Eve Had Second-Hand Word

Eve Had Second-Hand Word

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Most of us are quite familiar with the story that describes the temptation of Eve. We know how the devil used his tactics of deceit to get Eve to doubt what God had said. But what I aim to point out in this little blog is that Eve, didn't really know God's word. Eve was relying on second-hand information.

Here's a very familiar passage:

3:1Now 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? 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3:3 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.

Genesis 3:1-3

What I ask you to pay particular attention to is Eve's reply to the serpent in verses 2 and 3. Eve said, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 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. "

Sounds like a legitimate response does it not? There's only one small problem that I notice here. God never said "neither shall ye touch it". Where in the world did she get that from?

Eve either made that up all on her own, or that's the way Adam had explained it to her. Either way, that's not exactly what God had spoken. The command not to touch the tree was never given, at least not to the best of my knowledge.

Here's the original command as given to Adam:

2:16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 2:17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 2:16-17

God didn't say, "neither shall ye touch it", Eve said that.

Now this may seem like it's not really a big deal. But I say that it is a great big deal. Anytime we add something to, or take away from the word of God, we have imparted traditions and doctrines of men and thereby made the word of God of no effect. Religion is famous for that.

I believe that the added or additional contingency about not touching the tree played a big part in why Eve eventually did eat of the tree. Take a close look at the following verse:

3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Genesis 3:6

Eve got deceived in to thinking that eating of that tree would somehow make her more like God. The truth is that she was actually more like God before she ate of the tree than after. But the point I am trying to make is, that according to the way this verse is punctuated, what did eve do first before she ate of the tree? She touched it. She, "took of the fruit thereof".

It's very possible that Eve, having already been deceived, first reached out to touch the tree and held it for a while. And when she realized that touching the fruit didn't kill her, she wrongfully assumed right there that God's word must not be true. The problem with that is the word she thought she had, wasn't really God's word.

Only after touching it, and continuing to live, then did she eat thereof. Had Eve known the truth, I am certain that the truth would have set her free.

6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Matthew 6:23

I am going to cut this blog off right here cause I already feel like I could write a few pages from this point. But hopefully you can see from this example why it is ever so important that we, as individuals, get into the bible and discover for ourselves what it says. Too often we just take someone else's interpretation. I am certainly not trying to condemn anyone here, that's for sure. Because I myself have been, and still am guilty of this to some extent. It's so much easier just to listen to some audio message or watch a few videos. Maybe read a daily devotional or live the entire week just based upon what your pastor said. We need to have God's true word written on our hearts.

Eve really didn't know what God's word said. Eve had a form of truth, but it wasn't the whole truth. Had she know the real truth, perhaps she would have been that much more reluctant to to finally eat of the forbidden fruit.

Don't take man's word as basis for your doctrinal truths. Please, take some time today and every day to let the Word of God speak directly to you.

7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Mark 7:13

In love,
Michael


Related Blogs: 999 Trees, Thank God for Death

My Wonderful Life

My Wonderful Life

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A couple of ways that the dictionary defines the word wonderful is that which is fantastic, extraordinarily good, or great. When I speak of how my life is absolutely wonderful, I can't honestly say that it finds it's home in either one of those definitions. Yet, I say that my life is wonderful because I am, and may always be, full of wonder.

So what does that mean? Here's how the dictionary defines the word wonder:

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• have a wish or desire to know something; "He wondered who had built this beautiful church"
• the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
• place in doubt or express doubtful speculation; "I wonder whether this was the right thing to do"; "she wondered whether it would snow tonight"
• something that causes feelings of wonder; "the wonders of modern science"
• be amazed at; "We marvelled at the child's linguistic abilities"
• curiosity: a state in which you want to learn more about something

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Now here in these definitions I can see some of myself. Particularly in the last definition. "curiosity: a state in which you want to learn more about something". God has placed within me this marvelous desire to know more about Him. It's fantastic!

The bible has much, much to say about knowledge; knowledge of God and His Son. In fact, Jesus himself said that knowing, or having knowledge of God and the One that He sent, is in and of itself, eternal life. Eternal life is knowing God.

There are so very many verses that prove this all important truth about knowing God. Knowing God is the answer to the worlds problems. It's that powerful. What the world needs is God's grace. And not only His grace, but the peace that comes along with it. I believe that both grace and peace are truly a free gift from God. They are both imparted into the spirit of every born-again believer. But that my friends is not where this knowing God issue is to end.

If we like the grace and the peace that comes from the born-again experience, then continuing to know God and His Son more and more, only magnifies, or amplifies if you will, those two ever crucial and ever so desirable gifts.

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 2 Peter 1:2

It is this wonderful experience of getting to know God that causes me to consider my life wonderful. Completely full of wonder and awe. It truly is marvelous.

And that brings me a new definition for which I present. The word marvel. Here are a few ways the dictionary defines it:

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• wonder: be amazed at; "We marvelled at the child's linguistic abilities"
• express astonishment or surprise about something
• wonder: something that causes feelings of wonder; "the wonders of modern science"

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To me those seem like rather worldly definitions. But I can relate to "something that causes feelings of wonder". Knowing God is marvelous. And the more we know, the more we want to know. He most definitely causes within us feelings of wonder.

The word marvel from the Greek is the word tamahh{taw-mah'}. It means:

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• to be astounded
• be stunned
• be amazed
• be dumbfounded

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Based upon those definitions, I can honestly say that I often marvel over the things of God. His amazing love is at times more than my peanut-sized brain can fathom. He is truly amazing.

I also find it quite interesting that I find in scripture only two occasions when Jesus himself marvelled over something. One time he marveled over the unsuspected faith of a Roman soldier:

We read:

8:5And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 8:6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 8:9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matthew 8:5-10

Jesus was astounded, stunned, amazed, and dumbfounded by the level of understanding that this man had. Jesus literally marveled at his faith.

The second time I see that Jesus was marvelled comes from a not-so positive instance. Jesus had entered back into His own home town to teach but He could do no mighty work there because they knew Him. But they knew Him not according to who He was in the spirit, but only according to who He was in the flesh.

Let's read:

6:1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 6:2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this [man] these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 6:3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 6:4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6:6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus was astounded, stunned, amazed, and dumbfounded by their level of unbelief.

So what does this tell me? This tells me that there are only two things that really cause Jesus to stand up and take notice. Great faith and great unbelief. I really don't think He even sees a middle ground. There is no gray area. Maybe that's why He told us that he would rather we either be hot, or cold, not lukewarm?

3:16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:16

Friends, I title this blog, "My Wonderful Life" because knowing God, and getting to know Him more and more is what makes this life wonderful. When I think of His wonderful love and his amazing plan I am astounded, stunned, amazed, and dumbfounded. It really and truly is marvelous.

Therefore I wonder. I wonder How Jesus sees me. I certainly hope that He would see me as marvelous. Not marvelous because of my unbelief, yet marvelous because of my unwavering faith. Have you ever asked yourself that question? What do you think his viewpoint of you would be?

In love,
Michael