EVE TEMPTED HUMBLED REDEEMED - NYOBS 80.08

EVE TEMPTED HUMBLED REDEEMED

In the Beginning

• Once upon a time, long, long ago in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley on the east side of Eden, during a dark nighttime storm, lightning struck the earth and some coal and gasses caught on FIRE underground.   The underground fire became so intense that it EXPLODED up through the earth forming a giant mountain with steep sides making a crater in the bottom.  This newly formed mountain was located just west of the city of Nod and not too far from Jerusalem.
• The explosion shook the earth so greatly that it caused an opening to appear in the bottom of the ocean.  Sea water began to pour down through the opening deep into the earth where it came into contact with HOT molten rocks which instantly turned the salt water into purified clean steam.
• The steam forced it’s was back up through the earth in the giant mountain crater turning it into purified clean cool water quenching the fire in the bottom of the giant depression.  Over time the floor in the center of this mountain formed a beautiful lush multi-colored garden that was hidden from the rest of the world by the enclosed mountain sides. - Father named His special secret place, the GARDEN OF EDEN. – The underground water passages were called GOD’S PLUMBING and thousands of years later, the plumbing still works all over the whole world, pumping us pure clean cool water every second of the day.
• The word “Garden” (paradeisos) in the Book translates “ENCLOSURE” similar to a PARK and the word Eden in Sumerian means “PLAIN” or FLAT REGION. -  Eden in Hebrew means luxury, pleasure and delight; Eden was a PARADISE.
• The cool clear water formed a river that flowed out of the Garden through the side of the mountain forming a breath taking WATER FALL.  Tucked away behind some moss laden trees and tall grasses was a pathway that formed a Secret Passage leading to a wide recessed ledge that went under the water fall, winding its way up into the secret garden.  This was the ONLY WAY into or out of the GARDEN OF EDEN and this secret entrance was guarded by a heavenly being with a blue laser sword.
• This enormous water fall eventually branched out into four head waters called the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates Rivers that watered the whole “Fertile Crescent”, which ran from India to Egypt. -  NYOBS 09.34 – GARDEN OF EDEN
• The Father God made Adam and Eve and placed them both in His Secret Garden.

Gen 2:8 – The Garden was in the East of Eden

8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. NIV  

Gen 4:16 Nod is East of Eden

16 So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. NIV

Gen 2:6 – Underground streams provided natural irrigation.

6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground NIV

Gen 2:10 – A river flowed there and separated into Four rivers

10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. NIV

Gen 2:11-14 – Divides into the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris & Euphrates

11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.

12(The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.)

13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.  

14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. NIV

A little background

• The most beautiful angel that had ever been created by the Father was named Satan.  He was assigned to take care of the earth. - The GARDEN OF GOD was where Satan’s throne was; it was where he dispensed his authority and rule. – One day his PRIDE got in the way and caused him to rebel against God, to SIN, so God removed him from His garden. - The Garden of God and the Garden of Eden are the same place, but just not the same time period. – NYOBS 34.17 ANGELS -- NYOBS 07.018 – WHO IS SATAN  -- NYOBS 02.10 - WHY IS SATAN

• The term SIN comes from the form of Archery; the shooting of an arrow at a mark in the center of a target. - SIN means “To Miss the Mark”. – Man is to press forward and not miss the MARK of the high calling of God; missing the mark is SIN.
• God took Satan’s authority away from him and later gave it to Adam – Even though Adam was actually made a little lower than Satan, he had now been given authority over everything causing Satan to become very angry. – He certainly wasn’t going to report to someone made lower than him, let alone someone made out of dirt, so to fight back, he devised a cunning plan. -  His plan was to cause Adam and his cute wife Eve to “MISS THE MARK” of obedience, to disobey and SIN.
• Adam was sinless and innocent, BUT NOT RIGHTEOUS.  Righteous is innocence that has been maintained in the presence of temptation. – INNOCENCE IS IGNORANCE OF EVIL. - Adam didn’t know an Invisible War was taking place and didn’t know he would be tested.  – God had given Adam and Eve only ONE COMMANDMENT, NOT TEN. - God said; do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, it’s a SIN; and if you do, you will no longer live forever; you will die and be separated from ME for eternity.
• Angels and men were both created with the Free Will to choose, and God already knew what was in the heart of man and had put HIS plan into effect to save him from this separation. - NOTE: Angels do not have a soul like man and cannot be saved if they SIN.

Ezekiel 28:12-13 – The Garden of God

12 You (Satan) were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13 You were in Eden, THE GARDEN OF GOD - NIV

Ezekiel 28:14-15 – Satan was protector of earth till treason

14 Thou art the anointed cherub THAT COVERS; and I have set thee so: you were upon the holy MOUNTAIN of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

15 You were perfect in thy ways from the day that you were created, till iniquity was FOUND in thee. NIV

Ezekiel 28:16 – Satan driven out of the Garden of God

16 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence,

and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,

and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones

Genesis 2:7 – God made Adam out of dirt.

7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. NIV

Hebrews 2:6-8 – Adam was made a little lower than the angels

6 "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor

8 and put everything under his feet." NIV

Genesis 2:8 – The Garden already existed in the land of Eden.

8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.  NIV

Genesis 2:15 – God placed Adam in The Garden of Eden

15 The LORD God took the man & put him in the GARDEN OF EDEN

Genesis 1:26 – God gives Adam dominion over all the earth

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. KJV

Gen 2:19-20 – Adam was given authority over every living thing

19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them.

20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. NIV

Philippians 3:13-14 – Don’t SIN & miss the MARK of God’s calling
¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
¹⁴  I press toward the MARK for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (KJV)

A man called Adam

• The Father had placed Adam smack dab down in the middle of this paradise, and gave him every pet imaginable, and Adam enjoyed the monkeys, but felt lonesome and incomplete. There was just no one like him to be found. - Father said it wasn’t good for Adam to be by himself so He placed a cute girl in the garden by the name of Eve to be his HELPMATE.
•  When Adam saw her, she took his breath away.  When she walked, she seemed to float as only girls can do, with dignity and poise.  She was perfect, completely SINLESS, and innocent and her olive skin was without blemish and was just STUNNING. -  She was so BEAUTIFUL that when Adam saw her, his legs became like silly putty and he could hardly stand up; he said WOW, she is just like me, now I am COMPLETE. - Woman completes Man -
• Adam liked vegetables sprinkled with sea SALT and Evie Liked fruits that were SWEET; he liked monkeys, climbing trees and fishing. - Evie liked puppies, swimming, gathering food and making things. - The two of them complemented each other, they were both alike, but different.  - They were a perfect fit, they were Brother and Sister, Husband and wife, Co-Laborers and Life Partners. – Adam now has someone who he could relate to Physically, Emotionally and Spiritually; he was literally in Paradise, in Utopia; a perfect place to be.

Genesis 2:18 – It is not good for man to be alone
¹⁸ Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” (NLT)

Genesis 2:21-23 – Adam was made complete with Eve
²¹ So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the LORD God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.
²² Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
²³ At last!” the man EXCLAIMED. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” (NLT)

A Chick named Eve

• Eve was not taken from Adams head so she could be superior, nor from his foot to be inferior, but from his side to be equal with him – She is his other half making him complete.
• The Father owned this Garden in Eden and is where Eve lived with her husband Adam.  She was young and carefree and wandered about the endless boundaries of Mulberry bushes and dogwood trees, flowers and tall grasses.  She loved the sweetness of the plums, pears peaches and apricots.  She would play HIDE AND SEEK with Adam and he soon learned all of her special places to hide, her giggles always gave her away and besides that, she smelled so good, like gardenias.  She was so TINY, just five foot two with eyes of blue. He was six foot three inches TALL and couldn’t hide as good as she could.
• Her blue eyes sparkled as she flirted with Adam through her long blond hair.  She wore a gardenia flower tucked away behind her right ear, punctuated by the gentle breezes blowing through her curls.  - She found precious stones and strung them together to wear around her neck, wrist and ankles.  Adam loved vegetables with sea SALT and would even put sea salt on his grapefruit.  Evie loved the SWEET fruits and would squeeze sugar cane juice on her grapefruit. - Adam would take a bite out of a plumb and Eve would take it away from him and finish eating it, giggling with the juices dripping down her cheek; she made Adam laugh; he loved being with her so much; she was everything a man would want in a wife.
• Adam couldn’t keep his eyes off of Evie, she was golden bronze from the sun as was so full of fun and mischief.  When she walked past, Adam would grab her by her tiny waist and swing her around looking deep into her blue eyes and grinning at her dimpled infectious smile.  Evie was always looking up at his tall muscular bronzed body with his penetrating eyes and perfect teeth that smiled from ear to ear.  Without thinking about it, she would take hold of his hand as they walked together exploring the garden.  Adam would playfully shake the dew off the tree branches to get Evie wet and she would chase him and push him into the cool waters. The temperature was always just perfect, so they didn’t wear any clothes.  This was a time of innocence where no one aged or lost their vigor.  They were both Sinless, innocent and would live forever; all they needed was each other and the Father.
• Adam was employed by the father and his job was to take care of the garden which contained an abundance of fruits, vegetables and grain.  The land was very fertile because it was watered by many underground springs that provided the irrigation.  This insured lush vegetation that was good for food and all kinds of fruit bearing trees that Evie loved. – There was NO weeds or thorn bushes, floods or frost. -  Life for the most part was without care or labor; food came forth spontaneously and in abundance. - Adam had the perfect job that gave him plenty of time to go fishing, climb trees and play with the monkeys. – He called Evie his little monkey, she called him TARZAN king of the apes.

Genius 2:15 – Adam’ job was to tend the garden

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. NIV

Genius 2:25 – Adam and Eve didn’t wear any clothes

25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. NIV

Ezekiel 28:13 – The place was loaded with precious stones.

13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; NIV

Genius 2:12 – Gold, aromatic resin, Onyx was just laying around

12 The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx also there

The Garden

• The Garden was the Father’s pride and joy with only his children being loved more. – He could be seen walking with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day giving instructions as a protective dad would do and teaching them. – Don’t eat the persimmon until it is “this red” or it will be bitter in your mouth.  Don’t pat the porcupine or you will get pricked by a quill. Enjoy the kittens, but don’t play with the skunk or you will stink; have fun with this, but be sure you don’t do that.
• The Father spent a lot of time TEACHING them how to gather food and how to cook in the Hot springs.  How to make smushed potatoes and boiled eggs seasoned with garlic, sea salt and pepper.  There was so much to learn; Father talked about spiritual things, the stars in the heavens, working six days and then resting on the seventh and a lot about OBEDIENCE. - Eve wanted so much to be just like the Father with all His knowledge.
• The Father showed them a large elevated plateau in the middle of the garden surrounded by moss draped Oak trees and tall Pampas grass making the place easily identifiable.  He pointed out two SPECIAL TREES in the center of the garden.   
• He called one of the Special trees the TREE OF LIFE which was actually very plain to be thought of as a SPECIAL tree. -  Father didn’t say much about it except just pointed to it and left it up to them to learn more about it if they had the desire.  
• The other tree which He called the TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL (Knowledge of right and wrong) was situated somewhat lower down a slope, but beautiful to look at, however the Father said this one was FORBIDDEN. – They guessed that it would be OK to look at it, sit under it, touch it and even climb it, but they could not eat from it; for if they did THEY WOULD SURELY DIE. - NYOBS 17.02 – TREE OF LIFE

Genesis 2:9 – All kinds of trees were growing – Two were special

9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were … good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:16-17 – The Tree of knowledge will KILL YOU
¹⁶ But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—
¹⁷ except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (NLT)

James 4:7 – JUST SAY NO and Satan will flee from you
⁷ So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (NLT)

Home Sweet Home

·         Adam and Eve made their home in the drooping bows of a large sprawling oak tree. -  Adam would climb trees and get strong vines and Evie would weave vegetation into the vines to make a comfortable soft dry floating floor about four feet off the ground in the tree, this was so the night time animals would not disturb their sleep.  The moving waters and wind provided music as it moved through the reeds.  The air was fragrant with the smell of honeysuckle.  Evie loved eating the SWEET strawberries, figs, pears and peaches and WONDERED what would that fruit taste like on the forbidden tree in the garden center.

·         As time moved on you could begin to see a trampled down path in the fescue grasses that led to the center of the garden.  - Evie was so inquisitive that she would often go there and just sit on the rim of it and ponder how SWEET the fruit must be on the forbidden tree.

·         There were also many kinds of animals and birds that filled the garden and one of the creations, a serpent began to talk with Eve about what the Father had instructed them.  – The serpent chose Eve instead of Adam, because she was more inquisitive and had more compassion and sympathy and was more open to suggestion. - He would often come around while Adam was off fishing, hunting and gathering for their supper.  The serpent was quite the gentlemen, handsome and he spoke so confidently and smoothly and was so captivating that it didn’t occur to her that none of the other creatures could speak. – Father never told her to NOT TALK TO STRANGERS and soon the serpent became her New Best Friend.

·         Evie told Adam about her new friend and Adam said that he had named all the animals in the Garden, but he didn’t remember naming one that could talk, but thought it would be interesting to talk to him next time he came around.

·         Eve was quite taken with the handsome serpent, he was such a GOOD LISTENER, and as they talked about her father’s teachings, she didn’t realize that they were slowly strolling down the familiar path toward the center of the garden where the Two Trees grew.

·         The serpent was the most clever and cunning of all the wild animals that the father had made, and soon they were standing within the circle of the Two Trees that were in the center of the garden and Eve could see the FRUIT on the forbidden tree.  Her thoughts were now racing about what the FRUIT would taste like.

Gen 2:20 – There were many animals and birds

20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. NIV

The Plot Thickens

·         The serpent, the prince of darkness started talking about how good the Father was, that He had given her a wonderful husband, a home, a garden, pets and everything else that they could want and that the Father would be cruel to his only daughter if he withheld anything. 

·         One day the serpent contradicted the Father and substitutes some of His words; by asking Eve, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from ANY of the trees in the garden?” - Evie said; Of course not, we may eat fruit from any of the trees in the garden it’s only the fruit from THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL that’s in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. – The Father said, ‘You must not eat it OR EVEN TOUCH IT; if you do, you will die.”

·         Satan continued, “Does the Father know something that He hasn’t told you?” – Surely He would not be that unrighteous, unfair and unkind to restrict you. - Evie had not really put the WORDS OF THE FATHER deep within her heart as she should have. - In her excitement she had actually forgotten the exact words the Father had said and added extra words that she could not touch the fruit either.  

·         Still talking and without realizing it, they slowly began to DESCEND DOWN the slope toward the forbidden tree and Evie had grasp the Serpents hand as she always did with Adam.  

·         The serpent shifted the conversation with Eve; “You know what; you won’t really die. Your Father knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be just like Him, you will be a God and know both good and evil; you will know right from wrong”. – You actually will be more like your Father.  The cunning Serpent continued, “I know your Father is teaching you things and it will take a long long time to learn it all; but this special fruit of this tree is a shortcut to all that Wisdom and oh my goodness, this tree is just beautiful and the fruit tastes so AWESOME, it’s like creamy butter pecan”.

·         In Evie’s innocence her stomach was thinking about how the SWEET FRUIT would taste; and her ego was thinking that having new knowledge would bring her closer to the Father, she would be more like Him with creativity. - The Serpent had appealed to Evie’s Physical Desire for sweet fruits, her Emotional Desire and appreciation for the beauty of the tree and her Spiritual Desire to be more like God. – NYOBS 56.10 – SATAN THREE TRICK PONY

Genesis 3:1-3 – Did God really say not to eat the fruit?
¹ The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “DID GOD REALLY SAY you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
² Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.
³  “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” (NLT)

Genesis 3:4-5 – You won’t die, you will become a god
⁴ You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.
⁵ God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” (NLT)

The Dastardly Deed was Done

·         Eve became convinced as she saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her.  So she took some of the fruit and ate it.

·         At the first bite she heard Adam whistling and calling her name; as she turned around she saw him coming down the slope exclaiming, what are you doing DOWN here? - Suddenly the serpent became silent; not another word was heard from him.  He had quickly slipped into the high ferns, celebrating his craftiness; the Deceitful, Dastardly, Dirty Deed was Done and COULD NOT BE UNDONE.

·         Adam said; I have been looking for you everywhere. – Evie excitingly said, look at this beautiful fruit, it taste so yummy and it has given me so much wisdom and LOOK I certainly didn’t die.  Taste it and you will love it.   Happily Adam picked up Evie by the waste and swung her around as he often did and at the same time, bit the end of the fruit that she was holding between her teeth.  He was so glad to see her and loved her so much. – BAM -

·         Eve’s FIRST sin was to eat of the forbidden fruit; disobedience brings on SIN. 

·         Her SECOND sin was to give approval of her own actions and cause Adam to SIN.

·         When you sin it cannot be recalled, it’s a done deal forever.  While you can be FORGIVEN, you still must go through and endure the consequences.  When you SIN, it’s like stepping out into a rain storm and getting soaking wet.  FORGIVENESS is like God giving you an umbrella to get you out of the rain, but the CONSEQUENCES is that you are still wet and it will take some time to dry off and from time to time someone will bring it to your attention.

Genesis 3:6– Eve’s FIRST SIN – Disobeyed – She ate the Fruit
⁶ The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. NLT

Romans 1:18-32 – Eve’s SECOND SIN – She gave some to Adam
¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

³² Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but

GIVE APPROVAL to those who practice them. (ESV)

The Blame Game

·         Suddenly there was a flash of lightning and the air became HOT and they quickly turned to get out of there and they noticed that the slope they had come down now seemed to be much deeper than they remembered. – They struggled to get back to the top and ran along the path down to their tree.  They had not notice, but the GLORY LIGHT that had clothed them was gone and Evie exclaimed, “Oh my Goodness, we are naked, I had better sew together some large fig leaves to cover us”.

·         Later in the cool of the day Adam and Evie heard the Father calling to them; “Where are you guys?”  Adam realized they had disobeyed the One and only Commandment that the Father had given them and they became ashamed and hid themselves. – Adam finally came out from hiding and told the Father that the reason he hid himself was that he was naked.  Father asked, WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED?  Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?

·         Adam now fully engulfed in own his sinful nature, without confessing his SIN sought to PASS THE BUCK, to deflect his own sin by separating himself from his wife.  Not even saying Evie’s name, he said; “it’s not my fault, its THAT WOMAN’S FAULT; she gave me the fruit to eat and besides that, it’s Your Fault too for giving that woman to me”. – The Father turned and looked at Evie, who also quickly refused to take responsibility for her own SIN and blurted out,” it’s not my fault either, it’s the Serpent Fault, he deceived me”.  God said; Yeah, that’s it, the Devil made you do it. -  God didn’t buy their excuse.

Genesis 3:7-13 – I was afraid because I was naked

⁷ At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
⁸ When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.
⁹ Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
¹⁰ He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
¹¹ WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was
¹² the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”
¹³ Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” NLT

The Curse

·         The wages for working for Satan is DEATH.   Sin brings on the wrath of God, this action made Adam and Eve and all their generations to come, “The Children of Wrath”.

·         The Father cursed the Serpent saying he would no longer be able to walk upright, that he would crawl on his belly and eat the dust from which man was made for all his life and when men would see him they would try to stomp his head and he would try to bite their heel and there would be hatred for each other.

·         Next he cursed Evie telling her that no longer would childbirth be easy as it was in the garden, that she and all women after her would have much pain during child bearing and furthermore that she would have an overwhelming desire to control her husband like she did in the Garden, but it would be in futility, because he would rule over her and this intense desire will cause conflict and stress in their home.

·         Finally he cursed Adam saying that no longer would food spontaneously come forth from the soil as it did in the garden. – He would have to work by the sweat of his brow pulling up thorns, thistles and weeds that steal the strength from his plants. - His life now would become a struggle just to provide food and the necessities for his family.

Romans 6:23 – The wages of Sin is death
²³ FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(ESV)

Ephesians 2:3 – All of us became the children of His wrath
³ Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as the rest.

(NASB)

Genesis 3:14-15 – God curses the Serpent
¹⁴ Then the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live.
¹⁵ And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

NLT

Genesis 3:16 – God curses Eve and all women after her
¹⁶ Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and IN PAIN you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”

NLT

Genesis 3:17-19 – God curses Adam and all men after him
¹⁷ And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
¹⁸ It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains.
¹⁹ By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” NLT

Banished

·         The Father made a Blood Covenant with Adam and Eve to be their God.  He sacrificed animals, shedding their blood; putting clothes made of animal skins on Adam and Eve. - Evie would now become the mother of all that ever lives.  - NYOBS 05.34 – BLOOD COVENANT

·         Then IN LOVE He banished them from His Garden, moving them down and out through the secret passage under the waterfall and commanded His living creature with a flaming laser sabra to guard the secret entrance; to prevent Adam and Eve and any of their children from ever entering the Garden again and eating fruit from the TREE OF LIFE. If they did they would then live forever in SIN separated from God. – NYOBS 17.02 – TREE OF LIFE

·         Yes it was Love that banished them from the Garden.  The Father had already put into effect “THE WAY” back to the Tree of Life through His son Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  When Adam and Eve and their descendants that loved God died, they went to a place called PARADISE.   After the death of Jesus on the cross, He went to them and for three days taught them the good news of the Gospel message, “The Way” that would redeem them; set them free and then He took ALL of them to heaven to live with Him forever. – NYOBS 68.29 – THE THREE DAYS  --  NYOBS 06.21 – PARADISE; ABRAHAM’S BOSOM

• Scholars believe that the tree of knowledge of good and evil was just an ordinary tree planted for the purpose of testing Adam. – By eating of the tree, Adam did not receive universal knowledge, but received experiential knowledge. – He experienced the knowledge of right and wrong. - The omniscient (all knowing) God already knew Adam would fail. – “The universal law of sin and death” had already been put into effect.  “If you sin you will die”.
• It is widely thought that during the flood of Noah, that the waters of the deep destroyed the garden so that no trace of it has ever been found. (Gen 8:2) - Oddly enough, almost every culture has a legend about a place of paradise, where no one ages, evil does not exist and the living is good.
• Except for Satellite mapping technology showing possible river beds, no trace of the Garden has ever been found. - Today we have the phenomena known as the “Fertile Crescent” which helps validate the existence of the garden and is certainly a topic that is worth studying. – The Fertile Crescent is the center of the “Indiana Jones” movie series.

Genesis 3:20-24 – Adam and Evie are banished from the Garden

²⁰ then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live.
²¹ And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
²² Then the LORD God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. WHAT IF THEY REACH OUT, TAKE FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE, AND EAT IT? THEN THEY WILL LIVE FOREVER!” (In sin)
²³ LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.

²⁴ After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the TREE OF LIFE.

1 Peter 3:18-19 – Jesus preached in Paradise – Set them free

18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison

Life begins anew

·         Adam and Evie had two boys and told them the stories of the Garden of Eden and taught them all the things that the Father had instructed them, including the faithfulness to worship and give sacrifices of thanksgiving to the Father. – NYOBS 16.06 – CAIN AND ABEL

·         The name Eve means “Life” – Cain means “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man” concluding that Adam and Eve had repented of their SIN before the Lord and worshipped Him. Abel means “breath” or “fading away” as his life was brief, cut short.

·         Cain was a farmer and raised produce from the soil and Abel was a shepherd and raised livestock; this was a perfect fit as they could share and help each other. - Just because parents love God, it does not translate into their children loving God.

·         Abel by FAITH embraced the teachings of the Father, but Cain and his children rejected the teachings. -  Cain gets angry and kills his brother Abel because Abel’s faith had found favor with God. - Along with Eve’s blessing of having children came the torments, sufferings and anxiety of having a wicked son who would reject God and wind up killing his own brother.

·         Sin brings Jealousy, anger, murder, lying, wickedness, corruption, rebellion & judgment.

·         Note: Both boys received the same teachings of God, both had FREE WILL and made their own choices to accept or reject the teachings; we have those same FREE WILL choices today. 

·         About 100 years passed and then the Father God gave Evie another child to replace Abel who loved and served the Lord.  His name was Seth and he faithfully followed the teachings of the Father.  Seth means “to appoint” or “to establish” and it was through the seed of Seth that the ancestry of Jesus Christ would be established. – Noah was a descendent of Seth and was faithful to God. – Cain’s descendants, the Cainites ALL perished in the flood of Noah. – Abel & Seth’s Faith came by hearing and doing the Word of God.  – NYOBS 71.02 – SATAN FATHER OF CAIN -- NYOBS 17.16 – OTHER FLOOD; THE GAP THEORY

Genesis 4:1-2 – Eve gives birth to twins – Cain and Abel
¹ Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the LORD’s help, I have produced a man!”
² Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. (NLT)

Sidebar

·         Adam and Eve did not die THE DAY they ate of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil like the scriptures report, so is the Book wrong?

·         God said that a day to Him was like a thousand years and a thousand years was but a day.  - Methuselah was the oldest man in the Book, and lived to an age of 969 years which to God was still less than a day. – So Adam and Eve did die in less than one of God’s days and for sure, they were spiritually separated from God that very moment, that same day.

·         Remember the Father had made them to live forever in the Garden, they were sinless. - The same FREE WILL that causes you to sin and be SEPARATED from God is the same FREE WILL that will give you the opportunity to choose “THE WAY” back to the TREE OF LIFE.

Genesis 2:17 – The Day you eat from the tree you will die
¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in THE DAY that you eat of it you shall surely die." (NKJV)

2 Peter 3:8 – A day is like a thousand years to God
⁸ But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (ASV)

Psalm 90:4 – To God a thousand years are brief as a few hours ⁴  For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. (NLT)

Genesis 5:27 – Methuselah lived less than a 1,000; a day
²⁷ Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died. (NLT)

John 14:6 – Jesus is THE WAY back to the Tree of Life
⁶ Jesus answered, “I am THE WAY and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV2011)

Revelation 22:14 – We will eat the fruit from the Tree of Life
¹⁴ Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city AND EAT THE FRUIT from THE TREE OF LIFE.  (NLT)

The Take Away

·         As a teenager, I would often say that “GIRLS MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND”.  Guys wouldn’t bother to do a thing if it wasn’t for girls. – The following thoughts are not mine, but are what the Book presents, so get ready to get upset with God, not with me.

·         GOD WARNED US when He said; The Woman will desire to rule over the Man.

·         Eve represents WOMEN’S impulsiveness and Adam represents MANS’ inclination to follow the wife’s lead. – YOU MUST GET THIS; women have power over men to turn their heads in the direction that they want them to go; this power is a responsibility not to be taken lightly, as you are accountable to God for your actions.

·         Throughout the Book, the Hebrews were warned to NOT marry foreign women because they had the power to turn the hearts of their husbands to worship other gods. – The Apostle Paul recognizing the responsibilities of a family and the DISTRACTION and power of a beautiful woman, said that for the sake of spreading the Gospel that he recommended that disciples should STAY SINGLE.

• King Balak offered the Prophet Balaam a bunch of money to put a curse on the Hebrews, but God prevented him from doing it.  So to get the money Balaam spelled out a plan for the Moabites and the Midianites to prostitute their beautiful daughters to the Hebrews; to invite them into their homes and indulge in their new strange foods with potions offered to idols and after a while they will fall in love with them and want to marry them.

·         But then withdraw the daughters and the Hebrews will follow after them, but they cannot have them as wives unless they reject the one God known only to the nation of Israel and accept the gods that are known by many nations. – THE PLAN WORKED – and Balaam got his money without cursing the Hebrews; but later was killed. – What profits a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses his own life? – NYOBS 26.02 – BALAAM’S ASS

·         I include Balaam’s LONG CON game as the scriptures report. - Josephus the Jewish Historian who lived in the time of Jesus explains how Balaam tricked the Hebrews into SIN using WOMEN to turn their heads.  I encourage you to read his account below.

Genesis 3:16b – God warns Women will desire control of Men
¹⁶ …. And YOU WILL DESIRE TO CONTROL YOUR HUSBAND, but he will rule over you.”

(NLT)

2 Corinthians 11:3 – WARNING; don’t be led astray like EVE
³ But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

(NLT)

1 Timothy 2:13-15 – The Woman was deceived the Man followed
¹³ For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve.
¹⁴ And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.
¹⁵ But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty. (NLT)

Ezra 10:11 – Separate yourselves from Foreign Wives
¹¹ Now honor the LORD, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.” (NIV2011)

Josephus – 6:129 – Balaam uses foreign women to cause SIN

6:129b Do you therefore set out the handsomest of such of your daughters as are most eminent for beauty, and proper to force and conquer the modesty of those that behold them, and these decked and trimmed to the highest degree you are able.  Then do you send them to be near the Israelite’s camp and give them in charge, that when the young men of the Hebrews desire their company, they allow it them.

6:130 and when they see that they are enamored of them, let them take their leaves; and if they entreat them to stay, let them not give their consent till they have persuaded them to leave off their obedience to their own laws and the worship of that God who established them, and to worship the gods of the Midianites and Moabites; FOR BY THIS MEANS GOD WILL BE ANGRY AT THEM.

Josephus 13:22 – Balaam lost his life because of greed

22 In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination.

2 Peter 2:15 – Balaam was PAID OFF

15 Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

KJV

Numbers 24:25 – Balaam gave plan & went home with his booty

25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way. KJV

Matthew 16:26 – What benefit is riches, but lose your life
²⁶ What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? (HCSB)

Nehemiah 13:27 – Be obedient – Do not marry foreign wives
²⁷ Do you call this obedience—engaging in this extensive evil, showing yourselves faithless to God by marrying foreign wives?" (MSG)

1 Corinthians 7:6-9 – For the Gospel sake, better not to marry
⁶ But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
⁷ For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
⁸ But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; (Single)
⁹  but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (NKJV)

Last Thoughts

·         Adam and Eve were not only EQUAL partners as husband and wife, they were also EQUAL partners in SIN. - Evie in her innocence experienced things that gives us examples of the treachery and the cunningness of Satan.  Her Ego caused her to long to be equal with God, then her curiosity about the fruit changed to desire.

·         First Evie should have called her husband when the Serpent first started talking with her; the husband is over the family, just as God is over him. 

·         Second she had only one commandment, “Do not eat of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil”.  The Father told them both that it was something they should know about, but be avoided.  You cannot take hot coals to your chest and not get burned.  You cannot flirt with sin without being scared.  Like the tree, Sin is something that should Not even be looked at, played around with, sat under, climbed on or even though about. – That’s just flirting with SIN. - Avoid all appearances of Evil. – JUST SAY NO -

·         Eve’s ego thought the tree would give her wisdom, but the Book says the beginning of Wisdom is reverence and obedience to God. – When we put the Word of God in our heart, we will not sin against Him. - The world offers a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from Satan, the ruler of this world. So humble yourselves before God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – LIFE IS CHOICE DRIVEN -

·         Paul wrote to the church at Corinth warning them of the danger of being led away from the Simplicity of the Gospel, tricked by the Cunningness of Satan. – Paul said; “so you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. - Oh, what a miserable person I am! - Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? - Thank God! - THE ANSWER IS IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD”.

EVE was TEMPTED by Satan, HUMBLED by sin and REDEEMED by the Father.

Proverbs 9:10 – Reverence of the Lord the beginning of Wisdom
¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (NIV2011)

Psalm 119:11 – Put the word of God in your heart; not sin
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

1 John 2:16 – Cravings, Lustfulness, boasting comes from world
¹⁶ For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. (NLT)

1 Thessalonians 5:22 – Avoid anything that look like Evil
²² Abstain from all appearance of evil. (KJV)

Proverbs 6:27 – You can’t flirt with sin and not get burned
²⁷ Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? (ESV) 

Romans 7:24-25 – Jesus Christ will free us from a life of sin
²⁴ Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. (NLT)

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

                         and see further that I otherwise ever could have.              

                                                                                                                                     

A Commentary; Critical, Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans

All the Women of the Bible – Edith Deen

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha – Goodspeed

Bad Girls of the Bible - Higgs

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Elwell

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World

Girls of the Bible- Harvey Albert Snyder

Gospels Interwoven; The – Karmit Zarley

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament – Baker

Invisible War; The – Donald Grey Barnhouse

King James Version Bible – KJV

Lost Books of the Bible; The - World

Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible (2011) – NIV

NOTE: The “new” NIV has been corrupted & made gender neutral.  AVOID IT.

New Living Translation Bible - NLT

Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison

Wikipedia –

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney