BIBLE W3 D1 The Fall of Man (Gen 3:1-13)

Today's passage about The Fall of Man (the story of Adam and Eve's temptation) is familiar to us - very familiar since we just studied it yesterday in class with Dean. Today we are to read it twice... once with our heads and once with our hearts. Why do we read it twice? Because each time we read a Bible passage (or anything for that matter), we take away something a little different in terms of our understanding.

The first time reading this passage this morning, I'm struck by how much freedom God gave Adam and Eve in the story. The basically have the run of the garden... go anywhere... do anything... eat everything... except this one small thing.

Now we tend to blame the serpent in the story, but even though serpents are "crafty" as my Bible says in 3:1, they don't move very fast. So for the serpent to do his work and start talking to Adam and Eve about eating the fruit - presumably with them close enough to the tree to eat it while under the serpent's temptation... well, I get the impression that Adam and Eve probably spent most of their time standing near the tree and staring at the forbidden fruit. I can picture them ignoring the rest of the garden. If I'm honest, that's exactly where I would be as well.

I re-read the passage a second time - from the heart - and focused on the first two of our bullet points on p.32 relating to Gen 3:8 & 9. How do I hear the sound of God walking in the garden of my life? How do I hide from God? Actually, I feel like I'm playing a more or less constant "hide-and-seek" game with God. I welcome him into my life a lot of the time, but then hide from him when I don't want to encounter him (usually when I don't want his advice).

So if times are tough and I want God's compassion and comfort, I'll step out from behind the tree and allow myself to be found. But then if I want the sexy new guitar or other toy (despite my knowing God probably wants me to do something else with my financial resources), well then it's time to hide again.

I guess on a deeper level, I hide from giving God complete control and trusting in Him completely. I'll admit it, I'm a bit (?) of a control freak - just ask Kristen or John (or anyone who works for me). There is a certain freedom - as found in the garden - in giving God control of your whole life (instead of just the Sunday morning part) so that everything about you is in harmony with God. But I still struggle with that every day. I can't give up the control... physically, mentally, financially or even spiritually.

So in some way, I'm always standing right next to the forbidden tree... waiting for the serpent to appear.