Thank you for joining me today. This is the first post of many discussing women in the Bible. The introduction to this series can be found by clicking on May 21, 2012 on the calendar or by selection Religion and Faith on the drop down menu, both located on the left side panel.
Although I am sure many of you are familiar with the story of creation, I’d like to go over it to make it fresh and maybe offer a new perspective while discussing Eve.
In the beginning of time, God began creating the intricate world that we live in and experience every day. A world filled with beautiful oceans, peaceful sounds of crashing waves, flowers painted with every color imaginable. When God decided that all his handiwork was good, he said:
“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in they sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Ch. 1 V. 26)
That is the first mention of humans in the bible.
Moving into Chapter 2, we witness the creation of Adam and his first few experiences on the earth. In V. 29 we learn that Adam had not yet found a suitable helper, a companion, a friend.
“So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” (V. 21-23).
Adam and Eve were the first couple. They were comfortable with one another and lived in paradise. God gave them permission to eat anything they desired from the garden, but warned
“you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (V. 17)
Now just a side not here, but have you ever noticed how the scripture says “when you eat” not “if”? I could be reading way too much into it, but I find it really interesting. It is worded as though God already knows what choice they will make.
We don’t really know how long it was before they fell into this temptation, but we do know that it happened.
“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.” (Ch.3 V.6)
When God discovers their disobedience he punishes them for their decisions.
“To the woman he said, ‘i will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” (Ch. 3 V16.)
And God banished them both from the garden.
There are many lessons that we can pull from these three chapters of scripture. I have pulled out five that I’d like to discuss with you. Please join me tomorrow to see those! 🙂
Please note that all scriptures have been taken from the 1984 NIV Holy Bible from Zondervan Publishers.
creativelyloving 
I’m excited to hear your thoughts Jordan! We have spent the past couple of weeks looking at creation and the fall here in Indy, both in service and small group. One thing the preacher mentioned that I had never noticed before was Eve’s response to the serpent when he asked about the tree. Eve said that God said she couldn’t even touch it without dying. However, there is no indication that those instructions were actually given – just not to eat. Perhaps Eve did what she thought was best by creating a hedge around ehat might cause her to sin to try and avoid it.
I think “we” as the church do this all the time – no dancing because of where it might lead, only have close friends that are Christian so that they don’t drag us down, etc. When this advice or admonition is given, the intent – protecting each other and ourselves – is good. Perhaps, though, instead of protecting us, creating extra rules and not acknowledging them as our own instead of God’s makes it easier for us to fall. It’s an interesting idea and I’ve enjoyed mulling it over lately.
Thats very interesting! I didn’t get that perspective when I was doing my personal study. I have been finding it so intriguing how God uses women of the Bible to help the church benefit in their spiritual walks. Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂