Reviewing Where We Left Off
In this series of articles, we’re looking at the lessons to be learned from the Genesis creation story, particularly from the actions of Eve. The choices she made are similar to the ones that are drastically affecting our world today. They are even affecting the survival community and you also, whether you. It doesn’t matter whether you are male or female or whether you recognize it or not at this point.
Eve Knew the Instruction & Vision God Gave Adam
God’s plan for Adam was to care for all that which was within this paradise garden. Eve was to be his helper/completer/partner. Both Adam and Eve were of equal value, coming from the same flesh and both formed with God’s hands. However, The accountability of Adam was higher. We don’t have a record of God’s or Adam’s specific talk with Eve about the instruction not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We do know that she knew that she was not to eat from this tree.
God walked and talked with Adam regularly. I make some assumptions that Adam shared his knowledge with Eve. He probably shared his ideas and visions for their future with her as well. She told the serpent about the limitation on eating from the tree, so she new of Adam’s conversations. However, the fact remains that whether God told her or Adam did, she knew. Yet, “the serpent” easily manipulated her.
Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent was more subtle 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? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 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. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 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.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Some of Eve’s Mistakes
The Scripture says, “…when she saw that the tree of knowedge of good and evil was good for food…” Oh, she made the mistake of listening to deceptive messages that convinced her to trade God’s vision for one that would cause her to lose her home and family as well as security and comfort, which are core pursuits of women, in general.
Eve made a variety of clear mistakes within this Scripture.
Embellishing
She embellished the facts by adding to God’s instruction when she said that she could not even touch it or she would die; God merely said that she and Adam could not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Yes, God created things that are not good for our consumption. They still have purpose. We must trust in Him to fulfill their purpose, even though we don’t like them or are instructed not to eat them, i.e. cockroaches of the land and sea.) In the case of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it fed the soul (with good) and the flesh (with evil). However, the flesh then began to die, and the disobedience caused separation from God.
Non-belief
She didn’t believe in God’s promises more than she wanted this forbidden food. She believed what the serpent was telling her this fruit offered, so the serpent’s word rose above God’s. The Scripture tells us that she saw that the food of the tree was good for food and pleasant to the eyes. We know that she was looking at it in close proximity rather than staying away. She judged with her eyes instead of listening to God or Adam. (“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10: 17)
Clouded reasoning
She let what was in front of her cloud her reasoning. As mentioned in #2, She knew what God said, but the serpent was in front of her contradicting or twisting God’s word by questioning her. Her insecurity made her waver.
Discontent
She judged it would make her wise and took the fruit because she has become unsatisfied. She was manipulated because she was not content in her heart. When she ate of the fruit, she gave it also to her husband and then they both were ashamed. Her actions of discontent led to a much greater discontent and shame that spilled over onto her family!
Lack of acceptance of her position
Eve didn’t accept her position of significance and sought something more that cost her and her family their lives, eventually. Not only did it bring great hardship, but it brought death to the animal that God slayed to clothe them. Her decision brought death to all living things thereafter, until Jesus returns to judge, cleanse, and restore His Kingdom again. There has been no greater consequence. There will never be a greater TEOTWAWKI as this, as every living organism– man, woman, animal, plant, bacteria, and virus was drastically affected with the physial removal of God’s presence and the separation from the tree of life. Whether you believe this is allegorical or literal, this is a dramatic lesson that relates to survival!
The Core Lessons For Survival
Fundamentally I cannot stress enough how important it is that we grasp hold of two things. This is important for our survival.
Have faith in the promises of God and build a personal relationship with Him, through His Son, Jesus.
God loves you and made you purposefully. You are unique and no accident! Before time began, he had a plan. Yet this magnificent God desires a relationship with you. He desires for you to become all that He sees you can become. God loves you, very personally. He wants you to belong to Him so that He can work in your life spectacularly. His blessings are for those who are obedient to Him on this Earth. His eternal salvation and eternal rewards are for those who trust in His Son, Jesus. They follow Him, professing Him, and pursuing a lifestyle that honors Him and testifies of Him.
Jesus was strong and confident speaking before thousands at times. Then at other times, he chose to remain silent or avoid cities or areas altogether. He was discerning, thoughtful, and powerful to cure the seriously ill and disabled and to raise the dead! Yet, he washed the feet of his disciples and showed kindness to lepers.
Put away your past
It is up to you whether you will set aside your old ways, put your sinful lifestyle of discontent, unfaithfulness, greed, back-stabbing betrayal, whining, self-indulgence, worship of materialistic gods, gossip, and other ungodly behavior behind you and submit to a holy God. Walk away from and discontinue your past mistakes by asking Jesus to forgive you, getting into His Word, praying, and making changes in your life to adjust to how Jesus would have you live. Also, learn from Eve’s disaster and don’t listen to people who draw you away from God or what He is doing in your life. Influence others but guard against those who negatively influence you.
God must be God, ruling over all aspects of your life! When you are walking close to God, you will hear His voice guide you, alert you to harm, help you properly prepare, and give you strength for the challenging days. He doesn’t promise that His people won’t endure hardship. However, He promises to be nearby and to care for them in the midst.
Be confident
Regardless of what happens to us physically here on Earth, even in a TEOTWAWKI event, we have a confident hope of what happens when this physical body is gone; we know that our souls go to be with the LORD and that someday we will be given new bodies to live again in Zion. We also know that we are not alone and that an all-knowing God is ever-present with us to guide us if we are seeking Him and walking in His ways. Make sure that you first are a sincere servant of Jesus, as this one act is the most important to survival, above everything else!
We have some ideas pretty twisted that being a servant, as referenced in the Bible, is a bad thing. It’s much like our employment contracts today. I’ve had bad bosses and I’ve had good ones. I choose to give above and beyond to those who are good people, kind, and honest. To be a servant of Jesus is to be provided for and protected by the King of kings. It is not a lowly position to be a servant of an honorable, kind man. How much greater to be the servant of God and to live in His House!
See also: Lessons From the First TEOTWAWKI- Part 1, by Sarah Latimer