Week Five
What is the Gospel of Peace? Genesis
Week Five: Living Deliciously in God’s Garden
The Content of this Week’s Study:
Day One: A Well-Watered Garden
Day Two: One Becomes Two – to Become One
Day Three: Called Just to Live Deliciously?
Day Four: Silly, Seductive, Evil Minded Little Eve?
Day Five: Finding Adam
Day Six- Crime and Punishment
Q) Did God use metaphors and allusions in scripture to conceal deep truths which could only be understood by those who are really seeking Him?
Proverbs 25:2 (CJB)
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory
of kings to search it out.
Day One: A Well Watered Garden
Today's study is divided into two parts
1)Waters of Ayden [Eden] and
2) Releasing the Living waters
Pt 1- The Waters of Ayden
Genesis 2:10A:
“Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden,"
What if the land of Ayden is a representation of Yeshua and the Edenic river represents the Ruach [Holy Spirit]?
Allow me to present this case and see if you agree that there may be an interesting insight concealed in the elements mentioned in the first verses of Ch. 2.
What if I suggest that, in a metaphorical sense, you and I -- having been grafted into Israel, are the Garden, planted by God within His gates. (this does not and cannot diminish God’s physical garden in any way).
Isaiah 58:11b (TLV)
You will be like a watered garden; like a spring of water whose waters never fail.
Song of Songs 4:12 (CJB)
12 My sister, my bride, is a garden locked up, a pool covered over, a spring sealed shut.
If the land of Ayden represents Yeshua, and Gan-Ayden is a prophetic picture of what you and I are meant to become; consider the purpose of the river that flows from Eden to water the garden.
Part 2- Releasing the Water to bless others:
Genesis 2:10B:
and from there it parted and became four river heads.”
Once the river watered the garden - it went out.
The river didn’t stay in the garden. The river watered the garden and flowed out the other side.
Genesis 2:11-14
It split into Four Rivers
First River: 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it winds throughout the land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there.
Second River: 13 The name of the second river is Gichon; it winds throughout the land of Kush.
Third River: 14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it is the one that flows toward the east of Ashur.
Forth River: The fourth river is the Euphrates.
The meaning of the names of the rivers:
Read through all four Strong's and Abarim Publications definitions and consider whether the definitions might reveal the ultimate purpose of the water.
1, Pishon 6376H; dispersive, from 6335H; (primary root word) spread, scatter. Note: Moses said the Pishon River encompasses the whole land of Havilah where there is very high-quality gold. Havilah presumably means; to dance or writhe in pain or fear, and Strong’s refers to labor and childbirth.
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2, Gihon1521H; stream, from 1518H; (primary root word) to gush forth (as water), (generally) to issue: - break forth, labor to bring forth… The Bible says this river is the one that encompasses the land of Cush (possibly Ethiopia?), (there is a valley, springs and a pool called Gihon near Jerusalem).
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3, Hiddekel: Strong’s doesn’t define the Hiddekel [Tigris], however, according to the site, Abarim Publications (see link below); the name Hiddekel is interpreted as “Swift”, “to prick, sting or separate” or possibly - hinting at a “riddle”.
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Link – Definition – Abarim Publications - “Hiddikel”
https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Haddakel.html
4, Euphrates 6578H (AKA Perath: - (from an unused root word) To break forth, rushing, a river of the East, Mesopotamia.
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Q) Do you see a possible connection with childbirth in the definitions of the names of these four rivers?
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Note: Don’t worry if this line of thought leaves you confused. It is OK to move on to work through the rest of today’s study.
What good would it do the garden if the river flowed in but could never flow out the other side? In such a case, the garden would always be in a state of flood and would never be able to produce fruit. Fruit is the purpose of a garden. In fact, to flood a garden without providing an outlet for the water will eventually change its purpose from a garden to a lake.
Overflow with Living Water:
John 7:38
38 *[Yeshua said] Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!”
We need to ask ourselves “am I a garden or a lake? Am I releasing the outpouring of God’s blessings to “water” others, or am I trying to hold on to everything God gives as if He will not continue to meet my needs?”
We are supposed to be gardens, bearing good fruit for the enrichment of others and to expand the Kingdom of our beloved King. The blessings we are given are not ours to hold on to. We are to be nourished in God's presence, but part of the blessing is to then fulfill our duty as conduits of God's goodness - spiritual, physical and emotional; first to those who are, likewise, learning to walk in Covenant with the King and then to the world around us.
Journaling:
Answer the question we alluded to above; “have you been more of a garden or a lake”? Try to answer as honestly as possible because our goal is to consistently become more like Yeshua, and that won’t happen if we are not clear on our strengths and weaknesses.
We tend to think we need abundance in our own lives before we can give, but remember the incident in the Brit Hadasha [New Testament] where the poor widow gave her last two coins at the temple from Mark 12:41-44.
Extra:
Link – Article – Chabad.com – “Where are the Four Rivers...?”: http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3082157/jewish/Where-Are-the-Four-Rivers-that-Come-from-Eden.htm
Day Two: One Becomes Two – to Become One
Or, The true origin of Women’s Liberation
Some people may think I’m being flippant with today’s sub-title. I admit I am choosing to include the extra label partially because I enjoy the humorous implication it has for the information we’re going to explore today, and I think many of you will likewise enjoy it. The addition of the secondary label, however, is also meant to suggest a deeper insight.
The entire subject of women’s rights is, even in the 21st century, a hornet’s nest of sociopolitical issues; even in the church. I take the subject of women’s rights very seriously because of the suppression women experienced in the past and the abuse many have suffered through the ages at the hands of "certain"-men who want[ed] to dominate and merely use women for their own pleasure and service.
I am also very mindful of the separate yet related issue of the damage to the lives of both women and men, which I am convinced, is the direct result of the subversion of the women’s movement by what is known today as “radical-feminism”. Inflicting abuse and/or self-advancement at the cost of another is evil no matter what sex, class or group the perpetrator is part of.
*I believe it is God’s desire that women be respected and have equal rights to men, and I am convinced through careful study that scripture actually reveals this fact. Likewise, I believe scripture sets a clear standard for the way God's sons must approach, look at, think about and even support - His daughters.
Godly men should extend worldly women much the same respect, but it is vital that you guard yourself around women in the world and believers who are in the process of being healed and restored; as immorality, lack of self-respect/self-control and desperation for attention have all mutated into a plague which ensnares many a well-meaning godly man (and woman).
In the book he co-wrote with Lauren Cunningham, “Why Not Women” David Joel Hamilton defines the words which are translated “a companion suitable for helping him” in our verses (below); in Hebrew, ′ezer keneged, which he explains does not mean a subservient peon. On the contrary, the word ′ezer indicates someone who is smarter, more capable or even stronger - who is capable of offering help in weakness.
Mr. Hamilton explains this is the same word often used to describe God as mankind’s help in trouble, however, "when the word 'keneged' is added, it renders the meaning as 'a strong-equal'”.
Book: “Why Not Women”; Lauren Cunningham and David Joel Hamilton; Youth with a Mission Publishing ”2000”: Chapter – 7: Daughters of Eve – pg’s 93, 94.
Link – To purchase book – Christianbook.com – “Why Not Women?”: https://www.christianbook.com/?navcat=toplogo
The idea of women being equal to men is not a “1960's, modern Western culture” original. Certain ancient Jewish sages saw an interesting hint at oneness in the verses we’re studying today.
Genesis 2:18-20 (CJB)
18 Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.” 19 So from the ground Adonai, God, formed every wild animal and every bird that flies in the air, and he brought them to the person to see what he would call them. Whatever the person would call each living creature, that was to be its name. 20 So the person gave names to all the livestock, to the birds in the air and to every wild animal. But for Adam there was not found a companion suitable for helping him.
God didn’t like the idea of the person being alone in the work. God wanted a pair to be co-laborers; to share dominion.
Questions to Consider:
1) Why didn’t God just take dirt and make a suitable partner, and what was the purpose of bringing all His animals to Adam? Was God giving man the option of partnering with the animal of his choice or did God want man - and woman to know, with certainty, that their relationship to one another was unique in the earth and perfectly fulfilled all their and God’s requirements?
2) God created the universe in six days, and although creation progresses in a continuing manifestation to this day; God’s choices for this world were established when He created mankind and placed him in the garden. The prototype of everything existed at that moment. God did not establish any other being after the creation of mankind.
So, God took Adam's "rib" and "created" another being from it?
Genesis 2:21-25 (CJB)
21 Then God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the person; and while he was sleeping, he took one of his ribs and closed up the place from which he took it with flesh. 22 The rib which Adonai, God, had taken from the person, he made a woman-person; and he brought her to the man-person. 23 The man-person said, “At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She is to be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 This is why a man is to leave his father and mother and stick with his wife, and they are to be one flesh.
I love it that the Complete Jewish Bible rightly-translates mankind as “person” in these verses. That is the meaning of Adam --- human.
I recommend reading Bereshit [Genesis] 2:18-23 at Chabad.com for comparison (see link below).
Take careful note of the subtle differences in the underlying insight implied by the words which this direct translation highlights.
I am including the following link for convenience.
Link – Scripture translation – Chabad.com – “Genesis [Bereishit] 2:
http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8166/jewish/Chapter-2.htm
*I believe God had a plan from the beginning that man and woman should have a shared history. It's interesting to contemplate the creation of woman considering the following Jewish insight.
In Judaism it is widely understood that it wasn’t merely a rib that God removed from Adam’s side. As we see in the English translation at the Chabad link above; God actually-removed one “side” [one half] and woman, the female half, became a separate but similar being: the ideal mate.
Q) So, why did God put the woman in the same flesh as the man when He could have just created them individually from the beginning?
In the Strong’s:
Deep [sleep] 8639H tardêmâh, tar-day-maw´; a lethargy or (by implication) trance: --- deep sleep, from 7290H raw-dam´; (primary root word); to stun, i.e. stupefy (with sleep or death): --- (be fast a-, be in a deep, cast into a dead, that) sleep (-er, -eth).
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Sleep yâshên, yaw-shane´; (primary root word);(properly) to be slack or languid, i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively to die); also to grow old, stale or inveterate: --- old (store), remain long, (make to) sleep.
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Some scholars suggest that the use of the words “deep” and “sleep”, and particularly the hint at death as used in the narrative of the separation of Eve, “pictures” Yeshua dying on the cross to bring-forth His bride.
John 19:33-34 (TLV)
33 Now when they came to Yeshua and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
If Havah was in the flesh with Adam, then she also fell into a sleep which resembled death - hinting at the fact that we must, also, “die to our past” to be made alive and transformed into the bride of “the Last Adam” Yeshua.
1 Corinthians 15: 32 (CJB)For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive.
1 Corintians 15:45b (CJB)
Adam, the first man, became a living human being; but the last “Adam” *[Yeshua] has become a life-giving Spirit.
Adam’s, literal, “other half” was removed so his bride would share the same history, knowledge and anointing.
In contrast, however; where Adam’s bride was separated out, Yeshua’s bride is "grafted in" for the same purpose, so Adam and Havah being given the command to become “one flesh” was, in fact, a continuing “picture” of Messiah’s bride becoming one again with Him.
In the Strong’s:
Flesh 1320H baw-sawr´; *[this word basically means flesh, but what is really interesting is the (primary root word)] 1319H bâsar, baw-sar´; to be fresh, i.e. full (rosy, (figuratively) cheerful); to announce (glad news): - messenger, preach, publish, shew forth, (bear, bring, carry, preach, good, tell good) tidings.
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Compare this definition to the meaning of “Preach the Gospel” in the New Testament [Brit Hadashah]
2098G ĕuaggĕliŏn, yoo-ang-ghel´-ee-on; a good message, i.e. the gospel: - gospel, from two rood words: 2095 and 32; 2095G yoo; (good); (adverbially) well: - good, well (done). 32G ang´-el-os; (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication a pastor *[preacher]: - angel, messenger.
Q) Were Adam and Havah “preaching” (as a picture prophecy) the Gospel of Shalom through their experience all the way back at the beginning of time?
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Throughout history; men, cultures and religions have seen woman as the cause of all that is wrong in the world.
I am reminded of the scene in one of my all-time favorite movies, “Fiddler on the Roof” where Golda is admonishing her husband that he is going to be late for the sabbath. Tevia, the village milkman, must make his deliveries pulling his cart himself because his horse has gone lame halfway through his route.
As his wife confronts him from the porch of their house Tevia (a character I absolutely love) tells God, while pointing back at his wife, “send us the cure, we’ve got the sickness already”. Although it is said with humor and Tevia later realizes how much he loves and needs his wife, this way of seeing women has put a wedge between Men and women; who God desires to become “one”.
Journaling:
Please do the assignment (for everybody):
Link - Strength & Courage page-
Becoming One
Day Three: Called Just to Live Deliciously?
Genesis 2:25 (CJB)
25 They were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed.
Many of the commentaries I’ve read on this week’s scripture postulate that everything was perfect in the Garden, and there is truth to that idea, but existence there was not without its tests.
In fact, I’m about to indulge in a little sarcastic exaggeration to, hopefully, begin to challenge our understanding of life in Gan-Ayden.
I have always heard and, at least on some level, believed assumptions such as:
"Because they were both at a “Ken and Barbie doll” level of fitness, they were not embarrassed or shy to be naked in front of one another, and because Adam was of a naturally romantic, “leading man” nature and Havah was perfectly agreeable and would never have been angry with Ken-I mean Adam-for not taking out the trash; they, for a short time, had a blissful life and enjoyed a passionate romance"; what silliness!
Oh, to live in such a place; a beautiful, walled garden where there is no stress; no bills to pay, no hunger, no sickness; just guiltlessness, love and partnership. But wait, weren't Adam and Havah created for a purpose?
Summarize the following according to your understanding.
Genesis 1:26 (CJB)
26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth.”
This version indicates that God made mankind in His own image to:
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Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
*This version says God made mankind in His own image to have:
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Both of these interpretations indicate the same idea. Ruling and Dominion mean to have authority or jurisdiction.
Genesis 2:15 (CJB)
15 Adonai, God, took the person and put him in the garden of ‘Eden to cultivate and care for it.
*This version says God put mankind in the Gan to
___________________ and _________ for [the garden].
Genesis [Bereishit] 2:15 (Chabad.com)
15Now the Lord God took the man, and He placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and to guard it.
This version says God put mankind in the Gan to
__________ it and to ____________ it.
Link – Scripture – Chabad.com – “Genesis Chapter Two”: http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8166/jewish/Chapter-2.htm
In the Strong’s:
Cultivate (dress in KJV) 5647H ′âbad, aw-bad´; (PR); to work (in any sense); by implication- to serve, till, (causatively-) enslave, etc.: --- x be, keep in bondage, bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour (-ing, man), bring to pass (cause to, make to) serve (-ing, self), (be, become) servant (-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, wrought, worshiper.
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Care(keep in KJV) 8104H shâmar, shaw-mar´; (PR); properly- to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard, generally- to protect, attend to, etc.: --- beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self, sure), (that lay) wait (for), watch (man).
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This word “care” is the same word that is used for the duty of the cheruvim (cherubim) which God set to guard the way to the tree of life after the fall of man; and the purpose God gave to Noah – to “keep” the animals alive with him; also, when God told Abraham to “keep” His [God’s], Covenant.
Your Conclusion:
What “job[s]” would you conclude Adam and Havah were supposed to do in Gan Ayden?
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Q) If Adam and Havah were assigned the job of, not only gardening, but “guarding” God’s garden; the natural question we must ask is - who or what were they to protect it from?
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Some may conclude they were to protect “the tree of life” and/or “the tree of the knowledge” from the Nephilim, and although I won’t say you are wrong, I do not believe the books of Jasher, Enoch, etc. are accurate. Please don't be offended.
In our study of chapter three of Genesis, we’re going to learn that a serpent entered God’s garden. This someone's true-identity is not clearly revealed, yet he is going to put a stumbling block before this inexperienced pair, but why was he there?
*You see, I am convinced that Adam and Havah were susceptible to deception because they had already deceived themselves into believing they could live deliciously in God’s garden. There is much speculation about whether Adam and Havah were commanded to eat the fruit of the tree of life or whether it was an option. Some of the Jewish sages suggested, however, that Adam and Havah; though they had lived in the garden for some time, and in fact had produced several children in the garden; had failed to eat from the tree of life. If this is true, we have to wonder why.
If God planted a tree in our midst, told us we could freely eat of the fruit saying that partaking of the fruit produced upon this tree will bestow “abundant (blessed/eternal) – life”; wouldn’t we be wearing a path to get in and receive this amazing provision?
Though many people will not like to hear this, I am assuring you that, whether they were commanded to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life [TOL] or if it was optional, when Adam and Havah failed to do the most important and sensible thing they could; to eat from the Tree of "Life", God allowed them to be tested, but without commitment, Adam and Havah were doomed to failure.
In our word study (above) regarding the word which is translated "Care [for the garden]", we noted that it is the same Hebrew word used elsewhere, and I gave a few examples. In my list of examples, I included 1) the duty of the cheruvim [i.e. guard the way to the TOL] 2) what God told Noah i.e. to keep the animals alive with him 3) what God told Abraham when He entered into covenant with God [i.e. be careful to keep his covenant].
Carefully consider how this word actually applies to the duty of Adam and Havah. Did God commission the man and woman to guard the way to the TOL, or was He warning them, as he did with Abraham, to guard their own actions so they would not transgress against God?
James 1:21-25 (CJB)
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word *[Torah], which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers *[shema] of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty *[Torah] and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work *[shema], this one will be blessed in what he does.
Journaling:
What say you, when God placed the cheruvim to guard the way to the TOL in Gan Ayden was the threat posed by evil spirits, space aliens; or was the sentry installed to keep this redeemable pair, who had broken their covenant, from reaching out to take from God what they were no longer authorized to touch - which would now, since they no longer had God's permission, bring a worse curse upon them?
Now, was this the meaning of the instructions God gave Adam and Havah from the beginning? i.e. to guard their covenant promises so they would not transgress their oaths.
How might this duty apply to you and I?
Read the following":
Link - Strength study - Are You God's Idol?
Genesis 3
Day Four: Silly, Seductive, Evil Minded, little Eve?
Did Eve cause Adam to sin; was she drawn to evil because of her perverse and corrupt nature; or, was she given to Adam in a weak, ill-informed state; and did God do this to “help” Adam in the task of caring for and guarding God's creation?
Though pastors, theologians, etc. have presumed that Eve received the truth through Adam instead of from God directly; you and I must step back to analyze the facts for ourselves.
Consider the following in light of our previous studies:
1) God created Eve (it was not Adam).
2) If Eve existed from the beginning, she received all the same instruction as Adam- from God.
3)The tac taken against Eve is one which is typically used against those who are more committed to God; those who are not easily swayed.
Genesis 3:1 (CJB)
1 Now the serpent was more-crafty than any wild animal which Adonai, God, had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree in the garden’?”
In the Strong’s:
There are several words interpreted as serpent in the Tanakh.
The word used in our scripture is:
Serpent 5175H nâchâsh, naw-khawsh´; a snake (from its hiss): - serpent, from 5172H naw-khash´; (primary root word) (properly) to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; (generally) to prognosticate: - x certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) x enchantment, learn by experience, x indeed, diligently observe.
X___________________________________________________.
The first question we must ask is, why would Eve [Havah] dialogue with a talking snake?
It has been suggested that all the animals could talk in the beginning, but that is speculation. This was Havah’s first step toward disobedience. Why would she not be suspicious of this creature with the audacity to question the creator’s command?
We’re going to examine the tactics used against Havah, but first, we should discuss the idea of “tactics”.
Tactics; the Oxford Dictionaries
“An action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.
1) ‘the minority attempted to control the Council by a delaying tactic’
2) ‘I am pretty sure this is a negotiating tactic to get me to buy him that drum machine.’
Link – Word definition – Oxford Dictionaries On-line- “Tactics”: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/tactic
Marketers use tactics to cause us to buy products.
As a parent and former foster parent, I can tell you, kids use tactics to:
1) get their own way, and
2) try to get themselves out of trouble.
In fact, we all use tactics for proper and improper means.
The Tactics that Caused Eve to Doubt:
Genesis 3:1b (CJB)
“Did God really say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Tactic # 1: The exageration
Why did the serpent ask Havah if God really said not to eat from “ANY” tree in the garden”?
Although this misquote was the second tactic embedded in the serpent’s inquiry, I suggest that this manipulation was actually the scheme that lowered Havah’s defenses. Undoubtedly, this entity knew, exactly, what God commanded His sub-rulers regarding their diet; so why was God’s command exaggerated, and why was it in the form of a question at all?
When someone asks us a direct question we feel the need to respond; and when someone exaggerates or misstates an issue, we feel the natural need to correct them. The response is usually automatic; we are more likely to engage with them before we even scrutinize the situation.
The serpent, whom she may otherwise have ignored, questions whether God actually-said they could not eat from “any” tree, and Havah immediately responds by repeating God’s command to clarify the facts.
Now, Havah is dialoguing with a snake, and she doesn’t even realize that the exaggerated question has distracted her, causing her guard to drop to the serpent’s real tactic.
Tactic # 2: The art of causing doubt
“Did God really say…?”, this question presents us with a conundrum.
Is the serpent questioning God’s motives, or is he using an even more effective trick?
As I hinted at in today's title, historically, the snake’s query in verse one is assumed to have been aimed at causing “poor Adam’s” - evil-minded mate to doubt God and to tempt her with becoming a god, herself.
If we want to dig out the truth, however, you and I must consider what is actually stated in scripture without relying too heavily on someone else's interpretation of what is written.
*Frankly, although I had always just accepted what I had been taught about the "temptation of Eve"; when I started studying, God stumbled me every time I read through this portion of scripture. I began to question whether Adam and Havah would be tempted by having the carrot of "becoming gods" dangled over their heads.
Though they could not eat from the tree of knowledge, the man and woman were already ordained to rule over and guard the earth and its inhabitants. When we consider this fact, we must question whether having “being a god” (what it means to have dominion) would have been such a great temptation.
*And, if Adam and Havah had become caught-up in enjoying God’s garden and each other and had already failed to fulfill their assignment, as we speculated before, I seriously doubt they would have wanted to try to fill God’s position - with the enormity of the responsibility that would entail.
*Although some may be inclined to suggest that, even if we have everything we need or desire, we typically want the very thing we cannot have; I see no sign of Adam and Eve being interested at all in the TTKGE until the enemy tried to sway them.
So, if the phrase, “did God really say” isn’t intended to question God’s motives, just what could-it have meant?
*Allow me to suggest that the question is actually meant to cause Havah to doubt; not God, but her own ability to understand. Before you shut me down completely just consider this idea for a moment.
The word “really” in our scripture “Did God -really - say…” is also translated as “indeed” in other Bible translations. In the context of our scripture, the use of the word “Indeed” may indicate an attitude of doubt or surprise; as in, “is that actually what God meant?” Or: “I can't believe God meant you could not have the fruit of this tree which would endow you with power to fulfill your roll. You must have misunderstood God.”
This is a powerful tactic, and one of the most difficult to overcome because, at least on the surface, you’re not required to doubt God. This inquiry would seem to require Havah to question only her own ability to hear and understand God (self-doubt).
Genesis 3:4-5 (Chabad.org)
4 And the serpent said to the woman, "You will surely not die. 5 For God knows that on the day that you eat thereof, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like angels, knowing good and evil."
Link – Scripture (above) – Chabad.org – “Bereishit 3”:
https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8167/jewish/Chapter-3.htm#
Journaling:
Now consider this-
Q) Could the "serpent" be attempting to entice the man and woman to follow him because “he has better understanding and knows better how to serve God”?
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Write your thoughts on the following:
Let’s hypothesize that a thief happened upon a young couple who had been chosen by a generous aunt to take care of her lavish home, including several priceless diamond necklaces as she was sailing around the world and would be gone for several years. The only catch was that they could not wear the aunt’s most costly necklace, though she did give full authority to wear all the others as they chose and even bequeathed her home and priceless jewels to them in her will.
Let’s imagine the couple honored the aunt’s request and never wore the forbidden necklace, but rather than safeguarding the aunt’s home and jewels, these novices had unwisely chosen to turn the aunt’s home into an Airbnb and kept the aunt’s favorite necklace on display for all their guests to view.
What would you say would be the easiest way for the thief to prey upon these neophytes?
1) Tell the couple their aunt was being selfish, that she just doesn’t want them to be rich like she is; convincing them to sell him the aunt's mansion and the forbidden necklace so they could use the money to open their own Airbnb.
2) Make this young, inexperienced pair believe he is their best buddy; that he has known the aunt for years and knows that she actually won’t mind if they wear the forbidden necklace just to have pictures taken as part of a lucrative advertisement campaign he’s putting together for a major insurance company; assuring them their aunt will be thrilled as she will be generously compensated.
Then the thief tells the couple, he would feel better, since they and their aunt are such great friends of his, if they will let him keep the deed to the aunt’s home and most priceless belongings in his vault for safe keeping.
*I doubt that even a couple neophytes would be deceived by the thief accusing this benevolent and generous aunt of being selfish and wanting to keep her young, inexperienced relatives in poverty - in her luxurious mansion. And, even though the second scenario is a stretch of the imagination, I think it does illuminate the point and you'll agree that posing as a "concerned adviser" would be a much more effective way to trick unsuspecting victims.
*Questioning our ability to understand fully is a very powerful tactic that I am quite positive the enemy has used, repeatedly, on every one of us.
Day Five: Finding Adam
Genesis 3:6-7 (NKJV)
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings,
First, the wisdom Havah sought
In the Strong’s:
Wise 7919H sâkal, saw-kal´; (PR); to be (causatively- make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent: - consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent (-ly), (give) skill (ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand (-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise (-ly), guide wittingly.
X___________________________________________________.
*It seems to me that Havah was rather like the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion in the movie "The Wizard of Oz". She seems to be looking for something she already has. She is easily convinced the TTKGE holds power to enable her to fulfill her commission, but all God requires of us is to simply follow His clear and doable rules.
Second, in your own words - write the three statements which our
scripture (above) says motivated Havah to eat the forbidden fruit.
________________________________________________.
________________________________________________.
________________________________________________.
Q) Do you perceive any of these three “reasons” Moshe gives us - as proof Havah was trying to usurp authority to make herself God or even "a god"?
X______________________________________________.
Finally, Inevitably, in the course of investigating what really transpired in Gan Ayden, we must come to a discussion about Adam’s part in this tragedy. Did you ever find yourself wondering “where was that guy, and what was he doing while his other half was talking with a snake"?
Scholars and lay people alike have speculated on Adam’s whereabouts during the narrative of Eve’s temptation. Sadly, nearly every commentary I have ever read on this subject has, without question, assumed Eve to be ignorant and weak, or evil, and most place the blame unmercifully, solely upon Eve.
Some sources assume there was an amount of time between the temptation and when Havah ate. This theory speculates that Adam was off doing something else (perhaps working) while Havah was being tempted, and when he returned, Havah basically bullied him into eating the fruit with her. This idea is full of risky speculation.
Some people also suggest that Havah actually-ate the fruit first (again, while Adam was “working?”), and gave it to Adam after he returned, but notice that in vs. 7 it says, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened”.
If Eve ate the forbidden fruit while Adam was working, wouldn’t her eyes have already been opened so she would already be terrified and trying to hide when Adam returned?
If Adam ate the fruit when he returned from working, even though Havah was horribly altered, then we would also have to conclude that, like a lost puppy, Adam ate the fruit on purpose simply because Havah ate of it and was tragically changed; but, would Adam really want to join his beloved in her hideous, fallen state or try to find a remedy for her?
Genesis 3:6b
(KJV)
"...[S]he took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
(NKJV)
"...[S]he took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."
(CJB)
"...[S]he took some of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her; and he ate."
Q) In all three of these Bible translations, where does the plain text say Adam was?
X___________________________________________________.
If Adam really was right there, why was Havah the only one who spoke up to proclaim God’s command?
Q) What does the plain text say Eve did after she ate the forbidden fruit?
X___________________________________________________.
Journaling:
Answer these questions based on a simple, unbiased view of the actual text.
1) Should Eve be condemned to bear the burden of guilt alone?
2) Is it really a safe assumption to pity Adam as a victim of his wife’s folly?
Now, choose one of the following options:
1)Write about a time when God was urging, or opened a door for you to be part of what He was doing, but the enemy [tried?] convinced you that you are not worthy or capable of fulfilling the role.
*In the end, doubting our ability (to hear correctly – or to fulfill God’s requirements) is equivalent to doubting God.
2) Take a few minutes to speculate on what kind of helpmate [comparable to the man] would Havah have been if she was an incomplete, immature, childlike dependent, or worse yet, evil. Why would God give Adam a “helpmate” who was ignorant and more of a bother than a blessing?
Write a brief synopsis of what “ruling in God’s garden” might have been like for Adam if God had, actually, given him such an inept and ignorant (or evil) partner. Journal your thoughts.
Day Six: Crime and Punishment
Q) Does God have to give you and I a reason for His decrees within His creation?
X ___________________________________________________.
Genesis 3:7-13 (CJB)
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together to make themselves loincloths. 8 They heard the voice of Adonai, God, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Adonai, God, among the trees in the garden. 9 Adonai, God, called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I ordered you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Adonai, God, said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me, so I ate.”
Tricked (beguiled in KJV) 5377H nâshâ´, naw-shaw´; (primary root word); to lead astray, i.e. (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce: - beguile, deceive, x greatly, x utterly.
X ___________________________________________________.
*The meaning of the word tricked (deceived) seems to line-up with what we determined earlier this week. Havah was “lead astray”. The deception caused her to err and wander off from simply following God’s command.
This is what Yeshua described to His apostles.
Luke 21:8 (NKJV)
And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.
Consequences:
Genesis 3:14-15 (CJB)
14 Adonai, God, said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and wild animals. You will crawl on your belly and eat dust as long as you live. 15 I will put animosity between you and the woman, and between your descendant and her descendant; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”
Genesis 3:16 (CJB)
To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pain in childbirth. You will bring forth children in pain. Your desire will be toward your husband, but he will rule over you.”
Some scholars say that, In the Hebrew, this verse does not imply that God is going to “cause” Havah pain or make her subservient to her husband.
These scholars say God is letting our matriarch know these are natural consequences for breaking the covenant.
Genesis 3:17 (CJB)
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to what your wife said and ate from the tree about which I gave you the order, ‘You are not to eat from it,’ the ground is cursed on your account; you will work hard to eat from it as long as you live.
In the Strong’s:
Listened (hearkened in the KJV) 8085H shâma′̜, shaw-mah´; (PR); to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively- to tell, etc.): - x attentively, call (gather) together, x carefully, x certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, x diligently, discern, give ear, (causatively to- let, make to) hear (-ken, tell), x indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient…
X___________________________________________________.
This word, shema, is what we are commanded to do in regard to God. This word means to “listen diligently and obey; to follow”.
It has been assumed because of the use of this word, that Adam was "following" his wife. The obvious indictment of Adam, however, is that he, just like Havah, forsook God’s clear and concise command[s]. God gave His commands for a reason; because He wants mankind to hear and obey - Him.
Genesis 3:17b-19 (CJB)
17b the ground is cursed on your account; you will work hard to eat from it as long as you live. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat field plants. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your forehead till you return to the ground — for you were taken out of it: you are dust, and you will return to dust.”
Q) How would you clarify [simplify] the actual-crime Adam and Havah each committed at the end of verses 12 and 13.
(It is the same basic crime in both cases)
Eve’s crime:_______________________________________.
Adam’s crime:_____________________________________.
Though Havah had been deceived and Adam had apparently either followed his wife or just wanted the fruit, they were both guilty of the same exact crime; disobedience.
Adam and Havah ate that which they were commanded not to eat - by the owner of the garden.
Q) Having established the above fact; did you notice in verses 16 and 17 what the actual consequence was for each Adam and Havah? Again, they each received the same punishment but with a different application.
Eve: ___________ in her labor.
Adam: ___________ in his labor.
Journaling:
Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the statements below
1) Though they seem to have had different motives, Adam and Havah committed the same sin; both disobeyed God’s command regarding His Tree of Knowledge.
Agree Disagree
In vs. 16: Havah will now experience pain in her labor, and she will be denied what she wants most; Adam’s sweet, natural love and devotion. Agree Disagree
In vs. 17, Adam will now experience pain in his labor, and he will be denied that which he greatly desires; a carefree, fulfilling and easy existence.
Agree Disagree
Our Week Five Study is Now Complete.
Be Strong and Courageous Friends!
