Preceding
Darkness, formlessness, chaos and order
Thought for today: A wonderful garden for mankind
A possession on earth in all bliss
Bible texts by: A possession on earth in all bliss
Genesis means « origin » or « starting » and that book brings us a record of the beginning of the world, of humanity, of families and civilization. It is the story of God’s Purpose and let us look into His Plan.
That first book from the Holy Scriptures teaches us that the earth of origin was well made and pure. In the beautiful Garden of Eden [Eden = ‘ beautiful ’] Jehovah placed man. This should not be short of anything. Man was, as it were, the crowning glory of God’s creative work.
In that beautiful garden in the East, God ensured that all kinds of beautiful trees grew there with delicious fruits. In the middle of the garden were the tree of eternal life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil (or morals).
“And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; and the tree of life, in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Ge 2:9 Darby)
It was there in the garden that man heard the first assignments; namely to take care of everything that God had made available to him. Man was allowed to eat freely from all trees in the garden. But now people also heard a first ban. Jehovah commanded them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He also gave the reason for this. Because if they did, they would die.
“16 And Jehovah Elohim commanded Man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou shalt freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt certainly die.” (Ge 2:16-17 Darby)
With that in mind, the woman wondered if God would withhold anything from them. All kinds of thoughts came up in her head. It was even strange to her that God had told them not to even touch that tree, because then they would die too.
Her brain started working in her head to deceive her. Under the shape of a snake she was told a voice that made her believe that God was lying.
“1 And the serpent was more crafty than any animal of the field which Jehovah Elohim had made. And it said to the woman, Is it even so, that God has said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, God has said, Ye shall not eat of it, and ye shall not touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said to the woman, Ye will not certainly die; 5 but God knows that in the day ye eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and ye will be as God, knowing good and evil.” (Ge 3:1-5 Darby)
How tempting it was to open your eyes and have as much knowledge as God. The fruit was very attractive, so it didn’t take long for Eve to give in to her thoughts and eat the fruit of that tree of life.
“6 And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a pleasure for the eyes, and the tree was to be desired to give intelligence; and she took of its fruit, and ate, and gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 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.” (Ge 3:5-7 Darby)
Adam and Eve had now become acquainted and aware of things, knowing what god and what was bad. Rules of morality had now come into their lives by eating that fruit. And we call their act against the ordinance of God « sin » or « sinness, » and made them a satan or adversary of God.
Evil had entered the first humans, but thereby all their descendants and thus all mankind.
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Preceding English article
Thanksgiving for the beauty of God’s creation
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