Recently, I heard someone describe a 'Columbus' journey like this: he didn't know where he was going, didn't know where he was when he landed, and didn't know where he'd been when he left! Of course, all along he THOUGHT he KNEW. And because he THOUGHT he KNEW, he was COMPELLED to action. Of course, in the end, he died never knowing the truth about where he'd been. And this is something I very much have in common with Eve in Chapter 3 of Genesis... Can you relate?
We're looking at the Biblical paradigm of our lives in this series. Thus far, we've looked at the creation of our world which was designed creatively by the Godhead and handed as a precious gift to Adam. That's here in Part 1. Then we looked at the antagonist in our story in Part 2. Then in Part 3 - we got an unveiled glimpse of the politics of God's government and how war against that government is waged. Today though, we're taking just a quick peek at Eve to see what we have in common with her. Check it out:
Genesis 3:1-3 (NASB)
The Fall of Man
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from every tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”
Actually, we need to back up a wee bit and revisit the creation of Eve... Here's passage - but I challenge you - read it backwards. Below I've stuck the passage including the original language words for clarity. Start at the last verse and reconstruct the scene from the bottom up. What do you get?
Genesis 2:18-25 (NASB)
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper corresponding to him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for man there was not found a helper corresponding to him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God build into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
This one shall be called Ishshah,
Because this one was taken out of Ish.”
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Wow! Isn't it amazing? Our cultures have so saturated us with the differences of gender that we MUST go back to the word to see how beautifully compatible God designed the genders to be! During creation - who was the Helper corresponding to God the Father? Jesus and the Holy Spirit! We saw that in Part 1 of this series. So here - as Jesus is working with Adam to name the creation, the foundational truth is given: It is NOT GOOD for man to be alone. Why? Because strength lies in unity. The Godhead demonstrates unity. The animals were not created singularly but with a mind towards companionship and unity. Now the time has come to "finish" the creation of man. And who completes this work? This will blow your mind. Check it out: Eloyhim is all in Genesis Chapter 1. The very first introduction of Jehovah God (the pre-incarnate Jesus) is in Chapter 2 verse 4. Like a reminder that Jesus was part of the original creation week. And then? Jesus - the All-knowing One who's love will be first rejected by a woman - this same loving creator fashions Eve!
Anyway - the original point I was making was this: Adam was clearly not with her at this time. Of course we don't have the details in the Bible - we don't need them. If we had them, we'd likely just start parceling out the blame. Eve's first problem is that she did not value unity with her husband so highly that in her personal considerations her thoughts turned first to adding to the joy of their partnership and unity. Instead, her personal thoughts took her wandering off on her own. And thus she found herself by herself in a forbidden danger spot without the added strength of her companion. <can I just assume here that the gentle reader understands that 'unity' does not apply to one's very personal and unique relationship to God?>
Lord - guide me into the perfect unity You have designed for me with my husband/spouse/family members/church members. Strip away the false ideas my culture has given me, show me my fears and anxieties about not being valued so You can heal me and make me whole in You. Help to me remember that You value unity so highly that the thought of NOT being united (of eternal seperation) broke Your heart of love on the cross...
The second problem for Eve was that she tarried. As she came to herself and realized where she was, she didn't make haste to escape! (guilty all too often of that myself! Lord help me to run to You FAST! At the FIRST sign of danger!) Remember in Part 2 we looked how Lucifer's focus on the perfection of himself led to his being 'lifted up' or prideful - his ultimate fall. Oh how deceptive SELF is!
Finally - Oh that temptation. As you look at the language, it is as though the serpent was answering a half-spoken question breathed out by Eve. And the remarkableness of the response to her thought: a snake talking + totally incorrect sentence = Eve IS COMPELLED TO RESPOND. And at this point we can trace her sad path to total ruin and the destruction of her perfect marriage. And we realize with clarity sin IS NEVER about the temptation itself. It is about our choosing to take on the battle (whatever battle it may be: chocolate, food - too little/too much, exercise - too little/too much/wrong motivation, TV, anger, compulsive spending, the wretched list is endless....) ourselves.
Oh dear Jesus! Too many times I feel COMPELLED to RESPOND. And in that moment there is no safety. Help me to remember that YOUR WORD is my only safeguard. Your NAME is a strong tower I can run to! You are ALWAYS faithful, kind, compassionate, truthful, honest and You have promised to fight ALL my battles if I just KEEP STILL! You have promised to provide me with a WAY OF ESCAPE! Thank You Jesus that Your Word is TRUTH, LIFE and HOPE!
Actually, we need to back up a wee bit and revisit the creation of Eve... Here's passage - but I challenge you - read it backwards. Below I've stuck the passage including the original language words for clarity. Start at the last verse and reconstruct the scene from the bottom up. What do you get?
Genesis 2:18-25 (NASB)
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper corresponding to him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for man there was not found a helper corresponding to him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God build into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
This one shall be called Ishshah,
Because this one was taken out of Ish.”
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Wow! Isn't it amazing? Our cultures have so saturated us with the differences of gender that we MUST go back to the word to see how beautifully compatible God designed the genders to be! During creation - who was the Helper corresponding to God the Father? Jesus and the Holy Spirit! We saw that in Part 1 of this series. So here - as Jesus is working with Adam to name the creation, the foundational truth is given: It is NOT GOOD for man to be alone. Why? Because strength lies in unity. The Godhead demonstrates unity. The animals were not created singularly but with a mind towards companionship and unity. Now the time has come to "finish" the creation of man. And who completes this work? This will blow your mind. Check it out: Eloyhim is all in Genesis Chapter 1. The very first introduction of Jehovah God (the pre-incarnate Jesus) is in Chapter 2 verse 4. Like a reminder that Jesus was part of the original creation week. And then? Jesus - the All-knowing One who's love will be first rejected by a woman - this same loving creator fashions Eve!
<gotta take a break here - such love! Jesus' love towards us in that WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS!!!!! - He died for us!!! Romans 5:8>
<ok, just 1 2 more amazing things: THEN - Jesus says - the battle will be finished by a woman! His church triumphant! And of course - Jesus was BORN of a woman! What beautiful and creative symmetry!>
Anyway - the original point I was making was this: Adam was clearly not with her at this time. Of course we don't have the details in the Bible - we don't need them. If we had them, we'd likely just start parceling out the blame. Eve's first problem is that she did not value unity with her husband so highly that in her personal considerations her thoughts turned first to adding to the joy of their partnership and unity. Instead, her personal thoughts took her wandering off on her own. And thus she found herself by herself in a forbidden danger spot without the added strength of her companion. <can I just assume here that the gentle reader understands that 'unity' does not apply to one's very personal and unique relationship to God?>
Lord - guide me into the perfect unity You have designed for me with my husband/spouse/family members/church members. Strip away the false ideas my culture has given me, show me my fears and anxieties about not being valued so You can heal me and make me whole in You. Help to me remember that You value unity so highly that the thought of NOT being united (of eternal seperation) broke Your heart of love on the cross...
The second problem for Eve was that she tarried. As she came to herself and realized where she was, she didn't make haste to escape! (guilty all too often of that myself! Lord help me to run to You FAST! At the FIRST sign of danger!) Remember in Part 2 we looked how Lucifer's focus on the perfection of himself led to his being 'lifted up' or prideful - his ultimate fall. Oh how deceptive SELF is!
Finally - Oh that temptation. As you look at the language, it is as though the serpent was answering a half-spoken question breathed out by Eve. And the remarkableness of the response to her thought: a snake talking + totally incorrect sentence = Eve IS COMPELLED TO RESPOND. And at this point we can trace her sad path to total ruin and the destruction of her perfect marriage. And we realize with clarity sin IS NEVER about the temptation itself. It is about our choosing to take on the battle (whatever battle it may be: chocolate, food - too little/too much, exercise - too little/too much/wrong motivation, TV, anger, compulsive spending, the wretched list is endless....) ourselves.
Oh dear Jesus! Too many times I feel COMPELLED to RESPOND. And in that moment there is no safety. Help me to remember that YOUR WORD is my only safeguard. Your NAME is a strong tower I can run to! You are ALWAYS faithful, kind, compassionate, truthful, honest and You have promised to fight ALL my battles if I just KEEP STILL! You have promised to provide me with a WAY OF ESCAPE! Thank You Jesus that Your Word is TRUTH, LIFE and HOPE!
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