Wednesday: The Fall – Part 2
When God decided to create Adam and Eve, He stated that they would be made in God’s image and according to His likeness (Gen. 1:26) . The bait on the tempter’s “hook” was that if they ate the forbidden fruit, they would become “like God.”
Image © Michael Agliolo from GoodSalt.com
The reality is that they already were like God. They had been created in His image but, the sad fact is that in the heat of temptation, they lost sight of this sacred truth.
Additionally, God was the original provider of their food, but part of the rebellion involved Adam and Eve choosing something to eat outside of God-given boundaries. It would be like being invited to someone’s home for a meal and, instead of eating from their table, you go to their cupboard or refrigerator and help yourself to something that attracts you. Not only would that be an insult to your hosts, but it would also show that you do not value your relationship with them.
Read Genesis 3:4-7. The tempter had assured Eve that by eating the fruit her eyes would be opened. What did they see when their eyes were opened, and what did that new sight symbolize?
Eve became overwhelmed by her senses (Gen. 3:6) . The tree was beautiful, and as she sank her teeth into a piece of the fruit, Eve imagined that she entered into a higher state of existence. When she shared her experience with Adam, yes, their eyes were opened (Gen. 3:7) , but they became embarrassed by what they saw.
One major issue here is the rejection of God as the Provider of every good thing and choosing instead a man-made solution to human need (in this case, the desire to eat) . God had previously assured Adam and Eve of their food and had provided the menu. Their eating from the forbidden tree was a move outside of that provision and showed a lack of trust that was not warranted, especially given their unique circumstances.
What kind of “forbidden fruit” (which often appears so tempting, so pleasing, and so full of promise) is made available to us today? How can we learn not to make the same kind of error when presented with such a powerful deception?
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The reason given by the Lord for casting out Adam and Eve from the Beautiful Garden is to prevent the now ‘godlike’ humans from partaking of the tree of life and live forever (Genesis 3:22-24). So was it the tree which gave eternal life or was it capable of reversing the death penalty? (Genesis 2:17)
The pair in Eden already had access and partook of the tree of life, but did not derive eternal life from it. Further it is the Creator who breathes life into mankind and sustains same (Genesis 2:7; John 11:25). As well only Christ’s sacrifice pays the penalty for sins (1 Peter 3:18).
The tree held natural benefits. It was the natural vitality originally obtained from the tree of life which transferred over the first few generations enabled great strength, long life and advanced intellect.
To grant mankind access to the tree after sin would only physically and mentally enable humans to use the knowledge of evil to sin in greater measure than they did up until the flood (Genesis 6:5). The restriction was an act of mercy to mankind and the planet they occupied.
Some of the natural benefits of God’s creation remain and He has given light especially to His people who may use the advantages for good, to increase unto righteousness, having surrendered their knowledge of evil to His management (Psalm 25:4-5). The health message is meant to restore a little of what was lost and support growth in spirituality, until Eden is fully restored.
Those who wash their robes as they keep God’s commandments are promised restored access to the tree of life (Revelation 22:14). Then they will be more godly and godlike, not just possessing knowledge of evil.
Satan is good in deceiving. He even went on to deceive the Creator Himself by promising Him the kingdom of this world only if He'll bow down and worship him.
Matthew 4:8-9
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
We must be careful on the petty things we face every day because we'll not meet Satan in the garden any where.
Antwi Satan tempted Jesus but He did not deceive Him.
Hello Antwi,
The bible said in Hebrews 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." When someone is deceived is when the person is overcome by the temptation, which means the person fail the test.
Good thought. However,Satan did not deceive his Creator. Satan can only try.He can deceive man.
Wednesday: The Fall – Part 2
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die (Gen 3:4):
You see, first of all the questioning of the Word of God and then the second, challenging of the Word of God and this is always Satan's mode. The first thing that Satan does is he questions the Word of God. Satan is constantly seeking to create a question. Did God really say? Is that really God's word? And look at the attacks that Satan has brought against the Bible. "Hath God said?" Was it really God who said it? And he is constantly challenging the Word of God.
After challenging the Word of God, then he begins to question the Word of God. And then contradicts, "Ye shall not surely die." And then he begins his lie. Jesus said he is the "father of all lies". And this was the first lie, "Ye shall not surely die." That's a lie. That's deception. But you see, Eve didn't know evil, thus, she was deceived. The knowledge of good and evil didn't come until she ate the fruit. At this point all she knew is God said don't eat it. If you eat it, you will die. Now Satan is saying, You're not going to die.
The Bible tells us "All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). Look at the three key points: "lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, pride of life." Look at how Satan hits at her with a three-pronged attack.Eve surrendered to this temptation in exactly the way John describes in 1 John 2:16. First, she gave in to the lust of the flesh (saw that it was good for food), then she gave in to the lust of the eyes (pleasant to the eyes), then she gave in to the pride of life (desirable to make one wise). Jesus was also tempted in the same three-fold way: an appeal to the physical appetites, an appeal to covetous and emotional desires, and an appeal to pride (Matthew 4:1-11).
Now the woman was deceived but Adam was not. Adam knew better. In the New Testament we are told that Adam knew what he was doing. His was a deliberate willful choice against God's command;-actually the woman was deceived, not Adam. That is, Adam where the woman would had really been hoodwinked by Satan, she was deceived.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons (Gen 3:7).
Suddenly the lust of the flesh, having been given into, they became very conscious of the flesh. Their eyes were opened, they did know good and evil, but not as gods. "Pure lie" is rarely effective in temptation. The beginning of man's body awareness, for in this action there was an inversion. They new that they were naked: Psalm 104:2 and Matthew 17:2 suggest that light can be a garment for the righteous. It may be that Adam and Eve were previously clothed in God's glorious light, and the immediate loss of this covering of light left them feeling exposed and naked. The eyes of them both were opened. It is not meant of the eyes of the body; these were open before, as appears by this, that the sin came in at them. Nor is it meant of any advances made hereby in true knowledge; but the eyes of their consciences were opened, their hearts smote them for what they had done. Now, when it was too late, they saw the folly of eating forbidden fruit. They saw the happiness they had fallen from, and the misery they had fallen into. They saw a loving God provoked, his grace and favor forfeited, his likeness and image lost, dominion over the creatures gone. They saw their natures corrupted and depraved, and felt a disorder in their own spirits of which they had never before been conscious. They saw a law in their members warring against the law of their minds, and captivating them both to sin and wrath. They saw, as Balaam, when his eyes were opened (Num. 22:31), the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and perhaps they saw the serpent that had abused them insulting over them. The text tells us that they saw that they were naked, that is - That they were stripped, deprived of all the honours and joys of their paradise-state, and exposed to all the miseries that might justly be expected from an angry God. They were disarmed; their defence had departed from them.
We should therefore desist from being lured into temptation through the luxuries that the world offers us.
Very well written, concise and thought provoking - thank you.
In my view the statement in the opening paragraph needs a little more confirmation : "The bait on the tempter’s “hook” was that if they ate the forbidden fruit, THEY WOULD BECOME "LIKE GOD"."
I suggest confirmation is needed here, because some Bibles (including the KJV) use the words, "and ye shall be as gods" (Gen 3:5 KJV)... "gods" lower case plural, which gives a slightly different sense. (For some people it makes no real difference, and I accept that.) But it is never wise to say something like, "I prefer such-and-such a version", simply because one version suits our purposes better than another version. It's good to have something a little more than personal preference on our side.
But that the Devil really meant "you shall be as God Himself" is shown, I believe, in the following details:
From Genesis 1:1, to Genesis 3:5, the word "Elohim" is used in the original Hebrew 51 times. In 50 of those instances the word is translated (in the KJV) as "God" - the Creator "GOD". It is technically true that "Elohim" (Strongs #430) can be translated either "God" or "gods". And yet it seems to me that in a context where the word is being exclusively applied to the Creator God, that to suddenly use it in a different sense, is quite inconsistent. Technically, the Devil says to Eve that they could be as "Elohim" (Gen 3:5 KJV) , i.e. like God Himself, or as gods, (both renderings can be correct), but when the Devil's own desire had been to be like God Himself (Isa 14:13-14), it seems logical that the Devil would reflect his own desire upon the woman - tempting Eve with the very same desire that had overcome him.
(The fact that the Serpent was in the tree eating the forbidden fruit himself, probably added to the allure of the situation! (EGW, Story of Redemption p.32)
Thank you Stewart for the insights you share. I just starting using this study guide again recently. And have found your prowess of scriptural commentary edifying. Elohim is moving via these lessons. May Christ's most kind and bright blessing fall upon us all, and the precious remnant He is providing...
Can someone assist me understand the following in respect to this lesson study.
1. God created Adam & Eve in His imnage and likeness. Did the two know that they were already in the God's image and likeness to the extent of not needing to be in that image again?
2. God cursed the snake to move on its belly. How were snakes moving before the fall of man (before tempting man?)
thanks and God bless
Hello Mirindo,
I'd like to offer some thoughts on your second question if I may.
Here is a description of the Serpent from the book Patriarchs and Prophets :
"It had wings, and while flying through the air presented an appearance of dazzling brightness... it was an object to arrest [i.e. to catch and hold] the attention, and delight the eye of the beholder." (Patriarchs & Prophets p.53)
As a result of the Serpent's action (i.e. yielding itself to be used by the Devil,) the Serpent was cursed, just as you say, and before long the Serpents lost their wings. The pictures we see today of Dragons (which are no-where near as beautiful as the original Serpents in Eden), are loosely based on the literal Serpents created by God.
One final point I'd like to mention, is that Lucifer's heart was lifted up because of his beauty (Eze 28:17), and when he came to Eden the Devil deliberately chose the Serpent because it was "one of the wisest and most beautiful creatures on the earth." (ibid.) (And I suggest that the Devil went on to employ the Serpent in a similar way to a ventriloquist using a 'dummy' to speak through.(Great Controversy p.531.))
Many thanks Stewart for the insight. God bless u
A thought relating to your first question.
Adam was made in the "image" and "likeness" of God. The "IMAGE" refers to his character, and the "LIKENESS" refers to his physical form (i.e. 2 arms, 2 legs, head, body, etc.)
The Bible tells us that Christ is the "express image" of God (Heb 1:3), and "CHRIST ALONE is the express image of the Father" (according to Patriarchs & Prophets p.45). Only Christ shares the character of the Father to its fullest extent. But while Adam was made in the "image" of God (i.e. with the same fundamental character), Adam could develop for eternity, developing that character more and more into the image of God.
If Adam had not fallen, there would never have been a time when Adam would not want [and need] to be in His image, and to increase in it. (The depth of God's character is infinite, and His people will be coming closer to Him for eternity.)
When Adam and Eve just ate the fruit they realized that they were naked. I would like to call this a point of return in todays world. I would like to liken the realization of nakedness as a point when someone realize that he has sinned against God. It now depends on the action taken at this point. But also remember that the bible says when you say you do not sin you cheat yourself. This means that time and again as humans we fall short of His glory. The only best way to do is to turn to God for forgiveness. God says in His word that when we turn to God wholeheartedly He forgives us and remembers no more. He washes us clean as white as snow. What a God we serve!! God is so merciful and very kind. Let us allow Him to control our mind, body, soul and Spirit. In that way we will sustain our thoughts and expectations to be like Him.
Other than the tree of live and the forbiden fruit,were the fruit trees which God planted in the Garden of Eden different from the Fruit Trees that exist today? In other words were there Mango trees, orange,avorgado,apple and others which we see every day.
I wonder if it is possible for us to "learn" to not be deceived by Satan's deceptions (as asked in the lesson), or if it is only a constant "fight" to always depend on "Christ in me" for any hope of righteousness!?
Food seems to be a very common test throughout the Bible:
1. Adam and Eve were tested by the fruit. (Genesis 1:29, 2:16)
2. Noah failed after the flood by drinking the fruit of the vine. (Genesis 9:20,21)
3. God tested the children of Israel using food. (Duet. 8:3)
4. Daniel was tested with the king's diet. (Daniel 1)
5. Jesus first test regarded food! (Matthew 4:1-3)
6. One of the biggest issues in the early Christian church regarded food (offered up to idols).(1 Corin. 8:8)
7. A sign of the last days is gluttony. (Matthew 24:37)
8. The overcomer will be rewarded by eating from the tree of life. (Rev. 22”1-2)
Its better to obey or we will pay!!!!! If we continually yield to temptations and don't want to heed the spirit of righteousness. Then we are responsible for losing out on eternity.
it's quite interesting to know that Eve's[female adam]musings by the tree, before the enemy spoke to her, were actually audible! So the enemy's response, in line with what she thought were, her internal issues, made her think the creature had acquired this 'thought-reading' ability from eating the fruit...as the Bible states later on; she was deceived whereas Adam knew it was the adversary and ate anyhow.{i appreciate the thought of losing his partner was hard to take...!
what did the new sight symbolize Genesis 3:7
God created man in his own image, and he was perfect in all ways! His eyes, ears and every parts of the body were perfect; things started to go wrong when the deceiver came to his life; that made him to suffer all the days of his life. He decided to have his kitchen in God's premises and that was not allowed, and because he chose to do his own cookings and he was taken out because he was disrespecting And undermining God's way of living
We are created by the image of God! It's wonderful that we don't care about! If Adam and Eve would remember this, they wouldn't fall in such temptation! They liked their eyes be opened! What did they want to see? It is when we forget about Gods holiness then we go deep into sin. The question to ask ourselves is what does we want to see if our eyes be opened!
Dear William Earnhard,satan Tried To Decieve Jesus To Give Him The World That Does Not Belong To him(satan)
Yes. He tried to deceive him but could not.
Jesus given a very good example to us . How to oppose Satan temptation
We must Tight to Gods Word / Gods Commands there are all written in the Bible
Jesus said to Satan IT IS WRITTEN,,,,. We also have to say to the temptation it is written,,,,,,,.in the Bible
if Eve tight to Gods Command not to eat of it,,, and use those words to oppose what ever Satan said about that fruit, she would not fall
I always wondered what would have happened had Adam told Eve no and not eaten the fruit? I imagine God would have had to cast Eve out and allow Adam to stay because she, now being a fallen being, would not have been able to withstand Adam's presence; OR would God had to start over with a another Eve??
Mrs. Young, I think it is worth pondering 'what might have been' in this case, especially when we maintain a humble respect for the things of God. The two possible options you mention are interesting, but there may be another one.
If we accept the thought from Patriarchs & Prophets that it was not until ADAM ate the fruit that "the robe of light which had enshrouded them, NOW DISAPPEARED" (p.57), then it would appear that Eve was still 'covered' until Adam made the choice to eat. In some way Eve was still covered because of her husband's faithfulness, and this makes me think that Eve was still recoverable, and a way might still have existed for them both to remain in the Garden... If only Adam had stood his ground! (Luke 14:26 needs careful reading, but it is relevant I think.)
God would have most likely impregnated Eve with the Christ. Then there would have been a sacrifice at some point, after He came of age? Jesus would maybe only have had one human to offer the atonement for... Interesting question, the human "mind" likes to toy with hypothesis. The mind/spirit that is acutely aware of Elohim stays fixed on His current presence then gets about the Fathers business, here and now.