October 30, 2023 – Devotions – Does the Bible Say…?

Does the Bible Say “Adam and Eve Ate an Apple?”

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.” Genesis 3:1-7

When considering the story of Adam and Eve, we must admit there has been an assumption that the fruit that came from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was an apple. Since I was in confirmation classes, it has been an apple. Since I have been out of college, it has been an apple. Since I have been married, it has been an apple. But when we read carefully, we see that the Bible does not say it was an apple. In fact, there are really good theories that it most likely was not an apple. Here is one I read in a text: “For example, the Latin word for evil is “malum” and the Latin word for apple is “malus”. There is a good chance that medieval monks were playing a word-game between these words, suggesting the apple (malus) brought evil (malum) into the world.” (Tracking Down the Forbidden Fruit, May 19, 2007, Paul Edwards)

But if it is not an apple, then what? Perhaps they were grapes – which of course give us wine. That might make some sense. Why wasn’t the fig tree the obvious choice, since it was the leaves of the fig tree they used to make coverings for their bodies? Some have suggested the Etrog (citron). Etrog trees are small and shrubby. The new growth and flowers are flushed with purple. The leaves are oblong but slightly pointed. The fruit looks somewhat like an oblong lemon, but with a shape that approximates the flame of a candle. It is very fragrant, with a distinctive aroma of violets. Seeds are numerous. The pulp is pale yellow and acidic, but not very juicy. But why the Etrog? Here is one explanation:

“Etrog is related to the Aramaic word for “desire.” Thus, in the verse “G d caused to spring up from the soil every type of tree, desirable to look at and good to eat…,” the Targum translates the word “desirable” as dimeragag, which shares a root with the word etrog. This is the source for the custom that some pregnant women have, to bite off the tip of an etrog on the last day of Sukkotas a remedy to ease the pains of labor.” (Was the Forbidden Fruit Really an Apple? On the Identity of the Tree of Knowledge, Yehuda Shurpin)

No matter what it was, it was good to eat – and Eve wanted to share it with Adam. In my mind, it doesn’t matter what the fruit was. The result was the introduction of sin for which all of humanity suffers.

Pastor Dave

October 29, 2023 – Reformation Sunday

“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:31-36

Several years ago I was sitting in the parking lot of a bowling alley when I watched a drama unfold in front of me. A father and his two children were having an argument. It was ugly. I knew the family – so I knew some of the background. The father had left the mother for another woman, and the children were wounded. They were unburdening themselves of these wounds with their father. I watched it for a while, frozen in my car, not sure what to do. But I am embarrassed to say that when I came to a decision, I did what Martin Luther did when caught in a thunder storm, I fled as quickly as I could.

My point is there are many people who carry many wounds deep within them, for many years. If people are to unburden themselves of their wounded-ness, then it needs to begin on the inside. Jeremiah prophesied that a new day was coming, a day where G-d would reclaim G-d’s people, and they would know it deep within their hearts. A day would come where responding to G-d, showing our love for God would not come from “outward doing”, but from inward knowing and loving. Feeling G-d’s love for us, and expressing our love for G-d would no longer come from “Do this”, “Don’t do that”. It would come from a faith that, seeing the cross of Jesus and knowing how much G-d loves us, we will go and “Love the Lord with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves.” When we experience G-d’s all powerful, all encompassing love for each and every one of us, we begin the healing of our wounds, the ones deep inside us.

How do we experience G-d’s love? Paul says it all: “The redemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom G-d put forth as a sacrifice of atonement by the cross, effective through faith.” You see, our wounds make us feel “less than” – “less than” a child, “less than” a husband or wife, “less than” a parent, less than a “child of G-d”. But through the wounds of Jesus, G-d has given us all a great gift – we all have not “less”, but “More value” – through the cross of Jesus, G-d sees us as “More” not “Less” – G-d sees us as new creations. Imagine a garbage can full of junk, garbage, and the like. This can is us with all of the things of our lives – filled with the junk of bad decisions, hurts, all of our wounded-ness. Because of the cross of Jesus, effective through faith, G-d doesn’t see the garbage, but a clean, white cloth placed over that can – a white cloth we received in our baptism. So when G-d looks at us, inside and out, G-d sees, not junk, not people of “less value” – but G-d sees us as whole, clean, and new creations – and G-d loves us.

Pastor Dave