By Rachel Olsen
“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.” Genesis 3:6 (NLT)
Eve tends to get a bad rap. Yes, I know she earned it by ushering sin into mankind, but I'm just not so sure I wouldn't have done the same thing. So, I'm leery about throwing stones at Eve.
You see, I too would've been tempted by the serpent's promise. I have a compelling desire to be "in the know." I don't like feeling like I'm missing out. Like Eve, I desire wisdom. And I certainly don't want to be intentionally held out on - especially by a God I'd been trusting to tell me the truth.
Satan convinced Eve that God was indeed holding out on her ... He was holding back some deliciously ripe fruit, and lying to her about the consequences of eating it. She wouldn't die, He just didn't want her to attain His status with the ability to know good and evil. Well, that last part is true. You see what Eve knew up until this point was only Good. Everything she saw, experienced, and knew was Good. What she did not know yet was Evil, at least not until she ran into the serpent and sank her teeth into that fruit. Then she knew it all too well, as feelings of guilt, shame and fear flooded her. Those feelings drove her to hide from God, for she knew there would be consequences. And there were ... including being booted from the garden of goodness.
Sadly, Eve and her husband, in swallowing the fruit, had swallowed traces of evil sinfulness that would somehow fuse themselves into the first couple's spiritual DNA. God wanted to ensure they didn't also eat from the tree of eternal life while they were in this state. In His sweet mercy, God kept Eve (and you and I) from living forever in a spiritual state of sin.
So, its true, God was holding something out on Eve - knowledge of evil. How I wish I didn't know evil. If only Eve could’ve seen what I see: the only thing God was holding back from her was something not worth tasting, not worth knowing, and not worth possessing.
Do you ever feel like God might be holding good things out on you?
Sometimes I look around and wonder why I don't have this, or why I can't do that. I guess the wise response would be to just trust God that He will provide everything I need and nothing I don't. Why does that feel so hard to settle for? Why does accepting God's ways even feel like settling at all? I suspect it’s because I have the same impulse Eve did - to have and know it all.
Do you ever fear that following God's orders fully will cost you too much - more than you care to give up?
In Genesis 3:3, Eve makes God's orders about not eating from the tree even more restrictive than they actually were by claiming that He said she couldn't even touch the tree or its fruit. Don't we do that sometimes too ... make what God calls us to do or not do seem even more restrictive or unreasonable than it really is? While reading of Eve's adventures in the garden, I decided I want to cement in my soul the truth that I can follow God’s orders with complete trust that He has my best interests in mind and at heart.
I also decided, in honor of Eve who always gets a bad rap, to make a big bowl of apple salad with celery, walnuts and raisins. As I tasted the crunchy, fruit salad I thought: Oh Eve, how I wish you hadn't eaten that apple! But I also understand why you did. Hopefully, I will learn from your mistakes.
Dear Lord, You know my compulsive desire to have and know it all. You realize my impulse to be in control. You also know because of these I sometimes act against your wishes. Forgive me, and create in me a content, obedient heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
If you’d like to learn more about women of the Bible, visit Rachel Olsen’s blog to read her online study.
God’s Purpose for Every Woman: A P31 Devotional Gen Eds. Lysa TerKeurst & Rachel Olsen
Do You Know Jesus?
Application Steps:
Read Eve’s story in the Bible today in Genesis 2:18 – Genesis 3:24.
Reflections:
Do you ever wonder if God is holding out on you? Memorize the power verses below.
Do you ever think or act like God’s commands can’t be trusted?
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (NLT)
“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.” Genesis 3:6 (NLT)
Eve tends to get a bad rap. Yes, I know she earned it by ushering sin into mankind, but I'm just not so sure I wouldn't have done the same thing. So, I'm leery about throwing stones at Eve.
You see, I too would've been tempted by the serpent's promise. I have a compelling desire to be "in the know." I don't like feeling like I'm missing out. Like Eve, I desire wisdom. And I certainly don't want to be intentionally held out on - especially by a God I'd been trusting to tell me the truth.
Satan convinced Eve that God was indeed holding out on her ... He was holding back some deliciously ripe fruit, and lying to her about the consequences of eating it. She wouldn't die, He just didn't want her to attain His status with the ability to know good and evil. Well, that last part is true. You see what Eve knew up until this point was only Good. Everything she saw, experienced, and knew was Good. What she did not know yet was Evil, at least not until she ran into the serpent and sank her teeth into that fruit. Then she knew it all too well, as feelings of guilt, shame and fear flooded her. Those feelings drove her to hide from God, for she knew there would be consequences. And there were ... including being booted from the garden of goodness.
Sadly, Eve and her husband, in swallowing the fruit, had swallowed traces of evil sinfulness that would somehow fuse themselves into the first couple's spiritual DNA. God wanted to ensure they didn't also eat from the tree of eternal life while they were in this state. In His sweet mercy, God kept Eve (and you and I) from living forever in a spiritual state of sin.
So, its true, God was holding something out on Eve - knowledge of evil. How I wish I didn't know evil. If only Eve could’ve seen what I see: the only thing God was holding back from her was something not worth tasting, not worth knowing, and not worth possessing.
Do you ever feel like God might be holding good things out on you?
Sometimes I look around and wonder why I don't have this, or why I can't do that. I guess the wise response would be to just trust God that He will provide everything I need and nothing I don't. Why does that feel so hard to settle for? Why does accepting God's ways even feel like settling at all? I suspect it’s because I have the same impulse Eve did - to have and know it all.
Do you ever fear that following God's orders fully will cost you too much - more than you care to give up?
In Genesis 3:3, Eve makes God's orders about not eating from the tree even more restrictive than they actually were by claiming that He said she couldn't even touch the tree or its fruit. Don't we do that sometimes too ... make what God calls us to do or not do seem even more restrictive or unreasonable than it really is? While reading of Eve's adventures in the garden, I decided I want to cement in my soul the truth that I can follow God’s orders with complete trust that He has my best interests in mind and at heart.
I also decided, in honor of Eve who always gets a bad rap, to make a big bowl of apple salad with celery, walnuts and raisins. As I tasted the crunchy, fruit salad I thought: Oh Eve, how I wish you hadn't eaten that apple! But I also understand why you did. Hopefully, I will learn from your mistakes.
Dear Lord, You know my compulsive desire to have and know it all. You realize my impulse to be in control. You also know because of these I sometimes act against your wishes. Forgive me, and create in me a content, obedient heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
If you’d like to learn more about women of the Bible, visit Rachel Olsen’s blog to read her online study.
God’s Purpose for Every Woman: A P31 Devotional Gen Eds. Lysa TerKeurst & Rachel Olsen
Do You Know Jesus?
Application Steps:
Read Eve’s story in the Bible today in Genesis 2:18 – Genesis 3:24.
Reflections:
Do you ever wonder if God is holding out on you? Memorize the power verses below.
Do you ever think or act like God’s commands can’t be trusted?
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (NLT)
7 Comments:
Yes, I realize the Bible doesn't tell us the fruit was an apple, as we commonly refer to it. In fact, it was mostly likely a date or a fig.
But I didn't have any receipes for fig and date salad! :)
Have a great day!
I loved your comment about "settling" for God's ways...that is also a lie we believe. To think that ,"oh well, I just have to take this that God has given me"...when in reality the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE HAS DECIDED TO BLESS US WITH______!!!Daily I pray for God to protect me from deception...believing even the smallest lie about Him makes me sad.
Thanks for your insights!!
so true! i now understand why i'm a single parent, raising three kids. sometimes, i feel jealous of families where there is a godly father in a good home, with well behave children, looking like a perfect family. i'm so blessed!
for whatever the reason i became a single mom, i know i am so blessed!
i choose to reject all lies of rejection, because my children and i are perfect family, in God's eyes.
God bless us all!
adam n eve were a perfect family, they did not need to know the pain of a broken family!
I was unable to have a second child. My house has been on the market for almost a year. I have watched friends and family blessings over and over. I have recently asked why is God leaving out my family? We love and trust him we know the verse in Jeremiah. Why has God passed us over? Thank you for this devotion. I will reflect on it and pray that God gets it through to my heart. I want my family and I to glorify Him in all things even when it seems that it answers of repeated no's in our prayers.
I have been enduring strong sinful temptations this past month and I thank God for your website. This verse Jeremiah 29:11 has brought me to know that God has much in store for me..much greater than the temptations that seem greener on the other side!
I thank the person who wrote this because I am right at this very point in my life. I thank God for all of his yes's and no's in my life, although I don't understand why and am having a hard time with that but, I am at the place in my life where I know he is wanting me to trust him. Hard thing for me but, I desire to trust and believe him right now at this time. Thank you. Beverly Breland
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