask yourself
- How can I remember that God’s rules are there to protect me, for my own good?
- When I’m tempted to make a bad choice, how can I remind myself of God’s truth and the impact of my decision?
- Am I quick to blame others for my mistakes, or do I take responsibility?
- What does God’s care for Adam and Eve even after their mistake teach me about His love for me?
Enjoyed our summary of Genesis 3? Check out more chapter overviews or watch our anime Bible videos.
