In The Beginning – How The Deceiver Comes
Creation of Man & Woman (Genesis 1-3) (history)
At the beginning of time, God created.
When God created Adam, Adam was man & woman. Genesis 1:26 Adam's name comes from the Hebrew word adamah, which means “earth”. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” What I call 'Sacred Breath'.
A divine activation.(Genesis 2:7), but God did not simply breathe air into the man; (God activated the spirit of man). God shared divine life with him. God wanted to partner with Adam here on earth. Adam (man & woman) was made by the hands of God, along with the animals, & birds . Creation was made by God's voice, decree, imagination, creativity. Gen 2:8-9) The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Eden in Hebrew = eden = Paradise, abundant natural beauty, delight in. Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Good in Hebrew = tob = good, excellent, agreeable, valuable, glad, happy, prosperous, kind, pleasant, higher in nature. Evil in Hebrew = ra = bad, disagreeable, malignant, sad, unhappy, evil (hurtful) unkind (vicious in disposition),in general, of persons, of thoughts, deeds, actions, of persons, of thoughts.
God gave Adam an assignment. To be a watchman over the garden. Genesis 2:15 – 17 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. (We are to protect, guard, save, watch and take care of the earth that God has given us, this is in our dna past down to us from Adam) Cultivate in Hebrew = Abad = Garden of pleasure, paradise. Keep It in Hebrew = Samar = guard, watch, protect, save.
God was specific in His instructions. The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”
God gave a - Partner Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will fashion a suitable partner to be his help and strength. Helper = ezer = one who strengthens and supports physically or mentally Suitable in Hebrew = neged = in front of, visible, straightforward, in your view or purpose (to complete) God's choice 'ezer' indicates that the woman is a man's first line of defense and an equal partner in the journey of life. God's gift to the husband. The woman's role is more than an assistant to man. She is the dynamic solution to man's loneliness as one who protects, reveals, and helps.
Some of the ancient pictographic rendering of ezer as: E(eye) – Z (man) – R (weapon) to mean 'the revealer of the enemy'.
(footnotes of the book Genesis by Brian Simmons)
It is important to remember that even though Eve was equal to Adam, she was still very different. God made Eve to be Adam’s counterpart, to complete him.
Genesis 2:19 For God had formed from the ground/soil every animal of the field and every bird of the air and brought them before the man to see what he would call them. So, whatever the man called the living creature, that was its name. He gave names to all the various animals, bird, and wild animals, but Adam could not find a helper comparable to him. (When Adam was created, he had speech, he knew the characteristics of all the animals and named them). He knew the land, he had deep love from God and for God.) God entrusted Adam in naming the animals that were created from the earth/ground. Adam's voice was released into creation (creation knew Adam).
Genesis 2:21-23 So God caused Adam to fall into a deep trance, and while he slept, He took a portion of Adam's side and closed its place with flesh. Then God used the portion of Adam's side and skillfully crafted a woman and presented her to him. Then Adam said, 'At last One like me! Her bones were formed from my bones and her flesh from my flesh! This one will be called: 'Woman,' for she was taken from man. Adam recognized himself in the woman, she had been part of him. Woman was formed from her 'man'. Hebrew for side = tzela's (tsela) = side, rib, beam. Adam's Rib by Steve Wickstrom http://www.spwickstrom.com/rib/
The Fall Genesis 3 Now the snake was the most cunning then any beast of the field which God had made. The snake deviously said to the woman, “Did God really tell you, “You must not eat fruit from any tree of the garden...?
Hebrew word for snake is nachash with several different meanings: snake, to practice divination (deception), the diviner (deceiver), shiny or the shinning one (angelic). But the woman said to the serpent “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the tree which is in the center of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.” But the snake said to her, “You certainly won't die. 'God knows that the moment you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree produced delicious fruit, delightful to look upon, and desirable to give one insight, she took its fruit and ate it. She gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he also ate it.
Immediately, their eyes were opened, and they realized they were naked, vulnerable and ashamed; so they sewed fig leaves together for coverings. Then Adam and his wife heard the 'sound of God passing through the garden in the breeze of the day.' So, they hid among the trees concealing themselves from the face of God. Then God called Adam's name and asked 'Where Are You'? Adam answered, ' I heard your powerful presence moving in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.' The deceiver wants mankind to be 'like' God, the deceiver wanted to be worshipped 'like'God, this is how he as tempted many, questioning God's Word. He tested Jesus this way. He always test our identity in God, as he lost his identity when he was cast out of heaven.
When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit from the tree of good and evil, they hide themselves from God. God came to earth to be with them in the cool of the day. He was calling out to them as they were hiding, 'where are you'! Finally they came forth and God asked them 'Who told you, you were naked' , they were clothed with shame (of who they had become, of the wrong choice they made, fear of God, (after they had their conversation with the deceiver). The deceiver always tries to get us to be disobedient to God. But 'God' knew what they would do in the garden and already had a plan to redeem them.
He sacrificed an animal and made them clothing out of the hides. He gave them a second chance, but they also had consequences for their actions. Adam symbolizes the "spirit of Adam", Eve symbolizes "His self", the Tree of Knowledge symbolizes "the material world", and the serpent symbolizes "attachment to the material world". The fall of Adam thus represents the way humanity became conscious of good and evil. Let's look at this, God the Creator of everything walked with them, built relationship with them, formed them with love, provided for them. Gave them instructions what to do and what not to do. They had it all, didn't they. A lot of times when things are going well, this is when the deceiver comes in and tests us. Did God really say? The deceiver wanted Adam and Eve to lose their identity, become shameful and fearful in what Creator had intended them to be. They were afraid of meeting with God, seeing His face. Afraid of the face to face connection. Face to face, could be look into My eyes and see Me. Those who carry shame, guilt unworthiness, etc., have a hard time looking into the eyes of others with their eyes. Have a hard looking into the eyes of Jesus. Remember the deceiver once had a relationship with God, once had an identity of being a great and beautiful angel of worship, once had an identity & a purpose in heaven. Now, the deceiver had lost everything in heaven that he once had, a beautiful angel. The deceiver has his own agenda toward mankind (to turn them away from God, to worship self). The deceiver wanted to be God and not a servant of God. (this is why the servants of God, here on earth get attacked – to distract them from serving & having a relationship with God). That deep love of intimacy that is so longed desired. He was jealous, of God creating man in the their image (Father, Son & Holy Spirit). The deceiver didn't know God had a future plan for mankind, for man and woman. The deceiver used an animal that Adam knew, and talked with the woman, exposed them both to his way of thinking, exposed them to his voice. Exposed them to 'did God really say'. Exposing them by using God's words and twisting the meaning.
(We really need to learn God's voice and God's words.) We have a choice in our own lives to whose voice will we listen to, whose voice will we act upon, whose voice will we serve.
When the deceiver comes with his voice, say to him 'that's not my Father's voice'!
The deceiver always comes through our mind (thoughts), this is why we have a battle in our minds daily.
Adam named his wife Eve = giver of life. They had sons and daughters. Even after their disobedience, the still had a relationship with Creator God. So did their children. It is interesting man's sin began with a tree and ended on a tree. Romans 5:12, 17-19. The fig tree was the only thing Jesus cursed while on earth. Matthew 21:19.
Fig leaves are a picture of whatever we hide behind, to cover our spiritual shame. There must be a sacrifice on our behalf which is Jesus, for us to get shame off of us.
It is time for us to consider 'shame'. (We talk more about the sin of man & woman, then we do about the shame.) Time to address the shame. We all have either been shammed, shammed others and took on shame in our lives. Living with shame, as it can overcome us at times. This comes from the enemy. There are 109 verses in the bible that talks about shame. Websters says this about shame: A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. What does shame mean in the Bible? Shame is the painful emotion that is caused by a consciousness of guilt, failure, or impropriety, that often results in the paralyzing conviction/belief that one is worthless, of no value to others or to God, unacceptable, and altogether deserving of disdain and rejection. Shame can lead to a variety of emotions and actions. It leads to feelings of being not just unqualified but disqualified from anything meaningful or of having a significant role in the body of Christ. Shame has warning signs. You are afraid of looking stupid or saying the wrong thing, so you don't try new things and don't speak up. You avoid being the center of attention and wish you could shrink into the walls. You can't look others in the eyes. Shame makes you feel like you can't be your true self and that your true self is inadequate. There are many times we are ashamed by our actions that causes us to not want to see God's face, (we can't look at Him due to shame, guilt & fear). We are ashamed of our bodies (many fight this), ashamed of our spouses actions, ashamed of our families actions, ashamed of our skin color (which comes from the enemy). This was not the original intent for us. But God....... will never leave us, will never stop loving us, will be there when we return to Him. He is happy to have us in His life again. He sent Jesus His Son to save us from the enemy, to overcome the enemy (battle of our minds and body) , to heal us, to heal the earth, to stand up to the enemy. He sent His Holy Spirit to guide & teach us in all that we do. He will walk with us in the cool of the day. He partners with us to help us here on earth. He loves us and our offspring. He loves all of creation. It is time to look at fear: Fear entered into Adam and Woman (Eve). This is where blaming others came in. (death in the tongue) This is where guilt came in. (what have I done) Fear can come in many different forms: fear of stepping out (taking a chance), fear of leaving your house, fear of what might happen. Others putting fear on you, fear of creation, fear of crowds, fear of getting a disease, fear of self. Fear can paralyze you (it is time to paralyze the enemy/spirit of fear and send it to where Jesus has prepared a place for it.) Fear of what God might do to you vs standing in awe of God , in all that He has done.
I believe if Adam and Eve would of repented (life in the tongue) for their actions and thoughts, there would of been a deeper grace from God for them. Their dna would of been changed for their children. Perhaps the curse would of not been so severe. God still had grace for them: he sacrificed a animal to help cover their nakedness, dealt with their sin. He continued to have communication with them and their offspring. (removing shame & guilt). They still had a purpose - to glorify God in all that they did (working with the earth, bringing forth lives for the next generations. Planting seeds, harvesting. Privilege of being connected with all creation in a different way. Despite their mistakes God still forgave them, yes they had consequences but He still loved them. He had another plan in redeeming them thru their family line. Redeeming thru Jesus. We all make mistakes, from our youth to our adulthood. Repent for these mistakes and let Jesus fill you with the love of our heavenly Father, ask Holy Spirit to guide you in all that you do. God has a plan for each one of us, He has a purpose for us. It is time to glorify Him in all that we do and say.
It is time to come into His presence with thanksgiving in our hearts. It is time to move forward (He is with us). 8-1-2022 Deb Miller Robinson – Eagle Warrior