Series: Theological Observations 1. A Conversation That Leads to Death (Chapter 3:1-6) Anyone who is anyone has likely heard the account of Eve and the serpent before; even nonbelievers and seldom church attendants are aware of it as it has been referred to in movies and other secular presentations (i.e. books, magazines, etc). Far fewer, it is likely, recall the working definition for theology we have posted and reposted on Facebook in which one of the theological relationships the word of God refers to is that of the spiritual world communicating with the natural world and it is in this passage we see this theological event taking place. While we do not intend to exegete this entire account we do desire to make a few observations that we believe can and will be beneficial to all who read and understand them. A. The first and likely most important observation is that fact that a human being is having a conversation with an animal. Even in the days of Adam and Eve this was not meant to be the norm. Chapter 2 tells us that the animals were brought to Adam so that he might name them, but we have no reason to believe that he would later move about life and while doing so chatted with animals. The creature God gave to him to commune with was the one most like himself though different, her name, Eve. Beyond themselves the text in both chapter’s 2 and 3 tells us that they communed with the one with whom they shared a likeness and image. B. Next we observe that the particular creature she was chatting with, in appropriately, was a serpent, one who was described to be, in and of itself, a trickster. Of course we see that what made it possible for the serpent to actually talk was the indwelling presence of Satan the fallen angel. I am always amazed when people say things like, “I can’t believe that guy is a crook, I mean he is always so nice, charming, and seems so genuine!” Sounds familiar, as it should, it is the same qualities possessed in the serpent that Satan used to trick Eve. Note even in the New Testament that the one used to betray Christ was Judas who just so happened to possess some of those same attributes. The point seems to be clear…the bible says be weary when men speak well of you (Luke 6:26) because it is likely an attempt to trick you into or out of something…better said, there isn’t anyone good no not one! C. Our final observation lies at the feet of Eve herself it wasn’t simply that the serpent (Satan) was so cunning and craft or even the fact that she should have realized that she was talking to a creature that she simply shouldn’t have been, no, it was the fact that his first words to her spoke to the TRUE desires of her heart and initiated the events that followed. Look temptation doesn’t work very well if we are tempted with what we hate and do not desire. Even the word of God declares that we are tempted when we are led away by our OWN lust (James 1:14). Too much of this stuff is going around and has been for a very long time about tell the devil this and that, I think we need to start with our own hearts and check our desires before we start telling the demonic spirit world where to get off. Eve, much like Christ, quoted the words of God in her first response to the serpent, but notice it was all downhill from there…she didn’t truly buy into what God had told them and it seems quite clear that she had a smoldering curiosity about the FORBIDDEN TREES in the midst of the garden. Notice they were standing right in front of the tree having this conversation which means she didn’t make much effort to AVOID the thing that was tempting to her.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 00:24:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015