Genesis 3:4–7

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

So, after the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, they eat the fruit and then the eyes of both were opened. So, how was the tree a delight to the eyes while their eyes were closed? Obviously, “the eyes of both were opened,” means something other than simply the movement of eyelids.

And it changed mankind forever. We can understand a lot about who we are if we can figure out what that change was.

Unfortunately, the Bible doesn’t specifically explain this transformation—other than to say that we fell into sin (and then to illustrate sin for the whole rest of the book). However, we do have two great clues.

First, the text doesn’t say, “they saw that they were naked,” it says, “they knew that they were naked.” Since it’s the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the fact that they now “know” something makes sense. There are other cases where “eyes opening” has this sense.

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. — Numbers 22:31a

So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. — 2 Kings 6:17b

The other big clue is an assumption in some schools of theology—this “disaster” is actually part of God’s plan. The idea that this took God by surprise is ruled out by the fact that God is outside of time. Thus, many theologians assume that the transformation made by their eating the fruit of this tree must have a purpose. We may not be able to figure out what that purpose is, but there is one.

This is one of the toughest and most important subjects in all of theology. We’ll get back to it.

Because they ate of the tree, sin and death are an ever-present factor in everything.

But because they ate of the tree, we also have an aptitude to study those sins.

So, in a wondrous way, the problem and the solution are inextricably linked. It’s the greatest tragedy of all time; it’s the source of all other tragedies.

But it’s also the source of our ability to understand the gospel. The stage is set for God’s glorious plot twists. We’ll see this in greater detail when He passes sentence on Adam, Eve and the serpent.

Praise Him for His magnificent ways.

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. Saturdays' by Matt Richardson. Subscribe here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, are here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Scripture taken from the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.