EVE (2)

EVE: “to breathe” or “to live”

Week 2: The Fall (Part 1)

The Setting: Genesis 3:1-6a

Imagine: You’re at your wedding day ladies and everything is perfect. Your father has gone all out for you his daughter. He has not only paid for the whole wedding, he was the one who first introduced you to your husband. He has asked only one thing of you from the beginning, don’t go under the big oak tree in the middle of the estate or you will be dead to me. You don’t think much of it because there was no reason to go over to that ugly old oak tree. You take some air outside from all of the guests and a very attractive man comes to great you. He is cunning and clever; he manages to take you on a stroll to the middle of the estate with his easy conversation. He asks you, “Did your father really say, ‘You shouldn’t go under the big oak tree’?” You say, “We can go under any of the other trees, but ‘you must not go under the big oak tree in the middle of the estate and not touch it or you will be dead to me’.” The utterly gorgeous man’s lips start moving, “You will not be dead to him. Your father loves you. He just doesn’t want you know everything that he does.” You start to blush because of his smile. The handsome man continues, “Under the tree is something extremely delicious, see?” You have just realized you are right under the oak tree and mesmerized by this enchanting man. You know you are not supposed to be there. You are there and want to be. The man pressed his lips on yours, just for a moment, but it was warm, gentle, and above all, very very sweet. You are overwhelmed with emotions you don’t know how to describe. The stunning man says, “That was called a kiss.” You think to yourself, “I’m alive. I’m ankle deep in mud from the walk over here, but I’m alive. That tasted so good, better than any fruit I’ve ever tried. Ohh, I want to share this with my husband.”*

Devil is quite the charmer. Now obviously this version is a bit altered, but gives a nice view on how the deceptive the devil can be. Author, Liz Curtis Higgs, quotes Shakespeare in her book, Bad Girls of the Bible, “The prince of darkness is a gentleman.” He is. He comes to us in a form that we actually like. Sometimes by people we truly like and love, but don’t have the right intentions for us. Satan not only lies to us, but misquotes God so that we question ourselves on what exactly God has told us in his word. That’s what he’s done from the beginning with Eve and today with each of us on a daily basis. àSee Gen 3:2

Poor Eve tried even to defend what the Father told her, but to even have a conversation with Satan was her first oversight. Author Rose Sallberg Kam wrote, “Like a theologian, she analyzes the serpent’s arguments; like a lawyer she enters into debate.” What makes things worse is when Eve tries to quote back what her Father said, and she get’s it wrong! She added to it. God never said “Not to touch it.” Higgs says, “When we exaggerate God’s Word we sow seeds of doubt in the minds of others—Did God really say that other thing?—and in our own mind—Maybe God’s words need my help.” àSee Gen 3:4

Jesus says in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life.” The devil didn’t say anything like that or even attempt to make a promise. Higgs writes, “He (Satan) didn’t offer the woman life, let alone life after death; the serpent offered the woman knowledge—a knowledge which led to death. That was God’s promise too, but the woman’s eyes were no longer on God; they were on herself.” Satan says two critical things: First, your eyes will be opened. Second, you will be like God. I’m sure the first thing I would have been thinking if I was Eve is, how could I be missing out on something? I thought my dad gave me everything I needed? Pretty sure I’d want to know what I was missing out on. Eve sure did. But she should have asked God. We should be asking God to open our eyes, not allowing the world or more specifically the media to open it for us. I’m sure Eve though being like God could be the most incredible thought she ever had up to that moment. I mean what she knew of her Father was all good, beautiful, loving, and knows everything. Who wouldn’t want to be like him? Bad idea, He is also all powerful, created you so in turn could get rid of you, but she didn’t know that. Ohh, wait she did because he said “YOU WILL SURELY DIE!” àSee Gen 3:5

Eve is killing me here. She wasn’t looking to God for the truth. She wasn’t talking to Adam to see what he thought (uhh, seek wise counsel mean anything to you…or just talk to your husband?). And she wasn’t looking at what she already had around her. Satan doesn’t speak again. He just watches her fall now. At this point, Eve has a choice: to eat this very enticing piece of fruit or RUN for Daddy and Adam. àSee Gen 3:6a

Thoughts for the week:

1. Have you ever gotten in to a conversation about the bible with someone and they quote the bible and you wonder if that is exactly what it says? What did you do? Share your story

2. What do you want more of right now physically, emotionally, and spiritually? Are they focused on the Word of God and His will?

3. Have you ever been in a situation where you know you were not supposed to be in and could have stopped yourself but didn’t? How did you feel? Have you ever been able to stop? How does that feel?

Challenge:

Examine your life one day this week and see where you desire the most physically (food/workouts/a lack there of), emotionally (our moods/who we love/how we love), and spiritually (our worship time/our prayer life/the Word). After you evaluate yourself, notice the areas you want to change and devote a day to just those areas.

*Altered story from: Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs