Adam and Eve

In this series we will be going through the Bible, beginning to end, studying relationships from the real-life examples we are given. The problems they face are very real and relevant to today. The lessons that we can learn are invaluable. My goal is to bridge the gap from thousands of years ago to today so that we can relate to these people. The first relationship is, of course, Adam and Eve.

God created everything and he saw that it was good. Really, He was dang proud of it. Think about everything in creation: molecules and cells, sunsets, planets, stars, galaxies, whales, dinosaurs, dogs…it’s an awesome universe. So, God sees all of this and he says to himself (deep, British accent) “This is awesome. Someone needs to check this out, because I am awesome, I am. I’ll make someone that can live here, that can understand and appreciate beauty and can take care of it, I am.”

Then God made a man from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him. He put the man into the Garden of Eden to work the garden and take care of it. He told the man, “Adam, you can eat anything that grows here, but do not eat from that tree there. You’ll die. I’m sure of that, I am.”

So Adam went to work. Now, we believe that the earth, at this time, was what we call, the “greenhouse earth.” At one time, the earth was constantly covered in a thin cloud. It filtered out UV and people lived longer, and it allowed for more oxygen, therefore larger animals and plant life. It also would have made for in, Mesopotamia, where we think the Garden was, a sort of perpetual springtime.

It was also Adam’s job to name all of the animals. I don’t know how much you know about animals and springtime, but if you’ve ever seen the film Bambi, you might know that animals tend to get “twitter-pated” in the spring. So Adam spent, we don’t know how long, maybe hundreds of years alone with twitter-pated animals.

Now clothes weren’t worn ‘til after the Fall, which we’ll get to, but I’ve seen pictures. Adam is always wearing an animal-skin kilt. He was obviously Scottish. Probably more the highlander than the James Bond type, but clearly Scottish, nonetheless.

So can imagine that during one of their daily walks, Adam may have said to God, (Scottish Accent) “You know Lord, I’ve seen for years now that these animals tend to pair up. I know what they do when they pair up and what happens there, it’s a beautiful thing and who doesn’t like baby animals, but I don’t really have anyone for me. Now you clearly blessed me with right equipment, and glory to you, obviously, but do you think I might, you know, use it. To your glory, of course.”

So God says, “Oh, it is not good for this guy to be alone. I’m going to make him a suitable helper, I am.”

God took a piece of Adam’s side, traditionally his rib, though the Bible is unclear about this, and then he created Eve. This picture of being of one flesh becomes the symbol of marriage for the future. They felt no shame.

Everything about this, so far, is just beautiful. It’s like a dream. These two people walk in the Garden of Eden, with God, every day. God brings them animals every day to name. They work the garden together. It is pure, unadulterated communion with God all the time.

But what happened?

There came a time, again we don’t know how long they were in the Garden, when Adam and Even came upon the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, that God told them they must not eat of. And the snake appeared.

Snake: (creeper/dealer voice) “Wha’s up, girl? You look a little hungry. Why don’t you come take bite of this fruit over here? I’s good!”

Eve: (trans-Atlantic feminine voice) “Oh, I shan’t take of that tree. I couldn’t possibly. You know I’d certainly die.”

Snake: “You won’t certainly die, girl. I’s good! It goin’ make you stronger. Make you powerful. You’ll know the secrets of God. You’ll be just like him. Don’t worry, big boy, I know she’ll share with you.”

Eve: “Well perhaps, just a small taste couldn’t hurt.”

Snake: “Oh yeah, girl. Let’s not get crazy. It’s just a bite. It’s good!”

She took a bite.

Eve: “Adam, try this.”

Adam: “Well, I suppose if you have.”

(Mimic taking a bite) Imagine that bite, the juice, like blood, dripping from his face. Then, his eyes were opened and the world darkened a little.

Adam: “What are you doing naked?! Great Eden, I’m naked too!”

God: “Adam?”

Adam: “We’ve got to hide. He can’t find us naked.”

God let them hide; then He called to them again.

God: “Adam? I’m looking for you, I am.”

Adam: “I’m here, Lord.”

God: “Why were you hiding?”

Adam: “Well, we were embarrassed of being naked.”

God: “Who told you, you were naked?”

Adam wiped his hand across his mouth.

God: “What have you done?”

Adam: “Well, it was this woman you gave me. They’re nothing but trouble, these.”

God: “Why have you done this, Eve?”

Eve: “I..I can’t…It was that snake. He deceived me.”

God: “You, snake, will be cursed among all the animals, and will crawl on your belly forever. I’m making sure of that, I am. And you, Eve. Because you gave birth to this disobedience, your childbirth will not be like those of the animals you care for. You will not sleep through it, like the bear, nor will you stand and dance as the elephant. You will cry out in the worst pain you will ever feel, the pain you have caused me today. I’m making sure of that, I am. And you, Adam, because you stood by and did nothing to stop her, I’m making sure you will never rest again, I am. The ground will be cursed, and you will have to work it, just to survive. Nature, my creation, will turn against you. You will work, not to enjoy the world, but to survive it. Why, Adam, why didn’t you love me enough? Why was I, all of this, not enough? I am beyond pain, I am. But, I am still in love with you, I am.”

Then God said to himself, “We can’t let them eat also of the Tree of Life. These bodies, they’re stained now. They’ll live forever, and we won’t be able to save the souls inside. I’ll never be able to hold them to me again. I am going to spare them that separation, I am.

“Adam, get out of my Garden. Take your wife. I will protect you. Here, use these animals’ skins as clothes. I will not stop looking for you. I am going to bring you back home, I am.”

So they left. They lived out their days toiling. They had children who had more children and they filled the earth. Their children, like them, were prideful, and they killed each other. But they told their story to the generations, so that we could know what living in love was like.

So what can we take away form Adam and Eve?

Paradise is:

1.     Having fellowship with God daily.

2.     Working alongside the person you love with a common purpose.

3.     Freedom from shame.

4.     Submission to God’s will.

The Fall brought:

1.     Separation from God.

2.     Animosity with nature and disunion with other people.

3.     Guilt and the pain of knowing we have fallen short of our purpose.

4.     Pride and contempt for God’s authority.