The Worship of Knowledge

Genesis 3:1-19

INTRODUCTION: In the days of Gideon, the Israelites had been living under the Midianite culture, religion, and control for too long. When God’s people got tired of living in fear, they began to seek the Lord. The Lord’s first admonition was to tear down the altars of Baal and to build new altars. The sad truth was that the Israelites had been worshiping at these altars and the decision to tear them down was going to be difficult for them on every front.

I. GOD’S CONCERN FOR MAN’S KNOWLEDGE (Genesis 2:16-17)

A. The Presence of Knowledge (Genesis 2:16)

1. Though little is stated concerning the conditions prior to the fall of man, it is certain that knowledge existed prior to the partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
2. The very fact that God commanded the man suggests that man possessed knowledge.

B. The Warning Against Knowledge (Genesis 2:16-17)

1. The opportunities for food were overwhelmingly open (Genesis 2:16).
2. The two only had one tree of which the Lord said they should not eat (Genesis 2:17).

C. The Presented Outcome of Knowledge (Genesis 2:17)

1. The time of the outcome – “in the day thou eatest thereof”
2. The certainty of the outcome – “thou shalt surely”
3. The dread of the outcome – “thou shalt surely die”

II. THE DEVIL’S APPEAL FOR MAN’S KNOWLEDGE (Genesis 3:1-7)

A. The Character of the Devil (Genesis 3:1)

1. He was more subtil than any beast of the field.
2. The word subtil means sly or cunning.

B. The Practice of the Devil (Genesis 3:1-4)

1. To cast doubt (Genesis 3:1)
2. To deny (Genesis 3:4)

C. The Appeal of the Devil (Genesis 3:5)

1. Your eyes shall be opened.
2. Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

D. The Success of the Devil (Genesis 3:6-7)

1. Of convincing the woman (Genesis 3:6)
a. The woman saw that…
1.) The tree was good for food.
2.) The tree was pleasant to the eyes.
3.) The tree was to be desired to make one wise.
b. She did eat.
c. She gave to her husband and he did eat.
2. Of robbing the couple (Genesis 3:7)

III. THE OUTCOME OF MAN’S NEW KNOWLEDGE (Genesis 3:8-19)

A. Confusion (Genesis 3:8-10)

1. The serpent was not feared.
2. Now mankind hides from his creator (Genesis 3:8, 10).

B. Separation (Genesis 3:11-13)

1. Between God and man (Genesis 3:11)
2. Between man and man (Genesis 3:12)

C. Complications (Genesis 3:14-19)

D. Note: Though not mentioned here, knowledge often yields pride (1 Corinthians 8:1)

CONCLUSION: It is high time that God’s people tear down the altars the world built. For far too long, we have become convinced that we have no choice but to follow the world’s lead.