The Powerful Contrast Between Eve’s Disobedience and Mary’s Obedience

Lucifer, the fallen angel who became the devil, came to Eve in the form of a serpent. He used words the Creator said, but he inserted the element of doubt in the conversation.

He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1b NIV)

Eve wasn’t present when God told Adam about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17).   She replied with the wrong perception of what the Lord told them.

Her information about their restriction had to come from her husband. Either he didn’t give it to her the way he received the instructions, or she misinterpreted it as indicated by her reply to the serpent.

“But God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die’” (Genesis 3:3). They were not told anything about touching the tree. Eve inserted these words in her response.

Eve didn’t recognize this messenger was not from the Lord. She and Adam had walked and talked with God in the cool of the day since they were created. We don’t know how many days they did this before the tempter came. But with the devil’s track record, he probably wasted no time.

Just because they had been created in His image and had no sin doesn’t mean they were knowledgeable about the Holy One’s character. This may be why He talked with them every day so they could establish the intimate relationship He wanted to have.

When the serpent crawled through the tree and spoke to Eve, the difference in His words and voice should have alerted her this was not truth. The first woman carried on a conversation with a snake who questioned what God had already said.

Eve submitted to the words of deception.

Gabriel came to a girl in Nazareth straight from the throne of God. He didn’t need to disguise himself because his purpose wasn’t to deceive.

Because of the transgression in the garden, fear was introduced into the souls of people. Jehovah had to remind His saints from that day forward with the greeting, “Fear not,” whenever He approached them with a new message. Gabriel had to first assure the recipient of his words there was nothing to be afraid of.

Mary’s quick ability to accept the words of Gabriel for her life is an indication she had been schooled in obedience her entire life. God’s choice for the mother of His Son would have been one from a faithful Jewish family.

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28)

Mary talked with Gabriel, but only to gather information. He wasn’t asking her to doubt something God had already said, as the tempter did with Eve. She only wanted to know how conception could happen to a virgin.

This young woman knew the prophecies about the Messiah’s coming. The entire Jewish population had waited centuries for His appearing. She already knew and trusted the Scriptures and she readily submitted to the Lord’s choice for her life (Luke 1:38).

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors. (Luke 1:54-55)

The Difference in Their Firstborn Sons

Mary’s firstborn Son gave His own life to give life to others.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

Eve’s firstborn son committed the first murder (Genesis 4:8).

After the death of Abel, Cain blamed his own brother. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9b)

Jesus had every right to blame those who came against Him; instead, He forgave them.

A voice from heaven told Cain he was cursed and a fugitive (Genesis 4:12).

The Father’s voice from heaven declared Jesus was His beloved Son (Matthew 3:17).

The blood of Abel fell to the ground and cried out for vengeance.

Jesus’ blood fell from His brow to the ground through His agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He cried out for His Father’s will to be done and through His sacrifice vengeance against sin would transpire.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Rudall30 

Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought death and instituted the first sacrifice when God clothed them with skins of animals (Genesis 3:21).

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)

Mary’s fidelity birthed the sacrifice who was given for all mankind.

And He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)

The acceptance of the commission from the Lord brought temporary scandal to Mary’s life. Her submission to the words of the angel required her to overcome her emotions when she didn’t know what the future would hold for her. Her decision blessed her life, and we have the same option when we accept Christ.

Faith was born in Mary’s heart and the Word became flesh (John 1:14).

Doubt was born in Eve’s heart and the words of God died in her soul. A barrier was erected against intimacy with their Creator.

Eve lost her joy. Her one moment of pleasure introduced sin.

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Genesis 3:6)

All the world blames Eve.

And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. (1 Timothy 2:14)

All the world will call Mary blessed.

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:45)

The responses of Eve and Mary can teach us how we are to respond to what we hear. We are told to rightly divide the word of truth.

Do you best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Satan’s tactics haven’t changed since the beginning of time. His only weapons are deception and lies. He transformed into a serpent to talk to Eve, (which at the time wasn’t an undesirable animal). He transforms into an angel of light to come to us.

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

He falsifies himself as something good to deceive us. But we are told he can’t devour us if we resist him.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Both women had the option of choice. Mary chose to submit to Gabriel’s words. Eve submitted to the devil’s lies.

Our options are the same as Mary’s and Eve’s were. We must decide which voice we will listen to. Our consequences will be determined by that decision.

Did Adam and Eve Go to Heaven?

I like to think they did. God in His mercy shed the blood of an animal instead of killing them for what they did. He covered their bodies with the skins and even though their intimacy was corrupted, the Lord still talked with them.

Although they may have spent the rest of their lives in guilt, they also repented and taught their children about sacrifices and offerings (Genesis 4:3-4). It would go against our Lord’s character to condemn them to hell while showing mercy to the rest of humanity by providing redemption. They had to choose to receive God's forgiveness the same way we do. We are only saved because we respond to His gift.

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20b-21)

They would have been among the saints in the holding pattern of Paradise waiting for translation to their heavenly home. After Jesus was crucified, He went into the bowels of the earth and led them out (Ephesians 4:8-9).

It’s easy to condemn the first couple for their transgression, yet it’s probable there wouldn’t be a single one of us who wouldn’t have done the same thing.

We can be thankful for God’s mercy and kindness extended to each of us. Because of grace, no matter what happened at the beginning, we are given life.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/ZbynekPospisil