Battle For The Truth (Part 17)

Genesis 3:6–7 KJV 1900

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. 7 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.

Introduction

We have reached the point where the serpent has made his closing sales pitch and the woman (Eve) has bought it. She has been drawn away from what her husband and God has said to what her heart desires.

If anything may be learned from this narrative, I pray that it is profoundly clear that the word of God is for our good and is to be obeyed at all costs. Also, that our hearts are not to be trusted when its desires conflict with the word of God.

As Jeremiah wrote in Jeremiah 17:9-10, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (10) I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

This scene reveals the autonomy and freewill nature of mankind. We know that God could have made mankind to perform like robots compelled to obey and serve Him. Clearly, God demands obedience from His creatures; however, when it comes to mankind whom He made to be His image bearers here on planet earth, it is apparent that He desires something more—a relationship of love and adoration.

The Genesis narrative reveals that God made man to be in a personal loving relationship with Him. In Chapter 2, we see God creating a special abode for Adam called “The Garden of Eden,” full of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains for Adam to eat. God also brings the animals to Adam that he might give them names. God informed Adam that he could eat of every tree within the garden, except one—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Adam is commanded not to eat of this tree, because in so doing, he would “surely die.” Then, as the ultimate blessing and gift to Adam, God took a rib from Adam’s side, created Eve, and brought her to Adam. She was to be a helper and suitable companion for Adam to dispel his loneliness. Together, they were charged to multiply and fill the earth with their kind.

For two chapters everything was good, and life was wonderful, until the enemy of God manifested in the serpent showed up. With the presence of the serpent, life suddenly became a challenge.

Now, for the first time in recorded history, man is confronted with the temptation of making a moral choice—believe the word of God and obey it or not. This is the first, but not the last Battle For The Truth. For the battle continues to rage unto this very day. Amen somebody.

V.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.”

Here we see Eve experiencing the progression of temptation. The text says that she 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 now has been drawn away of her own lusts.

In James 1:14-15, we are informed of the consequences of allowing our hearts to shift away from the word of God to our own desires: James says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

All thoughts and actions of mankind that fall outside of the righteous will of God are sin and, according to I John 2:16-17, comes under three categories: The …

Lust of the flesh (Eve saw the tree that it was good for food)

Lust of the eyes (It was pleasant to the eyes); and,

Pride of life (a tree to be desired to make one wise)

Side note: I can understand the desire to want to taste of the forbidden fruit that apparently looked so delicious. I am convinced that its appearance was unique and attractive. What I struggle with is how the appeal to be like God in knowing good and evil was the primary motivation to eat of the fruit.

Heretofore, all Eve knew was good, so I cannot grasp the appeal and desire to know evil. For instance, I would understand it better if the promises were to give the ability to fly like a bird or swim underwater indefinitely like a fish or possess other superpowers.

But to be like God in knowing good and evil just does not do it for me. Therefore, the real appeal must have been independence from God without accountability to God and that she was free to interpret God’s word as it suited her. In other words, the serpent sold Eve on the lie that she had the wrong interpretation of what God said.

Because misinterpretation is so effective, the devil still uses the same tactic today. All day every day on radio, television, the Internet, and mobile phone, people are being misled with wrong interpretations of what the word of God teaches.

Thus, many minds are confused and lives in ruin behind this old but effective tactic of the devil. Therefore, Scripture exhorts believers to diligently give themselves to the study of the word of God and to pursue a proper understanding.

Paul writes in II Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Also, Solomon instructs in Proverbs 4:7, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

Thus, the lie of the serpent (“ye shalt not surely die.”) coupled with Eve’s own lustful desires convinced her to take of the forbidden fruit and eat. To take of the fruit meant that she had to touch it; and, obviously touching it had no effect.

Perhaps this convinced her that the prohibition to not touch the tree’s fruit was inaccurate. And, given that she did not experience death as she understood it, by touching the fruit, she was emboldened to take the next step, which was to eat of it.

Showing no ill effects from her disobedience, she convinced her husband Adam to follow her in disobedience as he also ate of the forbidden fruit.

Now before we start casting stones and/or attributing too much blame on Eve, allow me to come to Eve’s defense. Although responsible for her choice to disobey her husband and ultimately God, she did not do it out of spite.

She was deceived by the most crafty, shrewd, and slick creature ever created by God. Eve was innocent and had no experience with a lie. After all, the serpent who spoke with her was not dead, and he seemed so friendly and informative. Why would the serpent tell her anything but the truth? She had no idea of his true motives, which highlights his craftiness.

Question: Have you ever been lied to unawares? The source seemed sincere and trustworthy, yet all along they were only manipulating you to think and act in a manner that benefitted them and harmed you.

Do you recall how devastated you were when you discovered that you were lied to? Nevertheless, you were still responsible for the wrong choice you made. This was Eve’s plight; therefore, consider yourself in her place and try not to judge her too harshly. Amen somebody.

So, Eve was deceived, but Adam was not. He was seduced by his wife and willfully disobeyed God. Perhaps the fact that Eve was still alive after having eaten the forbidden fruit coupled with his love for her caused him to disobey. More on that to come.

Whatever the case, the fact remains that Adam willfully disobeyed God’s clear command. So, the lion share of the blame goes to Adam. The Apostle Paul confirms this in I Timothy 2:14, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

V.7 – “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.”

As with any good lie there is usually some truth mixed in. Here we observe the partial truth from the serpent—"the eyes of them both were opened...” However, this did not occur until Adam ate of the forbidden fruit. This indicates that Adam was the one who was ultimately responsible. Amen somebody.

Having now fallen into sin, the scales of innocence fell from their eyes and for the first time they realized that they were naked. This new knowledge of their nakedness was now not considered as something good but shameful. And being aware of their shameful condition, they collaborated to sew together fig leaves to cover their nakedness, meaning their genitalia.

Side note: Whether sewing was newfound knowledge or not is uncertain. Personally, I believe sewing was new knowledge that was in the tree. As mankind continues to live and die on this of the Fall, we have witnessed both the good and the evil associated with life on planet earth.

We have learned to invent various modes of transportation (cars, trucks, buses, trains, planes, and even rocket ships.); tools for the construction of homes, schools, and office buildings; and instruments for the arts (music, singing, painting, etc.); and technology such as electricity, plumbing, communications, and medicine.

By the same token, we have learned to use all these things for evil purposes as well, which causes all of life and the earth itself to suffer. Thus, whether good or evil, it was all in the tree. Amen somebody.

Conclusion

My brothers and sisters, at this point in the narrative, we have seen the unforced transgression of Adam and Eve our first parents, and the initial impact of their sin, which was shame.

If the story ended here, we would be confused and uncertain about the true consequences of sin. However, this is not where it ends, but only where it begins. I think it is important to let this marinate for a while, so tune-in next week for the rest of the story. And until next week, may the Lord bless and keep you is my prayer.