Advent Journey: December 5th

© Michael Livesay-Wright

Questions and Reflections

QUESTION: Why would God say not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? And why would He put this tree in the garden in the first place?

This is a crazy complicated question with no straightforward answer. Did He want to test his children? Did He want to give them an opportunity? I think that's one of the hardest parts of this story -- God doesn't tell us why and He didn't tell them why. Tim Keller gave a pretty great interview with Martin Basher in which he said:

"So God says, ‘Don’t eat from the tree’, and no explanation. The point is, ‘I want you to obey because you love me. Just because I’m God and you’re not. I want you to do something, not because it profits you, not because you know the reason why, but just because I’m Lord and Savior, and you’re not. Just do it because you love me for myself alone.’ And they didn’t." (check out the whole interview here)

The truth is we were created for relationship with God and he asked asked us (or the first humans) to trust him. And they didn't -- we didn't.

QUESTION: Why did Adam and Eve listen to the snake?

I remember as a child getting so frustrated reading this story. Why didn't they just eat ANY of the other fruit God said they could eat? I mean, there had to be some great fruit! But Satan is crafty (if you don't know the story, Satan is the one who takes the form of a snake and is able to talk to Adam and Eve -- And Satan is a guy that used to work for and with God and decided he just didn't want to obey God anymore). Satan knows how to plant that seed of doubt in God's faithfulness and His wisdom. So he said to Eve and to Adam exactly the words that would be effective. First, "Did God really say that?" or in other words, "Are you sure you heard God right?" (And haven't we all thought that or wondered that at times?). Second, he says that God is wrong -- If you eat the fruit of the tree you won't die. God isn't telling you the truth. In fact, according to the snake, God is withholding something from you. And with that combination of doubt: Did God really say that? And He's not telling you the truth, the temptation was enough to cause Adam and Eve to directly disobey God and thus begin the trend of human history as we know it.

QUESTION: Do you think you would have made a different choice from Adam and Eve?

This is perhaps the most important question. We all like to think we would have known better. I mean, who takes advice from a snake? I am waaaay stronger than they were. I could have said no! But, can you think of a time when you maybe questioned something God asked you to do? Whether it's God's command to honor your mother and father or his command to not covet or his command to tithe? And can you think of a time when maybe you didn't believe God's way was the best way? Or you even believed he was withholding something from you? Maybe you chose not to listen to your mom and dad or you complained about not having something you wanted. Whatever it is, in those moments we all have, we are repeating the sin of Adam and Eve and we are exactly the same. 

QUESTION: Is there good news?

Of course there's good news! While the end of today's reading may end with sadness and shame (and there will certainly be more of that), God isn't surprised by any of it. Remember, even before he made human image bearers on this earth, He knew the choices they would make. He already has a plan to win them back from their bad choices, to give them freedom from sin and shame, and to mend a broken relationship. And he will stop at nothing to make that happen! GOD IS COMING!