The Fall

The Fall

Genesis 3
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" What the heck kind of question is that? “Did God ACTUALLY say…” like what, they imagined it? As if He didn’t really mean it? Darn question, crafty question. How many times does that little voice in our head ask us questions worded just like that? Did [fill in the blank] really mean that, or perhaps they only meant this, maybe I don’t really have to do such and such?

And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" First of all we see the woman told that crafty questioner that they COULD eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, yet there is a condition-just don’t eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. Why? Because God said so-and it will cause their death. Up until now, we can see that the man and the woman were warm (didn’t need clothes) fed (all they had to do was eat what was provided, and remember from yesterday it was all good) and were able to walk in God’s presence. They were in a Sabbath place.
But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. You will not SURELY die? As in you won’t really die, or are you sure about that? Did He REALLY mean that?

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."You will be LIKE God, you will be equal, you will be the same as, you can put yourself in the place of God. REALLY?

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God…Lord God please come to us in the cool of the garden; walk with us in the evening of the day. Please help us not to hide ourselves from your presence.

…But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" Lord God, father and creator, come looking for us now. You search for us, and you will find us, please help us to allow ourselves to be found by you.

And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."…

Help us not to be deceived, help us to remember your presence today in our lives. Help us not to put ourselves in the place of God. Lord God, clothe us in your presence.

The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—" therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

…and they will surely die. Lord, we will all die. Help us to live in your presence today, in the knowledge and love of you first and foremost.

Amen, see you tomorrow.

Maggie