September 4, 2017 – Devotions – What If…?
What if Adam said No to Eve?

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” 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.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” Genesis 3:1-6

Adam and Eve had quite the gig going on in the Garden of Eden. They had everything they could need – or desire. They had unprecedented (if that word is even appropriate) access to G-d. Eden was a paradise – a garden and lush oasis that contained anything they needed to eat, or drink – and they could do whatever they wanted to do. Well, almost anything they may want to do. There were some rules. G-d had laid them out, at least to Adam… “And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 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 die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

We know that G-d has given us free will, as is the case from the very beginning with Adam and Eve. While Eve was sitting in the garden one day the serpent began to put “ideas” into her head. “Certainly G-d will not kill you if you eat of this fruit, for the fruit will give you abilities like G-d”, the serpent told her. And so she ate the fruit. And her eyes were opened – either meaning she had sight, or she had insight to her person-hood. And she gave some to Adam to eat – and knowing it was forbidden, he ate it anyway.

Now, Adam had a choice. What if he had said “No”? He was the one to whom G-d had instructed “Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – for if you do, you shall die.” If he had said no, there would have been no “Fall from Grace” – the original act of disobedience would not have occurred – at least for Adam. Adam might have remained in Eden, and Eve may have been banished to roam the earth on her own. Or, perhaps Adam would have followed her out of Eden because of his love for her – or as protection for her. Adam would have found himself with quite a dilemma. Perhaps G-d would have found another “help-mate” for Adam – and perhaps G-d may have chosen to change G-d’s mind about this whole “Free-Will” stuff.

Right from the very beginning, G-d knew these “humans” were going to be a stiff-necked people. Yet, G-d would continue to protect, to provide, and to persevere with those G-d created – because we do not always listen to G-d either.

Pastor Dave