Monday: More than Head Knowledge
Though we cannot explain why evil arose (since no justification for it exists), Scripture reveals that it began in the heart of Lucifer in heaven. Besides the fascinating insights that we get from the writings of Ellen G. White (see, for instance, the chapter “The Origin of Evil” in The Great Controversy), Scripture doesn’t tell us much more about how it started in heaven.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
The Word of God is more explicit, though, in regard to how it arose on earth.
Read Genesis 3:1-7. What happened here that shows Adam and Eve’s culpability in what transpired?
What’s so sad here is that Eve knew what God’s words to them had been. She repeated them: “God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die’” (Gen. 3:3, NKJV). Though as far as the Scripture tells us, nothing had been said about touching the fruit, she knew the truth that eating from it would lead to death.
Satan, then, openly and blatantly contradicted those words. “The serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die” (Gen. 3:4, NKJV).
How much starker could the contrast be? However subtle Satan’s approach to her was at first, once he got her attention and saw that she was not resisting, he openly challenged the Lord’s command. And the tragic thing is Eve was not working from a position of ignorance. She couldn’t claim, “I didn’t know, I didn’t know”.
She did know.
Yet, despite this knowledge, she did wrong anyway. If even in the perfect environment of Eden, knowledge itself wasn’t enough to keep Eve (and then Adam, who also knew the truth) from sinning, we shouldn’t fool ourselves into thinking that knowledge alone is enough to save us now. Yes, we need to know what the Word of God tells us. But along with knowing that, we need the kind of surrender in which we will obey what it tells us, as well.
| God said one thing, Satan said another. Despite the knowledge that Adam and Eve had, they chose to listen to Satan. Think about how little has changed over the millennia. How can we avoid making the same kind of error? |
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I cannot agree more with the lesson of today, that despite the knowledge that we have on what God said, we many times go contrary and against our own conscience. We need more than just knowledge of what God said.
Yes, and we even need more than just God's 10 commandments. We need the demonstration of those 10 commandments in the very life of His Son Jesus. And even then, we need the power of God's Holy Spirit to empower us to be in harmony with that life of Jesus in our own lives.
We see a contrast in the first temptation of Christ 'Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God'. Not only knowing God's word, but a total dependance on it - as a way out of temptation. You are saved by faith.
One thing I can say is the title of today's lesson is true.More than head knowledge,because it is a puzzle to solve. After Lucifer prove on earth that there is animosity between his and God and human being. God could have just let him vanish away, but God didn't. How did pride lack of contentment. ambition get in heaven?
I still can’t understand or get my head around this mystery. Why would Lucifer want more than what he already had baffles me and he knows full well that it’s totally impossible to take God’s throne and His Power of creation.
There is no way to "understand" this, because there's no reason for Lucifer's desires.
However, it does help to understand that sin originated with a focus on self. Lucifer focused on his own wisdom and beauty and somehow this led him to think he should have a higher position.
In this world today, there are two great opposing philosophies/teachings: One teaches that a focus on self will improve one's life and bring happiness. The other teaches that renunciation of self will bring true happiness. (This does not mean to put self down. It means not to think of self - either good or bad - but to love God supremely and others as Christ loved us.) The first is the philosophy of Lucifer/Satan. The second is the teaching of Christ.
Whenever we focus on self - whether on our "goodness" or our "badness," we are falling into Satan's trap. Whenever we advantage ourselves at the expense of others, we are following Satan's teaching. (You may recognize that secular education in the schools and universities falls into the category of self-focus.)
Sin has a blinding effect, and eventually the sinner will believe lies(2 Thess 2:10-12).
By indulging in pride, Lucifer's perceptions were dulled and he could not comprehend God's infinite greatness and his own inability to match it or reign in God's stead. Yes, baffling to think one so exalted and brilliant could fall so low. This is the peril of yielding to temptation, which can come from within, as Lucifer had no one to tempt him. Any departure from God's expressed will is folly.
This made made me think about when a person has everything basically, and yet still wants more. For example clothes and shoes. How many people need more closet space? A lot! Or when the neighbor buys a new car and guess who wants to buy a new car too. I know its much deeper than this, but If I am wrong please share. I am willing to learn.
Just like a parent who instill good values in their children,and when the child or children become of age they choose their own path. We are given the power of choice.Satan and his angels did not want to obey GOD. He wanted to be GOD. He was brightest but GOD showed him who is in charge and kick him out. He is roaming the earth every since. Choose whom this day who you will serve the most high God or the fallen one? We have power to choose. We are not robots.
SSQ states: "...as far as the Scripture tells us, nothing had been said about touching the fruit,...", yet right here in this verse being questioned we are told that this had been given in their instructions. What was recorded in the first conversations was clearly elaborated upon later by God or angels.
Was Eve's first sin lying? Not according to God's later reckoning with the guilty pair. This was a holy being reciting what a photographic memory had recalled from God's instructions, perhaps through angels. Why doubt this memory recall from a thus far sinless creature made in God's image? Scripture reveals much if we are able to see it.
Eve had far more mental capacity than any of the great "geniuses" of history since the fall. Yet the results of this incident do prove that knowledge and perfect memory is not enough. Satan had more experiential knowledge of God than anyone. He can even quote scripture, usually from the SRV. 😉
Yes Nick we need more than knowledge to keep us from committing sin. Having knowledge we must then commit ourselves to obedience and love “if you love me keep my commandments” but first comes knowledge then belief. Paul in Romans 7:7 said I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law (knowledge of the law) .May God help us all not just to have the knowledge but to be obedient to him through love . Let us also remember devil had the knowledge, the belief in God and tremble! But then what? he lacked love & obedience along with other things.
According to Gen. 3:3, "God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die' " then for me the question would I ask and i would like to know. "Is God didn't explain to them what's that means DEATH or what kind of death he was talking about, physical or spiritual death ? " thanks
What death? The death Jesus experienced on the cross for sinners. The same death unrepentant sinners will experience from which there is no resurrection.
Adam and Eve were fully mature and had intelligence and language which they understood. The dialogue with God and God's words to them they understood perfectly. Even though they had not seen death, they knew what God meant since God enabled them to communicate.
Thanks brothers ans sisters for good comments actually knowledge alone is nothing we need holy spirit love and obedient.
Ps 34:21 Evil shall slay the wicked.
Isa 45:7 I make peace and create evil.
Jer 18:11 I frame evil against you.
Can someone please explain these words of God?
Ps 34:21, that is to say that the wicked will be destroyed by their own evil, which they chose to do.
Isa 45:7, that is to say that God is in charge and only what He allows will take place. The flood was His doing and for those refusing His ark of safety, great adversity/evil came upon them, which they chose after 120 years of warnings and entreaties. In this chapter, He is forewarning the consequences to come to Bablyon when they chose to defy God after all the evidence they had about Him through Daniel and even their former King: Nebuchadnezzar who was a convert to the Truth and became a servant of God.
Jer 18:11, let's look at the context: "Behold, I frame evil(adversity) against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good. And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart."
When disobedient, we reject God's protection and blessing, and when withdrawing from us as we "request" when rebelling against the Lord, evil will come. It is our own doing that brings evil, just as with Adam and Eve. They chose, after ample warnings, to disobey, and thus invited death upon themselves and all their race.
This lesson today brings to my mind the importance of relationship and connection with God. Without these what God says can easily be compromised.
If knowledge were enough to save us, we wouldn't need God. Yet do we sometimes bask in our "superior knowledge"?
Only total dependence and trust in God will save us, just as it would have saved Eve if she had chosen to trust God instead of the fantastically beautiful creature before her eyes.
Thank you Robert, I see that God created all things and he is in control.The only thing that God don't control is our will, as we were created with free will. Therefore, we are to choose this day who we will serve. God will not force us but he told us what are the consequences of our choice (Life or Death).
How interesting the way Satan used his sinful desire to be like the Most High in Isaiah 14:14 and the way he tempted Eve to be like God in Genesis 3:5.