Sunday: Statements in Tension
The world, as it came from the Lord, was perfect (Genesis 1:31). Death was an unknown experience for Adam and Eve. In that context, God came to the Garden of Eden and warned: “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die” (Genesis 2:16-17, , NRSV).
How does Genesis 2:16-17, show the reality of free will in the perfection of Eden? That is, why would God have needed to warn them if they couldn’t freely choose?
Image © Bible Adventure Collection at Goodsalt.com
Sometime after this warning from God, Satan assumed the form of a serpent and also entered Eden. Eve beheld the serpent joyfully eating the forbidden fruit without dying. “He himself had eaten of the forbidden fruit” (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 54), and nothing had happened to him.
Read Genesis 3:1-4. Putting yourself in the position of Eve, why might those words have sounded convincing?
From the perspective of human logic, the argument of the serpent sounded much more convincing than did the word of God. First of all, there was no evidence in the natural world, so far, for the existence of sin and death. Second, the serpent was actually eating the forbidden fruit and enjoying it very much. So, why should Eve restrain herself from doing the same? God’s command seemed to be too restrictive and senseless.
Unfortunately, in deciding between the two conflicting statements, Eve ignored three basic principles: 1. human reason is not always the safest way to evaluate spiritual matters; 2. the Word of God can appear to be illogical and senseless to us, but it is always right and trustworthy; and 3 . there are things that are not evil or wrong in themselves, but God has chosen them as tests of obedience.
We should realize that the experience of Eve in the Garden of Eden is not a single case in time. Every day and every moment we need to decide between the Word of God (which for many can be unpopular) and the seductive appeals of our surrounding culture. Our choice will have eternal consequences.
| What are ways that the clear teaching of the Bible conflicts with the ways of the world? |
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It occurs to me that God did His best to protect Adam and Eve from the wiles of Satan. The deceiver was not allowed to follow them around with his arguments and temptations. He could only access the innocent pair at one tree - the one we call the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Before blaming our first parents for putting us all in this mess, we might want to consider how we, in the face of all the history of this world demonstrating the consequences of deviation from God's Law, still too often, try to do it our way.
By contrast, Eve was totally innocent. She did not know that it was possible to speak non-truth. She did not know what a lie is. God recognized that and provided a way back - by Himself stepping in the breach to bear the consequences of sin and thereby providing a period of probation and a chance to better understand His character.
As I contemplate this story, I recognize I would not likely have made a better choice than Eve. I thank God for His mercy in that He has promised to change my mind and character into His image if I just yield myself to Him. And it is a learning process as to how to do this day be day. This I know: It takes time... daily time with God.
By contrast, Lucifer, the covering cherub, had sinned in the full glory of God's presence. There was no more revelation that God could give to Lucifer that would help him to change his mind about God.
With my own experience.i want to go for further studies as the rest of my colleagues at work but all weekend programs cover even Sabbath.when I mention it to my colleagues they feel it's no reason enough.those are some of the daily choices I make
To others it's minor.but the word of God still stands
Thank you for sharing, Matama.
I'm sure the Lord is blessing you as you remain faithful to him. Incidents like this remind us that we are only travelers in this sinful world. It is not our final home.
I used to love playing a game we called Orthello. It was played on an 8x8 grid of cells with pieces that were black on one side and white on the other. Two players take part and the object of the game is to place your pieces on the board so that you can change the pieces on the board to your particular colour. It is a strategy game and one of the strategies is to fool the other player into thinking they are in a safe position so that at the appropriate time, you can claim a lot of their pieces. Sooner or later, you come to the realisation that there is no way you can win the game and you can only play out the game to calculate the score. I was good at the game until my son caught up with me and passed me with superlative strategy.
Sin is played in the same way. The great deceiver plays the game, letting you think that you are on a winner, then suddenly the smile disappears and the strategy is revealed. You cannot win; you cannot draw even; and you cannot quit the game. All that is left is to play out the game to get the score. Fortunately for us, God is allowed to kick the board and challenge Satan to a new game.
The problem in the sin game is that all too often, we are willing participants in the deception.
Moses knew about this and challenged the Children of Israel:
"Why would God have needed to warn them if they couldn’t freely choose?" I do believe, because they were created perfect, into a world that was not 100% perfect. There was a tempter, who is very deceptive and cunning. Before sin originated from Lucifer there was no temptation, I do believe that is no excuse for disobedience, especially with the warning God gave Adam and Eve. Am I any better than Adam and Eve, No, just attempting to answer the question. We too are warned and given chances to make things right through Christ, if we do, we are reconciled back to God, more importantly are saved by Christ. Romans 5:9.
Now I am a thoughtful believer, that is I maybe wrong in some opinions and speculation, and even interpretation of truth, but I am open to learn now, and through out eternity. Of course what I learn I compair to the Bible in context, not out of context, for my belief. Isaiah 8:20.
John,
your statement "I do believe, because they were created perfect, into a world that was not 100% perfect." Genesis 1:31 says that when God looked at everything he had done it was VERY good. How then was the world not 100% perfect? Are you suggesting because at some point after creation Satan would be allowed entry into the garden of Eden that the world as created by God was not perfect?
Yes you are right, thanks for pointing that out, I was thinking, at the forbidden fruit tree, there was the deceiver, a being far from perfect. No, I do not believe that the allowance of Satan into the Garden of Eden would make him perfect. I do believe that God allowed Him only at the tree with the forbiden fruit. God not only allowed a test of loyalty, He also warned to stay away from the tree of good and evil for their own good. The warning is because of The Love of God. What a lesson to us, stay away from temptation by the power of Christ!
I'm glad you're back!
The warning was "you will die"!
This quarter we will learn what that meant - the difference between "asleep in the grave" or to be "as if they had never existed" "to be anniliated". What did "dust to dust" mean?
Did Adam and Eve understand? I believe that the LORD and the angels explained it to them. We see throughout the Word of the LORD He always provided enough knowledge for His people to make informed decisions.
In addition Ellen White confirms it. Patriarchs and Prophets p52
pg.50
I like those three principles in the lesson. I’m also thinking of another. Eve was somehow not satisfied with what she already had. What she couldn’t have or didn’t have was what she was longing for. Discontent. God wants me to be content and delighted with and thankful for what he is giving me right now (the Tree of Life).
There’s nothing more that I need right now, and if there is, God will give it to me or clearly direct me to it.
I'm not comfortable with the third principle. I heard that one of Satan's charges is that God is capricious and arbitrary. Comments?
Hi Dana,
That’s an interesting and important point about how Satan can twist things about God’s character when it comes to His laws. I read that 3rd idea this way….that there was nothing poisonous or evil in the fruit itself of the Tree of Knowledge. It was a tree like all the other trees in the garden as far as the chemistry of it. What was different was lurking around the Tree, and what a human interest in the Tree represented.
“The tree of knowledge had been made a test of their obedience and their love to God. The Lord had seen fit to lay upon them but one prohibition as to the use of all that was in the garden; but if they should disregard His will in this particular, they would incur the guilt of transgression. Satan was not to follow them with continual temptations; he could have access to them only at the forbidden tree.” PP p. 53
It would have been like as if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had bent down to tie their sandals right when the trumpet blasted. There’s nothing wrong with bending down to tie your sandals. But the meaning behind that act would have been that they did not want to stand for God. Bending over to tie a shoe would have been the same as bowing to an idol in that context. Tests of obedience can be situational. Another example is Moses… Striking the rock was correct the first time and disobedient the second time.
Thank you Esther for your explanation. That helps me with that 3rd point, which made me cringe a bit when I read it.
I tend to agree with you. I don't feel God's commands are arbitrary.
If Satan was indeed allowed to tempt Adam and Eve only at that tree, God was indicating that they needed to avoid it to be protected. He may not have said that, but that is a little different from just picking a random tree and telling Adam and Eve not to eat from it.
When God warned Adam and Eve about what tree they could and should not to eat from, He gave them freedom of choice along with the consequences- if they did contrary-to what He instructed.
When the devil presented himself as a serpent with his cunning conviction, he was eating of the fruit-as evidence to Eve- that she wouldn’t die-if she ate it. That’s what convinced her to eat it and then she offered it to Adam.
The devil knows we’re easily distracted by things seen, rather than what we read/hear.
That’s why God created nature to remind us of His existence when we tend to doubt, based on what deceivers may try to teach.
He tells us that Antichrists will try to convince us by doing things to make us believe…and even the very elect can be deceived by these things.
He reminds us that when we see these things, we should look up, for our redemption draws near.
God wants us to be focused on His words-with understanding-and watch! Be vigilant, be sober! Be alert and be ready.
Would Adam & Eve have died if they had believed the serpent when it said that God was withholding something that was good for them, but refrained from eating the fruit because they were afraid that God would kill them?
Interesting question! God only knows our hearts. We know Righteousness is a right relationship with God in our hearts. And perfect love casts out shrinking-from-God fear. I understand that’s what Jesus was talking about with the sheep and the goats. “Right” (Godly) actions sometimes align with a heart that’s right with God, and sometimes come from other motives.
I don't believe that scenario is likely, if they trusted God's warning not to eat that fruit they would trust Him to provide all knowledge they needed. Including about the lies of Satan. See above the quotes from Patriarchs and Prophets pg 50-52
The world was good but Adam and Eve were given limits, especially when they are compared to God. In the serpent's last appeal to her to sin "you will be like God", he was betting that his sin (the pride of wanting to be God) could be made hers/theirs. The desire to not have limits and be like God is an unappreciated root cause of sin especially in the church and persists today.
What does it mean "to be like God"?
Which of the four characters of God did Satan mean and which was Eve thinking about? Is it good to be like God?
Omnipotent - all powerful
Omniscient - all knowing
Omnibenevolence - all loving
Omnipresent - present everywhere
What did Jesus mean when He said: Be perfect like your Father in heaven? Matt 5:48
What did Paul mean: Be conformed to the image of the Son of God? Rom 8:29
John said - God is Love, so we should love Him and others.
1John 4:16; John 13:34-35; Mark 12:29-31
That’s a good question. I believe that even if they had obeyed out of fear, God would have further educated them as they matured in their trust in Him. The thing to remember is that before Adam and Eve sinned, there was no fear. The very first result of them eating the fruit was that they felt shame. As they swallowed that first bite, Satan went into action as only he can do, by causing them/us fear and shame and grief.
Do we who believe really have to understand why God says what He says? If we cannot understand it rationally, we certainly can believe and understand that everything He tells us is found to be in accordance of His Love. Using hindsight regarding this all-permeating Love of His is something our first parents might not have been able to fully understand.
I do not think that malice on Eve’s part was present when she ate of the 'Tree of knowledge of good and evil'. Malice was in the heart of the usurper, though. Because we never know what the whiles of the adversary of God has up his sleeve, it is safest for us to stay on the road of the teachings and examples of the Son of God; applying what we know to be right by faith.
We trust our Maker; He does not speak out of both sides of His mouth – He is trustworthy! He is no respecter of persons! I find the acting out of anger and resentment, employing advantages for self-empowering purposes to be clearly ways of the world. Refraining from living in this way is choosing the narrow road versus the wide road which leads to destruction – Matt.7:13-14.
I know it is quite sensitive the matter I'm going to touch now. But I'm going to bring it up anyways. From the Lesson,
"there are things that are not evil or wrong in themselves, but God has chosen them as tests of obedience..."
and also,
"We should realize that the experience of Eve in the Garden of Eden is not a single case in time. Every day and every moment we need to decide between the Word of God (which for many can be unpopular) and the seductive appeals of our surrounding culture. Our choice will have eternal consequences."
Perhaps I could only rephrase the last part to "Our choice MAY have eternal consequences."
Can we apply this concept regarding the use of jewels by a seventh day adventist?
I know that the problem is not in the jewel, but in what we use externally to make us feel more apealing to others (or to a social environment), and if is not a small and 'humble jewel' perhaps it could be a dress, or even a car... when God calls us to be distinctive from the "cultural envelop that we are embedded in"...