We saw the account of creation in fact form in the first chapter of Genesis. Then got "the rest of the story", as a popular radio personality would say, in the second chapter. Now we turn our attention to another account of equal and sobering importance - the fall of man.
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? God created the serpant. This serpant was more subtle or cunning than any other beast of the field (as we know he still wasn't a suitable help for the man). This particular serpant can reason and talk. He says to the woman, which by the way still hasn't been named, "Has God truely said 'Don't eat of every tree of the garden'? What an opening for a conversation! He begins with a lie to draw her into talking with him. Some wonder why she didn't wonder or run from a talking serpant. Thoughts or comments?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: The woman is indeed engaged in chat. "We can eat of the fruit of the garden's trees." I can see her standing there shaking her head "No! Thats not right! God said we can eat the fruit of these trees."
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. "All except of the tree in the middle of this garden. God said we can't eat nor even touch it or else we shall die."
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: The serpant responds to the woman reassuringly: "You won't die at all."
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. "Even God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will open and you will exist like God knowing good and evil." How much do we as children desire to be like our parents? How many times have we heard the refrain "I want to be just like daddy (or mommy) when I grow up!"? The serpant used the right argument upon an innocent woman. Even deeper is the fact that the serpant villifies God by saying He lied to Adam and woman. There is no turning back for the serpant.
Christian
Why Does It Matter?
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He remembers what the squall was, but his mom and dad never even had a
clue. Not even when the event took place. There is nothing quite like the
experience...
4 years ago
4 comments:
Why didn't Eve run from the serpent? That is an easy question to answer. She had no knowledge of good or evil yet! And so there was no fear. In addition Satan was very subtle.
Christian, and Josiah, Yes, but even if I saw a talking butterfly, cat or dog...anything talking that ought not to be talking, I probably wouldn't just sit (or stand, or etc.) and hold a conversation with it. Do you suppose there were all sorts of 'talking animals', like in C.S. Lewis' books? Well, I don't know what the answer is, and probably won't unless it is something that is revealed much later (in heaven). Deboraw
Dear Josiah and Deboraw.
As children, how many times did we have conversations with characters that may or may not have been real? My point being, that to the innocent mind there would be no fear or surprise at an animal that talked (many books have been written with such beings LOL). Deboraw, you are operating from a standpoint of knowledge of what is normal and right. As such you wouldn't stick around for a conversation, even Balaam had a wee bit of trouble with talking animals. But it wouldn't have been something shocking to her. Josiah's comment is correct for she would not have that warning voice saying "Something is wrong here! Run away!" that comes with knowing right from wrong.
Christian
Christian, Well, I might stick around, from a distance. Kind of like Moses and the burning bush, you know. I've always wondered at Balaam. If my horse started talking to me in that manner, I would say, Whoa! What is going on here, but Balaam just talked back to him. I've always thought that was a comment on how stupid we become when we become angry. But I don't know. Stranger and stranger. Deboraw
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