Ever heard of the saying 'Common Sense is not so common '? What is soo complex about these instructions? I mean its simple...EAT EVERYTHING JUST NOT FRUIT FROM THIS TREE!!! Why??? IF YOU DO YOU WILL SURELY DIE!!! Purpose, reason, intention, all made clear leaving no room for confusion. Somehow the snake managed to convince Eve it was okay to eat of the tree because apparently, there was implied consent by virtue of the presence of the tree. I mean if God had not meant for them to eat the fruit, He would not have left it there in the first place right.
So they eat of the tree and what seemed so perfect wasn't so perfect anymore. They realize they are naked. Shocked at the new discovery they run into the bushes. Before there was nothing to hide, now there is definitely something to hide. They try to salvage the little interest they had in their dignity by meshing some leaves which is pointless because it doesn't work anyway, then the hear the sound of the Lord coming and they are afraid. Guilt overwhelms them and naturally they run and hide.
That sound calls out to them and asks , "Where are you...." Out of the darkness they are called into the light. Let the confrontation begin. We are not ignorant of the conversation that follows suite.
"But the Lord called out to the man, 'Where are you?'
He answered, 'I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid.'
And He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?'
The man said, 'The woman you gave to me she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.'
Then God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me and I ate.' " (Genesis 3:9-12 NIV)
One thing is certain. God knew where they were. He knew they had eaten of the tree, He knew of Eve's little escapade. He knew Adam has eaten of the fruit and Eve had given it to him. Why the numerous enquiries? I put it to you, it was a gesture of love, fourth act of recorded in scripture. An opportunity for them to own up to their impunity, who knows maybe even to earn their immunity but nooo...they refuse to concede and instead they pass the baton down the hierarchy of affairs. In so doing they race into their defeat. Romeo and Juliet have committed suicide. I guess we will never really know what would happened had they just said, "Yes I ate of the fruit...I messed up, I am sorry!"
Repercussions: Adam must toil in pain (hard work) , Eve will thrive in pain (childbirth) and Mr. Snake...lets just say this one must bite the dust (no legs). Might I add mankind would die and return to dust. "...For dust you are and to dust you will return" (Genesis 3:19).
What happens next just drives me bananas. The epitome of the beauty of love. Remember they tried to cover themselves up with some leaves and it didn't quite work out right. Let me conjure your imagination...God gave a command, man ignored Him, the proof is their disobedience. Man realizes ooops am naked, he covers up with leaves. God is offended by this act so He confronts man. Man denies responsibility and instead blames someone else. God is angry He declares judgment, a repercussion for irresponsibility. He is clearly very upset, He is obviously not smiling, not very ecstatic about the situation. However somewhere in the midst of all His anger, He sees their naked bodies and the shame in their eyes. The pitiful attempt to cover their privates with leaves does not escape His notice. There was no way He was going to let them walk around like that. So he takes some animals, slaughters them and makes them clothes made of skin. Covering their shame even though they clearly did not deserve it. He would later kick send them out of the garden but there was no way He was going to let them walk around ashamed of themselves at the sight of their own nakedness. There had to be a way for man to have some dignity and He made that way at the price of a sacrifice. Fifth act of love recorded in scripture, later to be re-enacted by the ultimate sacrifice of one who would be, " pierced for our transgressions...crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace...by His wounds we are healed."(Isaiah 53:5) Our shame covered ultimately never to be seen again, WOW!!! Stupendous is an understatement. Absolutely no way you can top this. I think about it and I fall in love with Him all over again. Such great length just for me even after numerous offenses. Mankind would adopt murder, idolatry, homosexuality, adultery, theft, jelousy...I could recount all manners of fault. Total defiance of what He originally intended...but He who loved us first does not let us go. In His nature is the definition of love. It is not an emotion, it is not a the sparks you feel when you go on that date, it is not just caring for someone or something. It is some much deeper than that.
I realize it is what drives Him to let the sun set and the moon rise so I have my rest, it is what places the desire to let the rain fall and the sun shine so I enjoy the best. Because of love He creates wonders on this earth and allows mankind the understanding of horsepower so they invent this contraption I now call a car, science...a revelation of His mind. Love is why He provides the air we breathe, the reason why we have the ability to savor the sweet fragrances from the petals in spring. Love is why He we eat, He understands that a perpetual drought would destroy us all. Love...literally Makes the World go Round!!!
So what is love?
~Penzi Amani~
Read: LOVE MAKES MY WORLD GO ROUND Series (Part 4)
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