Some Thoughts from the Garden

[Seeker47]

There are some really interesting things in the garden of Genesis 3. Reading these verses carefully reveal a very different picture from what most of us we have been taught.

First, note the “serpent” is not identified among the wild animals. For some reason he is different from the animals God created. The serpent could speak and communicate directly with man; God’s other creatures could not. (Except perhaps for Balaam’s donkey but that’s another post). Finally, the serpent was definitely not a snake, it was a creature that hissed. It was not until after he had deceived man that God made him crawl on his belly and eat dust. It’s interesting to ponder; man is dust and the serpent still crawls among us today.

We know the serpent, who is evil, could not have been created by God. Here we are presented evil in the world well before mankind ate from the tree.

When Eve first encounters the serpent in scripture she tells a lie. She stated God commanded man to not even reach for the forbidden fruit. While we usually blame Eve, who was really lying? God gave the commandment to Adam before Eve was even crated; did he or did Eve create the first lie?

Finally, we must at least consider the possibility that Adam and Eve could come and go from the Garden. God lived in the garden; He can never tolerate the presence of anything unholy. How could the serpent, this unholy and evil creature assuredly created by “The Morning Star”, be given free access to roam about doing evil where God dwells? It is not until after God banished man from the garden the entrance was blocked by sword and Cherubim. I believe this encounter very likely took place outside the garden, away from the presence of God. Of course there are other possible interpretations.

Just for your consideration.

 

[DavidLamb]

There are some really interesting things in the garden of Genesis 3. Reading these verses carefully reveal a very different picture from what most of us we have been taught.

First, note the “serpent” is not identified among the wild animals. For some reason he is different from the animals God created. The serpent could speak and communicate directly with man; God’s other creatures could not. (Except perhaps for Balaam’s donkey but that’s another post). Finally, the serpent was definitely not a snake, it was a creature that hissed. It was not until after he had deceived man that God made him crawl on his belly and eat dust. It’s interesting to ponder; man is dust and the serpent still crawls among us today.

This is one reason why it is important to study each passage in the Bible in the context of the whole Bible. Genesis 3 calls the tempter the serpent, and Revelation reveals who that serpent is:

(Rev 12:9 NKJV) So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

We know the serpent, who is evil, could not have been created by God. Here we are presented evil in the world well before mankind ate from the tree.

Where are we told that God did not create the serpent, Satan? Certainly, when first created, Satan was good, like everything else God created:

(Gen 1:31 NKJV) Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The first time we read of anything evil in the Bible is when the serpent/Satan tempted Eve, so where are we "presented with evil in the world well before mankind ate from the tree?"

When Eve first encounters the serpent in scripture she tells a lie. She stated God commanded man to not even reach for the forbidden fruit. While we usually blame Eve, who was really lying? God gave the commandment to Adam before Eve was even crated; did he or did Eve create the first lie?

Not quite. She added that they were not to touch the forbidden tree. As for whether it was Adam or Eve who lied first, we are not told. There is a hint in 1 Timothy, which talks of which of them was deceived:

(1Ti 2:14 NKJV) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

Finally, we must at least consider the possibility that Adam and Eve could come and go from the Garden.

We are not told that they went out of the Garden of Eden until God sent them out. We do read that God placed man in the Garden:

(Gen 2:8 NKJV) The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.

So why must we at least consider that they could go in and out of Eden?

God lived in the garden;

Where does the Bible say that God lived in the Garden of Eden? The Bible tells us that heaven is God's dwelling place. For example;

(1Ki 8:30 NKJV) And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.

He can never tolerate the presence of anything unholy. How could the serpent, this unholy and evil creature assuredly created by “The Morning Star”, be given free access to roam about doing evil where God dwells? It is not until after God banished man from the garden the entrance was blocked by sword and Cherubim. I believe this encounter very likely took place outside the garden, away from the presence of God. Of course there are other possible interpretations.
Just for your consideration.

There is not the slightest hint that the encounter between Eve and the serpent/Satan took place outside the Garden of Eden. Here is the account:

(Gen 3:1-6 NKJV) Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day 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, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

No mention of Eve being outside Eden for verses 1-5, or hurrying back in to see the forbidden tree again, take of its fruit and eat, in verse 6.

 

[Seeker47]

This is one reason why it is important to study each passage in the Bible in the context of the whole Bible. Genesis 3 calls the tempter the serpent, and Revelation reveals who that serpent is:

(Rev 12:9 NKJV) So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.


Where are we told that God did not create the serpent, Satan? Certainly, when first created, Satan was good, like everything else God created:

(Gen 1:31 NKJV) Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The first time we read of anything evil in the Bible is when the serpent/Satan tempted Eve, so where are we "presented with evil in the world well before mankind ate from the tree?"


Not quite. She added that they were not to touch the forbidden tree. As for whether it was Adam or Eve who lied first, we are not told. There is a hint in 1 Timothy, which talks of which of them was deceived:

(1Ti 2:14 NKJV) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.


We are not told that they went out of the Garden of Eden until God sent them out. We do read that God placed man in the Garden:

(Gen 2:8 NKJV) The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.

So why must we at least consider that they could go in and out of Eden?


Where does the Bible say that God lived in the Garden of Eden? The Bible tells us that heaven is God's dwelling place. For example;

(1Ki 8:30 NKJV) And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.


There is not the slightest hint that the encounter between Eve and the serpent/Satan took place outside the Garden of Eden. Here is the account:

(Gen 3:1-6 NKJV) Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day 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, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

No mention of Eve being outside Eden for verses 1-5, or hurrying back in to see the forbidden tree again, take of its fruit and eat, in verse 6.

Thank you. Your response is thoughtful and very well stated. I had read Genesis 3 many times but previously read it in the context of what I had been taught. The intent of the post is to encourage, and perhaps stimulate others to read in the context it is actually presented, even if we draw diffrent conclusions.

 

[DavidLamb]

Thank you. Your response is thoughtful and very well stated. I had read Genesis 3 many times but previously read it in the context of what I had been taught. The intent of the post is to encourage, and perhaps stimulate others to read in the context it is actually presented, even if we draw diffrent conclusions.

Thank you too. I agree that it is always important to read the Bible thoughtfully (and prayerfully). God bless you.

 

[tablet123]

Gen 1:26 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 creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, the image of Christ, an innocent nature in flesh.

The only reality they could know is what God told them for there was no other reality available to them.

Gen 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God commanded Adam not to eat of the forbidden tree which Adam would of related that to Eve.

But they could eat of the tree of life because of their innocent state.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Satan is the serpent.

All things in existence come from God and there is no entity that is separate from what He created.

Eze 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Eze 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Eze 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Jacob changed to Israel, Abram to Abraham, Peter to Cephas, Saul to Paul, to identify their new nature being with God.

When Lucifer fell his name was changed to Satan to identify his new nature.

God put the forbidden tree in the garden because He gave them a choice.

But it would of never entered their mind to eat of the tree unless an outside source tempted them.

So God allowed Satan to tempt Eve which she said they could not eat of the forbidden tree for that is all she could think and know.

So Satan tempted her with an alternate reality that would give her an elevated position and she ate and sinned.

Then Eve was the outside source that tempted Adam and he sinned.

As far as her saying we cannot touch the tree we do not know if that came with the command and she is not going to say something wrong being in her innocent state which she would not lie or assume.

If they cannot eat of the tree it would make sense do not have any interest in it for what would be the purpose of touching it.

Do not touch it, do not carve your initials in it, do not hold hands and dance around it, do not have a picnic under it, but leave the tree alone.

Why would they have an interest in touching the tree.

Like the Bible says confess Christ and you will be saved.

But the Bible also says everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

And if you do not have the Spirit of Christ you are none of His which a Spirit led person will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

So there is requirements when a person confesses Christ.

So if they cannot eat of the tree then it would come with the territory leave it alone do not touch it.

God said no fornication but is it alright for a man to touch a woman that is not his wife and fondle her.

Leave her alone for she is forbidden and not allowed to be touched.

Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Gen 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

As long as they were in their innocent state they could eat of the tree of life.

But when they sinned and were ousted from the garden God protected the tree for if they ate of it they would be in that sinful state forever affecting their offspring and then no salvation.

They might of tried to eat of the tree hoping to reverse their sin and curse.

 

[Seeker47]

I agree. The translation of Genesis 3:3; "...must not touch it" is also rendered "...do not reach for it" in the original language. Touching can be accidental, reaching requires intent. The original prohibition was to not seek the knowledge of good and evil. They did anyway.