Introduction:

It's a start of another quarter! This week we will be revisiting the original garden where God had created a perfect couple. As we embark on this quarter, let's seek God's guidance to filled us with experiential knowledge of Him and wisdom along the way. Inspiration says, "God advises His people of today to hearken unto Him. They are those who are endeavoring to obtain righteousness, those who are seeking the Lord, and who are anxious to have a revival and reformation among them. They are now urged to look to the rock whence they are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence they are digged." {1TG 37.10}

Memory Verse:

"Behold, God exalteth by His power; who teacheth like Him?

Prayer Thought:

God is a lover of the beautiful. He has given us unmistakable evidence of this in the work of His hands. He planted for our first parents a beautiful garden in Eden. Stately trees were caused to grow out of the ground, of every description, for usefulness and ornament. The beautiful flowers were formed, of rare loveliness, of every tint and hue, perfuming the air. . . It was the design of God that man should find happiness in the employment of tending the things He had created, and that his wants should be met with the fruits of the trees of the garden. {AH 27.1}

A. A Promising Beginning:

“The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.” (Genesis 2:8)

1. Happiness and Appointed Work

To Adam was given the work of caring for the garden. The Creator knew that Adam could not be happy without employment. The beauty of the garden delighted him, but this was not enough. He must have labor to call into exercise the wonderful organs of the body. Had happiness consisted in doing nothing, man, in his state of holy innocence, would have been left unemployed. But He who created man knew what would be for his happiness; and no sooner had He created him than He gave him his appointed work. The promise of future glory, and the decree that man must toil for his daily bread, came from the same throne. {AH 27.2}

2. God Will Instruct and Teach.

He who taught Adam and Eve in Eden how to tend the garden would instruct men today. There is wisdom for him who holds the plow and plants and sows the seed. The earth has its concealed treasures, and the Lord would have thousands and tens of thousands working upon the soil who are crowded into the cities to watch for a chance to earn a trifle. . . . Those who will take their families into the country place them where they have fewer temptations. The children who are with parents that love and fear God are in every way much better situated to learn of the Great Teacher, who is the source and fountain of wisdom. They have a much more favorable opportunity to gain a fitness for the kingdom of heaven. {AH 143.1}

3. Order and Harmony

“On every leaf of the forest or stone of the mountains, in every shining star, in earth and air and sky, God’s name was written. The order and harmony of creation spoke to them of infinite wisdom and power. They were ever discovering some attraction that filled their hearts with deeper love and called forth fresh expressions of gratitude. So long as they remained loyal to the divine law, their capacity to know, to enjoy, and to love would continually increase. They would be constantly gaining new treasures of knowledge, discovering fresh springs of happiness, and obtaining clearer and yet clearer conceptions of the immeasurable, unfailing love of God.” {PP 50-51}

Just Remember!

• God used a theoretical-practical method to teach Adam and Eve.

— They were assigned practical responsibilities: to look after the animals (Gn. 1:28; 2:19) and to take care of the garden (Gn. 2:15).

— The angels played an important role in their theoretical education. Besides, God met with them every afternoon to teach them personally (Gn. 3:8).

B. An External Influence:

“Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die.’” (Genesis 3:4)

1. Fruit of the Forbidden Tree

Eve wandered away from the side of her husband, and was gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the fruit of the forbidden tree. Satan, in the form of a serpent, conversed with Eve. The serpent had not the power of speech, but Satan used him as a medium. It was Satan that spoke, not the serpent. Eve was deceived, and thought it was the serpent. This serpent was a very beautiful creature with wings; and while flying through the air his appearance was very bright, resembling the color of burnished gold. He did not go upon the ground, but went from place to place through the air, and ate fruit like man. {3SG 39.2}

2. Satan Misrepresent God

In this prohibition Satan saw a chance to misrepresent God. Disguised as a serpent he came to Adam and Eve, saying, The reason God has forbidden you to eat of that fruit is because He knows that if you do eat of it, you will be as gods. You will become wise. And they did become wise--wise in knowing the evil which God meant them never to know. {1SAT 319.1}

• God created an environment that was “very good” (Gn. 1:31) and filled with “every tree that is pleasant to the sight” (Gn. 2:9). The students “were not ashamed” (Gn. 2:25).

• Nevertheless, a “cunning” being came to Eve and denied God’s clear statements. It encouraged her to doubt of God’s intention (Gn. 3:1-5). He introduced God as:

— Restrictive, prohibiting good things.

— Afraid of Adam and Eve reaching a superior level of knowledge.

— A liar, lying about the consequences of eating from that tree.

C. The Decision of the Students:

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6)

1. Transgressed the Law of God

Adam and Eve transgressed the law of God. They ate of the forbidden fruit, and were driven from Eden. We might well rejoice if this had been the only fall. But since the fall of Adam, the history of the human race has been a succession of falls. {RH, July 9, 1901 par. 4}

2. Consequence of Sin Follows

Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command, and ate of the forbidden fruit, they were expelled from Eden; but they observed the Sabbath after their fall. They had experienced the bitter fruits of disobedience, and learned that every transgressor of God's commands will sooner or later learn that God means just what he says, and that he will surely punish the transgressor. {3SG 52.2}

• What could have Eve done when doubt came to her mind?

• It was reasonable to talk to God about it because she could talk to Him directly. She could ask Him about the serpent’s accusations. He could also ask Adam for help. But she didn’t.

• Adam didn’t even think about the tree. He just decided to share Eve’s fate. Both used their free will badly.

D. The Decision of the Teacher:

“therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.” (Genesis 3:23)

1. Paradise Lost.

Adam was driven from Eden, and the angels who, before his transgression, had been appointed to guard him in his Eden home, were now appointed to guard the gates of paradise and the way of the tree of life, lest he should return, gain access to the tree of life, and sin be immortalized. {2Red 12.1}

2. Driven Away

Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden, and an angel with a flaming sword guarded the way to the tree of life, that the disloyal, disobedient pair might not gain access to it and thus immortalize transgression. Mark this point. The Lord did not place in Adam fallen and disobedient the confidence He placed in Adam loyal and true, living by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. . . . {CTr 26.5}

• Then the students could no longer remain in His presence. Before expelling them, God assured them that Redemption would come (Genesis 3:15).

• He assigned new tasks to them, so they could keep learning. He also gave them new ways to communicate with Him.

• We are descendants of Adam and Eve. We can learn as they did through prayer, service, and Bible study.

• Our learning goal is to rebuild God’s image in our lives, growing in the Christian virtues (2 Peter 1:3-11).

E. Keep Learning;

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account […]” (Hebrews 13:17)

1. Looking Unto Jesus and Learn of Him

"Rash, overbearing expressions do not harmonize with the sacred work that Christ has given his ministers to do. When the daily experience is one of looking unto Jesus and learning of Him, you will reveal a wholesome, harmonious character. Soften your representations, and let not condemnatory words be spoken. Learn of the great Teacher. Words of kindness and sympathy will do as good as a medicine, and will heal souls that are in despair. The knowledge of the word of God brought into the practical life will have a healing, soothing power. Harshness of speech will never bring blessing to yourself or to any other soul. {FB 31}

• Those learning must submit to the teacher’s authority. This authority is necessary and must be respected.

• As Christians, we learn from pastors and teachers (Hebrews 13:17), and we should acknowledge their authority. But they must be assessed so they don’t introduce heresy to the flock (2 Peter 2:1).

• Adam and Eve disregarded God’s authority and submitted to a deceitful one.

• In order to keep learning, we must submit to God’s Word and to those authorized by it.