Written by Abby Caymol | Jan 06, 2024
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” –Genesis 2:16-17 NIV
Are we good at following instructions?
Do we obey our parents’ instructions or break the rules?
The book of Genesis contains a story of the first humans to whom God granted a blessing. However, they disobeyed God due to deceitfulness.
According to the Bible, Adam was the first to hear God’s voice audibly (Genesis 3:8-10). Additionally, he was given responsibility for naming all the animals (Genesis 2:20), and God blessed him with a wife who would be his companion and helpmate (verse 25).
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” –Genesis 3:4-5 NIV
All was well until the serpent, the most “crafty” of all wild animals, appeared in God’s creation (Genesis 3:1).
According to the Bible, the devil used a serpent to communicate with Eve, Adam’s wife, and deceive her into eating the fruit from the forbidden tree. Snakes cannot talk, but the devil disguised himself as a serpent to carry out his wicked plan. Tragically, Eve also convinced her husband, Adam, to eat the fruit, leading to their disobedience of God’s command (Genesis 3:6).
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. –Genesis 3:7a NIV
The devil’s deadly schemes often penetrate what God tries to protect humans.
When our parents tell us something to obey, they have good reasons why we need to follow them. Our parents embody the protective nature of God.
When we read the Bible, the Lord has many teachings and instructions to guide and protect us against the devil’s schemes. These schemes have been in effect since the beginning of time, such as in the Garden of Eden.
It’s important to understand that the enemy is deceitful. They may present partial truths to make you believe them, but the rest of what they say is designed to trap you in sin. The enemy will hover over you, looking down into the pit, and accuse you of disobeying God.
Adam and his wife Eve have gained knowledge of good and evil, which has expanded their understanding of God’s creation, including themselves.
When someone close to us, especially our parents, gives us instructions, we often doubt whether we should follow them. We become curious and want to try things we have yet to be warned to do. Usually, we are eager to try these things ourselves.
Humans are naturally curious and eager to learn. Babies and toddlers, for example, are born with an innate sense of curiosity. However, their curiosity can sometimes make it difficult for them to follow directions because they are so pure-minded.
And they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
“I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” –Genesis 3:8b, 10b NIV
Curiosity can lead us towards two outcomes: either it can lead us towards life or death.
God and the enemy can use your great interest to test us. God has given us the wisdom and proper discernment of whether our passions are ultimately good for us.
Like Adam and Eve, when they disobeyed God, they realized their mistake and hid among the trees because they knew they were naked and had sinned.
We can relate to this as well. When we feel anxious to try things our parents forbid us from doing, it will stir up our curiosity, and temptation arises and influences our actions.
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. –Genesis 3:21 NIV
Even though Adam and Eve disobeyed God and fell into sin, God continued to show them kindness and generosity by providing everything they needed.
Because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the fall began, and sin entered the world.
God had a plan long ago to cover our sins. This plan was fulfilled when the Lord brought His only Son into the world (1 John 4:9). Jesus, who glorified God even before the world began (John 17:5), was the only one who could accomplish this.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. –John 3:16-17 NIV
Jesus, being a heavenly King, chose to humble Himself by becoming a servant on earth to save humanity from sin and death.
The Lord demonstrates his deepest love for us, so even if we are sinners, He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for us.
From the Garden of Eden to the fall of humanity until this generation, His love for us remains constant. He continues to pursue us through Christ.
Because of Jesus Christ’s wide, long, high, and deep love for us, we will be firmly rooted in our relationship with God, established by His perfect love (Ephesians 3:17b, 18).
“He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden. –Genesis 3:22b, 23a NIV
God never forsake Adam and Eve, but it was the sin that separated them from the Lord. God and sin cannot coexist, for God is good and holy—the opposite of evil.
Adam and Eve were disciplined by God when He expelled them from the Garden of Eden. Even though they were still loved and under God’s care, the result of their disobedience and sin led to their suffering.
Humankind learned the hard way.
Suffering caused by sin leads us to Jesus’ cross. A relationship with Jesus is not just a cherry on top of the cake but also the sunshine and rainbow on stormy days.
The author of the book Confronting Christianity, Rebecca Mclaughlin, expressed her thoughts from a Christian perspective, “there is not only hope for a better end; there is intimacy now with the one whose resurrected hands still bear the scars of the nails that pinned him to his cross. Suffering is not an embarrassment to the Christian faith. It is the thread with which Christ’s name is stitched into our lives.”1
Because of God’s love for us, those in Christ Jesus are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1).
Sin’s suffering is over. Jesus freed us from sin’s bondage (Romans 8:2).
We can only reach our hand on the Tree of Life (eternal life) by living purposefully for Jesus in repentance of our sins.
Let’s take a lesson from the story of Adam and Eve.
Jesus died for the bondage of our sins so we can spend eternity with God someday. We should strive to live a life separate from worldly influences and actions.
We are set apart as sons and daughters of Christ.
1McLaughlin, R. (2019). Confronting Christianity 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
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