Scripture lesson: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 The Fall
Time to reflect: Despite the dramatization of this passage by Milton and his predecessors, it is important to the story that the original story come through as intended. First, the serpent is not “Satan” -- but merely the craftiest of the animals “GOD created.” (3:1) It was just doing its job of being tricky. Secondly, even though the dialog was with Eve, Adam was right there (end of verse 6) and he freely accepted the fruit. He must have been just as convinced as Eve.
Moving through the day: We all get sucked in by crafty arguments. When someone is offering power and self-control we need to be alert – it may be a “serpent.” Pray for wisdom at these times.
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
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 surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of 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. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
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