Tuesday, February 02, 2016

DJD202 - Reviewing Eden

Read More Daily Jesus
Scripture: 

Genesis 3:5

Starting Question:

What happened in the Garden of Eden?

Reviewing Eden

Let’s explore the the story today's verse is taken from. This is an accurate but abbreviated telling of the story as it is told in the Bible (Genesis 2:15-3:24). I have featured the unique bits often overlooked, so get out your Bible! 

The story goes like this: God creates Adam and places him in the Garden of Eden. He tells Adam to eat from any tree in the Garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because “on the day you eat from it, you will die.” 

Then, from the ground, God creates all the animals and birds and Adam names them. From all the creatures, no helper is found for Adam. So, God puts Adam to sleep, opens him up, takes a rib out of Adam and turns it into a woman. 

The man wakes up and recites an impromptu poem about his new wife. Like the animals, he names her kind, too: Woman - taken from Man. The creation of woman from man and the poem are presented as the reason for marriage. Naked, they feel no shame. 

A serpent is introduced as the "most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made.” No location for the following conversation or name for the serpent is given. The serpent misquotes God, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden?’” Remember, the woman was created well after God gave this command. 

And yet she knows about the tree and the rule. Did God tell her or did Adam? Wherever she got her information, she also misquotes God’s command, “… God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’” Perhaps Adam told her not to touch it to protect her. Or perhaps she changed God’s command herself. The reason is not given except to quote her misquoting God.

The serpent says they wont die but will be like gods knowing both good and evil. The woman sees the tree is delightful to look at. She sees it is good for food and “desirable for obtaining wisdom.” She picks some fruit, eats it and gives “some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” Then, just like God and the serpent said, they both see good and evil. They are embarrassed because they are naked and make clothes out of leaves.

The man and woman hear God walking in the garden. They hide in the trees. God calls them. When found by God, the blame game starts. Man blames woman. Woman blames serpent. Serpent doesn’t speak. God curses all three. Serpent will eat dust. Woman will have labour pain. Man will work cursed ground. Dust to Dust - death is explained. 

Adam names his wife Eve - mother of all the living. 

God makes them clothes from skins and dressed them Himself.

God says mankind must leave the Garden “since they have become like one of Us” and must not be allowed to reach another special tree (unmentioned so far), "the tree of life" from which they could "eat and live forever.” The garden entrance is protected by angels and a “flaming, whirling sword.” 

Reflection Questions:
What was the most surprising part of the story for you?
Is anything added or taken away from the way you've heard the story?
What do the new things you discovered today teach you?

Prayer time:
Before you pray together, ask: What would you like to say to Jesus today?

Further Reading:
Education, 25, 26

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