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[1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the lord God had made. He said to the woman "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?"
[2] The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, [3] but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from that is the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it or you will die.'"
[4] "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. [5] For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing all good and evil."
Unfortunately the woman listened to the serpent and did eat the fruit. She gave into temptation and set the scene for the rest of mankind. She sinned for the first time ever. Then shared with her Husband and led him into sin.
Imagine though, if you will, that God had set the perfect stage. He gave mankind everything but allowed Satan to walk amongst the Garden with Adam and Eve and placed temptation right in their path. He was simply testing their faith in him. And the serpent was so sly with his wording and so convincing. It would have taken the strongest of persons to not fall into the his trap. Interestingly enough we could apply this to our own lives. I, myself, find that temptation is always sticking it's big ugly nose in my life and Satan is always there, waiting and watching and convincing me to question my Lord and savior and to just give in. I am only Human though, and have given in to Satan's evil doings. Good thing for me, for all of us, that our Lord and savior is a forgiving Lord that allows Satan's evil to bring about great blessings. One of which for me happened to be my first born. While I almost lost faith in myself and my Lord, my baby led me to my Husband and my new life in Southern California. I can imagine Satan kicking and screaming that his temptation was no match for the Lords plans for me! Let's move on. I'm beginning to ramble.
As we move on we notice that Satan was right to a point. Eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil did not in fact kill them literally; However, it did "open" their eyes. They now knew they were naked. They were no longer like innocent children. They now died in a spiritual sense more so then a literal sense. See how sneaky that Satan can be?!
Then we notice in Genesis 3:8-10 that Adam is hiding from the Lord as the Lord God is trying to find him. Why is it that we hide from our Lord in our time of need? Adam's answer was that he was afraid because he was naked. He then explains that the woman God had placed with him had given him this fruit and that he had eaten some of it. When the woman tells God that the serpent had deceived her he curses the serpent to crawl on his belly and eat dust for the rest of his life.
This is when God turns to man and says:
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
He will crush your head,
and you will strike his heal"
This here is powerful scripture. In order to win his battle, Satan had to divide and conquer. He did this by enlisting the help of woman to get man to forfeit his position. Since Adam and Eve had forgotten their purpose and lost their way God put enmity, a deep hatred or hostility, between the two. Here lies just the beginning of the true battle of the sexes.
Then God turned to the man and told him that because he gave into woman the ground would now be cursed and he would be forced to eat from it until the day he dies.
Adam then named his wife Eve since she was the mother of all of the living. Then God banished them from the Garden. They were no longer permitted to eat from the tree of life and live forever. Before sin there was no death. Imagine that, living forever in a beautiful garden with no sin and complete innocence. Lucky for us there is a heaven and we won't always have to imagine such a scenario with out ever knowing.
You ask "Why is it that we hide from our Lord in our time of need?"
ReplyDeleteIt's because the story's you have learned teach you of a punishing god. You are right, this Adam's time of need. When someone you know, someone you love, is hiding in fear or shame, they are in need of reminding that they need never feel this way. But that is not what the god in this story does, does it.
God is not like that all, but the Tanakh presented a god in this form in association with the patriarchal and masculine belief systems that were in place at the time. We have learned much since then, don't you agree?
If you can remember to act more like the God you would want, and recognize the need in someone that is feeling fear or shame, rather punishing them like the god you find in this story, you will be a better person, a better Christian, and a much more God-like then Elohim or Yahweh ever was.
Thank you for your blog and I wish peace.
Adam's fear and hiding was because of his wrongdoing, and failure to go to God with it. The feelings of shame and fear here, are expected when one has broken the 'rules'. Human, sinful nature tries to cover up and blame others, not wanting to face the consequences of our actions. God's way is to humble ourselves, and admit faults and sins make amends whenever possible then choose to change.
ReplyDeleteIf you read the Bible in it's entirety, you learn that God is a God of love, who desires His people to be happy and fulfilled. But, like all children, we need to be guided, and sometimes chastised sternly (as when a child runs into the road, or is about to touch a hot stove). He is also a God of compassion, mercy and grace. These are ALL acts of love.
Angel,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments.
In this story the 'wrongdoing' is defined by the god in the story, as is the punishment for the 'wrongdoing'. There is no higher definition of write or wrong based for this god. The god in this story makes all the hazards, all the rules, and all the punishments.
This is very different from your examples of the 'wrongdoing' of a child running into the street or touching a hot stove. In your examples it is the action that results in the greater harm, and therefore a parent introduces a punishment to deter the child from the 'wrongdoing'. In this example, the hazard is not something the parent can control so they use punishment to affect the actions of the child. In the books of Bereshith, the god is in control of all hazards, all rules, and all punishments.
Hopefully that makes sense and enables you to begin looking at the stories in the Tanakh from a new perspective. The earliest books of the Tankah were first derived shortly after the Akhenaten period, which is why they present the characters of Elohim, El, Yahweh, and Adonai in the patriarchal framework.
The people of that time only knew political and social structures within this framework, which is why such a god was included in these stories. That's how their earthly kingdoms were structured, with a patriarchal leader creating rules and defining the punishments. It makes sense that's how they would novelize the deity in their story.
God has no reason to punish you. If you don't believe this, really think about it. Is it to prevent you from some greater hazard like in your example of the child and the hot stove? If so what greater hazard? One beyond his creation? Or is this greater hazard also of his creation, making the punishment the lesser of two evils he has created for you? Really, really take the time to think for yourself on this one. Either this god has to be the one that creates both the hazard and the punishments, or he is limited by yet a greater power which defines these for him. Either way, he is not the God who created you and that loves you unconditionally.
ReplyDeleteGod has no reason to test you. To test means he does not know, yet He knows you, and He knows you as perfect. You're not as bad as you think you are. He knows that, I know that, and it’s my wish that you realize how perfect you are as well. If anyone ever lays down a set of rules and tells you will be judged as less than perfect if you do not follow them, just know that your God, your creator will not judge you as such and at least one person on earth (little old me) will not judge you as such either.
Thanks again for commenting and I wish you peace.
Here's what I don't get. God just created the world at this point in the OT. Why would He set Adam and Eve up for failure by allowing the snake to be there?
ReplyDeleteSince God is a God of love why does He basically curse men & women by creating hatred between the two sexes? Why does a God of love create feelings of hate between His people? How can any glory come from this? Blah only the 2nd day of doing this Bible study and my head is already spinning lol
I'm feeling the same way Jessi. I'm not sure I'm ready for the next lesson where God kills all the animals because the people were bad.
ReplyDeleteCan't we just skip over God's grumpy years and go right to the New Testament! lol
God does not force anything from us. He always gives us a choice. Otherwise it is a forced relationship. God's rules are set up to protect, as well as to give us a choice, even in the garden of Eden, in it's perfection, man and woman needed a choice, to choose to obey God, or not. They chose the latter, and God, in His infinite wisdom and grace, offered a way out for them, but there where still consequences.
ReplyDeleteGod gives the freedom to choose between right and wrong, and without being subjected to them both, how could a choice ever be made?? For example, you never really know how you'll react to a situation until you are put into it. It's one thing to say "I would never do that", and sometimes quite another to be there in the moment. Or, if I consistently set it up so you could only do what was right, is it really a choice? But presented with options, this is where the 'rubber meets the road', where you will see who am.
As far as 'feeling bad', well there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. God convicts us of our wrongdoing, to help us make positive changes in our lives, and to free us from being a slave to sin and our wrongdoings.
"God does not force anything from us. He always gives us a choice. Otherwise it is a forced relationship. God's rules are set up to protect, as well as to give us a choice, even in the garden of Eden, in it's perfection, man and woman needed a choice, to choose to obey God, or not."
ReplyDeleteAngel,
What was God protecting Adam and Eve from in the garden? Something he created? So your saying God said: "I've created good stuff and bad stuff for you to choose from. I've picked what is to be called good and I've picked what is to be called bad. You have free choice but if you choose the bad stuff I'll make sure bad things happen if you do. If you pick the good stuff I'll make sure good things happen."
And this is how he has chosen to "free us from being a slave to sin and our wrongdoings"?
I think I like Sherri's explanation. This stuff was written when they didn't know any better and I'm glad we've learned a lot since then (most of us at least).
Now the New Testament thats a different story!
I think most of know the New Testament was written after Christ did his teaching to the people who had been studying this stuff over 1000 years and he explained how they had it all wrong.
We do know that, don't we?
Sherri,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say thank you. I have been studying the bible for a
long time but you really cleared up a lot of things for me. And your
words had such warmth and caring behind them. When I think 'What Would
Jesus Post', it would be very close to what you have written.
The God that warms my heart would not have had to test Adam and Eve
and would not have punished them for failing a test. I hadn't
realized how silly of an idea that is until I read what you posted.
I asked my previous bible teacher if he knew about the Tanakh and when
it was written and he just gave me a funny look. LOL I guess I had
always assumed he knew more about the bible than what he did.
Thanks again. You have given bible study new meaning for me.
In the garden, it wasn't about 'protection', it was about giving us a choice. I believe that the Bible is God's word, not a book of "stories" that we can believe if we feel like it, or believe some parts and not others. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He does not change.
ReplyDelete"Some conclude that Tanakh, Midrash, and Talmud tie Judaism down to an ancient, out-of-date past; that they all seem to point to an old wisdom, out of touch with present-day reality. But Hebrew scripture takes the position that truth is an eternal reality."
The New Testament says that Jesus came to fulfill the law, not to abolish it. But, legalism is not God's way either. So, setting out to only follow a set of "rules" is useless and will only distract us from who He really is. God sees our hearts and He is a loving, forgiving Father.
ReplyDelete"I believe that the Bible is God's word, not a book of "stories" that we can believe if we feel like it, or believe some parts and not others."
ReplyDeleteYou do know what is in those scriptures, don't you? If you do, and you believe ALL of it, then I assume you do not allow your child, your husband, or anyone you love come into contact with you during your menstruation period (Leviticus 15:19-30).
Actually, if you do believe ALL of it, you would not dare even try to teach in the manor you are (1 Timothy 2:11-12).
I have a list of 137 of these biblical contradictions to the current wisdom in my doctoral thesis on world religions and I will list them all if you like?
You are so much more than these stories teach you. You are not unclean. You are not less wise than a man. You are not required to be subservient to anyone.
If you were taught you are any less than perfect, I just can not agree with you on this. You can argue to me that you are these things that these men wrote about at a time when your gender was judged as the lesser of the two, but I will not yield in seeing you as anything less than a perfect. Neither will the God that loves you unconditionally and equally.
But you are right, God has given you choice. Endless choice. You get to choose rightness or wrongness of every choice, not him. If you should choose to see yourself as a sinner, as unclean, as a lesser being, you God will allow you this choice. If this feels right to you, if this feels good to you, regardless of what is said in some book, then I will not try to convince you otherwise.
But if you are basing your judgment of yourself based upon some book, whether that book is called Veda, Torah, Koran, Bible, or anything else matters not. If that is the basis of your judgment I would tell you to look past these books, look deeper. These books do not know you, you know you. And I know you. You are perfect.
Thanks again for your comments and I wish you peace.
Angel,
ReplyDeleteFirst you said "God's rules are set up to protect, as well as to give us a choice, even in the garden of Eden"
Then you said: "In the garden, it wasn't about 'protection', it was about giving us a choice."
And if they choose the choice he says is bad they get punished and if they choose the choice he says is good they get rewarded, and its not being done to protect them (like you argued in first post by comparing it the actions of a parent protecting child) but rather just to test them???? Seriously, that's what you think being given freewill and choice are? This sounds more like Joan Crawford than a loving God?
I know you're just trying to defend what you have been taught, but why?? Because you're afraid to go against it will result in you going to Hell? Well that's just an illustration of the lack of choice once more.
If your God is acting like Joan Crawford just because he says wire hangers are bad (or eating a fruit is bad), maybe it's time to find another God.
I think that when we look at the "spirit" of the law, not the "letter" of it, we can see it is good. Now, that being said, you have to use proper hermeneutics in deciphering it as well. Christians (Christ followers) don't go to "hell" for breaking rules, Jesus paid that price already, it's the reason He came.
ReplyDeleteI see a God who is no respecter of persons, male or female. If you understand WHY Jesus came, to die for us, in His perfection, so that following all of these "rules" (which is impossible, by the way)is not the way to salvation or to Jesus. As a matter of fact, the Bible states that if you sum up all of the "rules" it comes out as "love God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself." We complicate it with the semantics and figures of speech at the time it was written. The new testament shows women prophets and such. You can say the Bible is full of contradictions, but if you don't understand the spirit behind the writings, then that is understandable. Even the parables have deep meaning, and were told in such a way that only those who were open would understand. Understanding the history behind the period in which it was written. And of course, for whom it was written as well.
I suppose that if I read and studied about baking cakes, all different kinds, but never actually followed a recipe and baked a cake, could I call myself a baker?
This is not about judgment, and I sincerely hope and pray that I did/do not come across this way. I am just passionate, albeit, still learning, and from personal experience, my own knowledge of who God is. How He affects my life and guides me in the choices I make.
I am sure that this Bible devotion study, in reading from the beginning to end is meant to help us see a God who gives us chances, who loves us and desires to commune with us.
I too believe he was giving us a choice which is where free will comes into play. Jessi he was just testing man's faith just like he tests our faith on a regular basis. Ever notice that we face temptation on a daily basis? We can choose to be tempted or to obey the Lord. I like what corinthians says:
ReplyDelete1 Corinthians 10:13- No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
SheriK- I understand you are saying God doesn't have a reason to test us; However, he does! There are many, many stories of the Lord testing faith. What about when the Lord tells Abraham to sacrifice his son? He was clearly testing faith there.
ReplyDeleteI am so confused right now!!!! I am a little late on this bandwagon, but seriously confused. Are the people that are arguing about our God's characteristics, do you believe in a different God, or do you believe in the same God but believe he is different than the Bible says? Can someone just do a quick clarification for me? I am sorry if this is a dumb question, I am a little new to this.
ReplyDeleteBtw Brianna, I love how easily you lay out the study in the beginning, so much easier to follow than other studies I have seen! It's the comments I am not following! I agree with PP my head is spinning!!!!!!!!!!
Shanel
"I've created good stuff and bad stuff for you to choose from. I've picked what is to be called good and I've picked what is to be called bad.
ReplyDelete^^First of all God did not create anything evil. All things that are evil are not of God but of Satan. He allows things of Satan to be in this world. As I have quoted before from 1 Corinth 10:13. Although the temptation is not of him, he will not allow more than you can bare.
I think most of know the New Testament was written after Christ did his teaching to the people who had been studying this stuff over 1000 years and he explained how they had it all wrong.
^^ I'm going to have to disagree with this. Jesus came to fulfill the laws that were established by God. The laws were real. Just because he fulfilled them though doesn't mean they were with out purpose.
Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Why did God allow Satan to be? Satan is evil at its purest form yet God allowed him to become and be an extremely powerful force. I don't understand why God would allow that.
ReplyDeleteJessi
ReplyDeleteagain, God gives freedom of choice. Satan was Lucifer, one of God's 'Higher up' angels, he became proud and wanted to be god, therefore Lucifer and his followers (who became the demons)were thrown out of heaven. For God's purposes, He has allowed Satan his time, but that will change. Again, without giving us a choice, how could we make a decision? When there is no choice, how can you know you are faithful? Out of His love for us, He has given us the opportunity to follow Him or not.
Angel, thanks for the background info on Satan. Where in the Bible can I read about this?
ReplyDeleteJessi,
ReplyDeleteYou can't read about it in the bible. It's not in there. Take a look at the Apocalypse of Moses and The Second Book of Enoch.
Angel,
What authors have you studied? I did an entire dissertation on Charlesworth, and have also studied Charles and Sparks. Let me know, and we can discuss some of their interpretations in greater detail, and hopefully add to the groups understanding at the same time.
Thank you for your comments and I wish you peace.
Sherri The bible is not meant for any ones interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20
ReplyDeleteThe word is just that, the word. It is the truth of God.