In the beginning of Genesis, God made humanity in his own image. This is an interesting parallel to the way our image reflects imperfectly who we are. In Genesis God puts his image in humanity. Humanity does not equal God; humanity is an indirect and very imperfect reflection of who God is. Sometimes humans reflect a great example, and other times a very poor representation.
The "sons of God" lusted after the "daughters of men." The sons of God probably refer to certain of the angelic beings who were attracted to women of the earth. Check out the ancient book of Enoch (quoted by the book of Jude) for a fuller description of these angels.
Eve was attracted to the fruit because it looked good.
Sarah was a good looking woman as was Rebeccah and Rachel.
Rachel was good looking, but Leah had weak eyes.
Abraham's family (which includes his wife who was also his step sister and the generations they produced) was generally incredibly good looking, even into old age. In fact, their good looks sometimes posed a problem for them as they traveled into foreign lands. Both Abraham and Isaac felt unable to protect themselves from people who wanted their wives, so they had their wives tell everybody they were sisters and not wives.
Looks are important in the stories of Genesis. In fact, it is not uncommon to see good looks define people such as Joseph, Absolom, King David, King Solomon and Esther. In the Apocrypha, Judith is a beautiful woman like Esther saves the nation by using her good looks.
So why does the bible point out that certain people were good looking? Isn't beauty skin deep? Doesn't God look on the inside of one's heart?
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Temptation
WAS THE SERPENT SATAN?
We have always assumed that the serpent is the same as Satan, but the Bible does not clearly make that connection until the book of Revelation. Even in Revelation, it is not 100% clear. Nevertheless, I believe they are the same. But, having said that, I don't think the writer of Genesis made that connection. When he spoke of a serpent, he meant a literal serpent, nothing more and nothing less.
DID THE SERPENT HAVE LEGS?
From a biblical view, the serpent was cursed in that God said it would crawl on its belly eating dirt. The story does not tell us it had legs or was going to lose its legs. The story simply answers a question (asked by the hearers of the story) of why the serpent crawls on the ground. Legs are not important to the story, crawling is.
WHAT WAS THE FRUIT THAT EVE ATE?
I will answer this question from a literal and from a metaphorical angle.
From a literal point of view, the type of tree or the fruit it bore was never mentioned, so the popular opinion that says that the tree in the garden bore apples is not true. The tree was called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Because evil can only be known by experience, the fruit tree could have been anything. The knowledge of evil and of good did not come to Eve through the physical qualities of some type of fruit, rather it came through disobeying God. It is the act of disobedience that brought new knowledge, not the fruit itself. For that reason, Genesis does not care to define the tree any more than it does.
WHO TOLD EVE NOT TO EAT FROM THE TREE?
The Bible does not tell us where or when Eve was told not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When God commanded Adam not to eat from it, Eve was not yet created. There is no mention of God or Adam telling Eve not to partake of the fruit.
DID EVE EXAGERATE GOD'S WARNINGS?
Yes. God said, "Don't eat." She said, "We can't even touch it."
Either she was exaggerating because she didn't like God's command or she was stretching the truth because she believed God's command needed a little more emphasis. Both are wrong. God's word is good enough as it is. We don't need to add to it or take from it.
On the other hand, if Eve didn't like what God commanded and sarcastically exaggerated, then she had no chance in overcoming, even before the serpent came. She was more than ripe for the picking.
WAS ADAM WITH EVE DURING TEMPTATION?
The bible says that Eve gave fruit to Adam who was with her. But that leaves us with some questions. Was Adam with her during temptation? Or was he only with her after her temptation? Does "with her" mean literally or simply a general statement such as, my wife is with me in life?
If Adam was with her during temptation, why was he quiet? Did he want her try the fruit, endangering her life, so he could find out what happened when one eats? If so, then his curiosity was more important than his wife's life.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SIN?
It tastes good, looks good, and makes one wise. We all know that sin usually serves a self-interest. So metaphorically it looks and tastes good. But how does sin make one wise? Before I sin, I may get curious about something or another. If I am tempted to have an affair, I am curious about how good it would feel to have that affair. I don't think of the long-term consequences, but I will think about the act. I may fantasize and flirt with the person first, just testing the water. Eventually, if needed, I may build justifications for that affair. My wife has not been a good wife lately...my husband doesn't give me the attention I deserve...I think I married the wrong person...God wants me happy.... You get the picture.
The serpent helped Eve to find the justifications she needed to sin. Not only did it look good, but it would make one wise.
WHAT DID EVE LEARN?
Adam and Eve learned what sin was. Before the fall, they only knew good. They were naive. After the fall, as promised by the serpent, they knew "the dark side." They did become more like God in a certain respect - they knew good and they could now contrast that good to evil, because they partook in evil. But they lost something in the process. Becoming like God made them "wiser" in areas they should not have known. I am clueless as to what it would feel like killing someone. I can imagine what it would be like; but I am still ignorant as to what it really feels like to actually kill another. Adam and Eve did learn what evil was only by participating in that evil.
DID ADAM NEED OTHERS TO PULL HIM IN?
Genocides, witch hunts, and other atrocities are a huge curiosity to people who study these things. One thing we definitely know is that when the immediate group around us sins, it is easier to fall into that same sin. Adam was probably strong enough to turn away from temptation on his own, but when Eve fell, he felt like it was safe to follow. Every one of us (from time to time) is more susceptible to following others into sin because in some way there seems to be safety in numbers. This is true in business, political, social settings, or just with friends and family.
We have always assumed that the serpent is the same as Satan, but the Bible does not clearly make that connection until the book of Revelation. Even in Revelation, it is not 100% clear. Nevertheless, I believe they are the same. But, having said that, I don't think the writer of Genesis made that connection. When he spoke of a serpent, he meant a literal serpent, nothing more and nothing less.
DID THE SERPENT HAVE LEGS?
From a biblical view, the serpent was cursed in that God said it would crawl on its belly eating dirt. The story does not tell us it had legs or was going to lose its legs. The story simply answers a question (asked by the hearers of the story) of why the serpent crawls on the ground. Legs are not important to the story, crawling is.
WHAT WAS THE FRUIT THAT EVE ATE?
I will answer this question from a literal and from a metaphorical angle.
From a literal point of view, the type of tree or the fruit it bore was never mentioned, so the popular opinion that says that the tree in the garden bore apples is not true. The tree was called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Because evil can only be known by experience, the fruit tree could have been anything. The knowledge of evil and of good did not come to Eve through the physical qualities of some type of fruit, rather it came through disobeying God. It is the act of disobedience that brought new knowledge, not the fruit itself. For that reason, Genesis does not care to define the tree any more than it does.
WHO TOLD EVE NOT TO EAT FROM THE TREE?
The Bible does not tell us where or when Eve was told not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When God commanded Adam not to eat from it, Eve was not yet created. There is no mention of God or Adam telling Eve not to partake of the fruit.
DID EVE EXAGERATE GOD'S WARNINGS?
Yes. God said, "Don't eat." She said, "We can't even touch it."
Either she was exaggerating because she didn't like God's command or she was stretching the truth because she believed God's command needed a little more emphasis. Both are wrong. God's word is good enough as it is. We don't need to add to it or take from it.
On the other hand, if Eve didn't like what God commanded and sarcastically exaggerated, then she had no chance in overcoming, even before the serpent came. She was more than ripe for the picking.
WAS ADAM WITH EVE DURING TEMPTATION?
The bible says that Eve gave fruit to Adam who was with her. But that leaves us with some questions. Was Adam with her during temptation? Or was he only with her after her temptation? Does "with her" mean literally or simply a general statement such as, my wife is with me in life?
If Adam was with her during temptation, why was he quiet? Did he want her try the fruit, endangering her life, so he could find out what happened when one eats? If so, then his curiosity was more important than his wife's life.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SIN?
It tastes good, looks good, and makes one wise. We all know that sin usually serves a self-interest. So metaphorically it looks and tastes good. But how does sin make one wise? Before I sin, I may get curious about something or another. If I am tempted to have an affair, I am curious about how good it would feel to have that affair. I don't think of the long-term consequences, but I will think about the act. I may fantasize and flirt with the person first, just testing the water. Eventually, if needed, I may build justifications for that affair. My wife has not been a good wife lately...my husband doesn't give me the attention I deserve...I think I married the wrong person...God wants me happy.... You get the picture.
The serpent helped Eve to find the justifications she needed to sin. Not only did it look good, but it would make one wise.
WHAT DID EVE LEARN?
Adam and Eve learned what sin was. Before the fall, they only knew good. They were naive. After the fall, as promised by the serpent, they knew "the dark side." They did become more like God in a certain respect - they knew good and they could now contrast that good to evil, because they partook in evil. But they lost something in the process. Becoming like God made them "wiser" in areas they should not have known. I am clueless as to what it would feel like killing someone. I can imagine what it would be like; but I am still ignorant as to what it really feels like to actually kill another. Adam and Eve did learn what evil was only by participating in that evil.
DID ADAM NEED OTHERS TO PULL HIM IN?
Genocides, witch hunts, and other atrocities are a huge curiosity to people who study these things. One thing we definitely know is that when the immediate group around us sins, it is easier to fall into that same sin. Adam was probably strong enough to turn away from temptation on his own, but when Eve fell, he felt like it was safe to follow. Every one of us (from time to time) is more susceptible to following others into sin because in some way there seems to be safety in numbers. This is true in business, political, social settings, or just with friends and family.
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