So what went wrong? That is the question that should be asked by everyone who reads the first two chapters of Genesis. As we left the story last week we were offered two very different, yet very convergent pictures of creation. God created all that is, including humanity, and declared it to be good. Humanity had all that it needed: provision (food to eat), purpose (to care for creation) and companionship (Adam, Even and God). God was still interested in and connected with humanity and God's creation. Yet as most of us will admit, much of what we see around us is not "good" in the fullest sense of that word. So what went wrong?
The third chapter of Genesis attempts to give us an answer to our query. The story centers on a tree (of the knowledge of good and evil), a talking snake (a very clever one at that) and our two humans (Adam and Eve). Adam and Eve had been commanded not to eat of the tree. This is often a bone of contention for 21st Century people. We ask, "Why shouldn't they know the difference between good and evil?" The answer is relatively straightforward…we ought to depend on God and not creation for our moral guidance. The tree symbolizes out desire to ignore God's life giving guidance and follow instead our own life limiting choices. Our choices are life limiting because we cannot clearly see either the motives for or consequences of our choices. God on the other hand knows us and our needs perfectly.
The narrative opens with a very bright, yet canny talking snake approaching Eve and asking a question. The question is, "Did God say, 'you shall not eat of any tree of the garden? " (Which introduces an element of confusion.) Eve's response, while partially accurate, "…but God said you shall not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge"…" is also partially inaccurate, "…neither shall you touch it lest you die." (more confusion) The talking snake then offers a 180 degree different take on what God had told Adam and Eve. "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." What is introduced here is an element of doubt about what God said as well as God's motive for saying it (God isn't all that smart and is jealous of humanity). This sets us up the eternal struggle for humanity: shall we trust God or ourselves (or a talking snake) for deciding what is good or evil?
The consequences of the choice Eve and Adam make, to trust in their own ability to be moral guides has disastrous consequences. Not only are they removed from Eden, a place of perfect connection with God, one another and creation, but they usher in physical pain and struggle, murder (Cain slaying Able), wickedness (you name it humans did it), and ultimately an attempt to storm heaven and overthrow God (the Tower of Babel). In other words, trusting in self rather than God leads to death dealing and not life affirming ways of being human.
My guess is that as we look at the world around us (hatred, war, AIDS, poverty, drugs, etc.) we would agree that the choices that humans often make are indeed death dealing and not life affirming. While the story of the Fall is not an historic depiction it paints a clear picture for us of what happens to creation when human beings fail to listen to God. Humanity becomes enmeshed in continuing cycle of self-destructive behavior (sin) which threatens the good world God has created. Fortunately as we will discover, our death dealing choices are not the last word in the matter. God has something else in mind.
Next week: God's response to our misguided choices
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