by Zipporah

Created on: February 12, 2010   Last Updated: February 14, 2010

We are often reminded of the temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden but the question is  what was the temptation.  The temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden goes beyond merely eating a fruit. 

The question was whether to obey or disobey God.   The question also became whether to trust or distrust. Like Adam and Eve we are tempted when we are enticed to do wrong because of a belief or promise  of some pleasure or something to be gained. Would Adam and Eve obey God who told them not to eat the fruit and further warned them that if they ate the apple they would die?  

Lucifer's enticement was that they would  not die but would merely become like God.  Lucifer told Eve that when she ate the fruit she would become like God who possessed the knowledge of good and evil.  The enticement was to become like God. Lucifer enticed Eve but the decision to disobey was Eve's and not Lucifer's. God told Adam that he would die if he ate the fruit.  Adam knew  if he ate the fruit he would die.  Adam warned Eve of what God had forbidden.  Lucifer told  Eve she would not die.  In other words Lucifer accused God of lying.  Lucifer further implied that God was hiding some truth from Adam and Eve.  He  told Eve  when she ate of the forbidden fruit she would become like God and possess the knowledge of  good and evil.  Eve was confronted with a decision.  That decision was should she trust God and believe God and the things he said or should she believe someone who questioned the honesty of God.    The issue was one of trust.  Would they trust and obey God or would they allow someone to question God  and their relationship with God?

Whether to trust and obey or distrust and disobey is the underlying message of the temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.    The decision made by Adam and Eve to eat the fruit reflected their distrust of God and the things he told them or forbid them to do.  Because of a lack or trust in God they chose to disobey God.   Lucifer enticed them to disobey God, but the decision to disobey God was made by Adam and Eve.   Like Adam and Eve we are sometimes enticed to disobey.   Why do we disobey?  The question to be pondered is "why did Adam and Eve choose to disobey God"?  Did they doubt God's warning as Lucifer enticed them or would they trust and obey God.    I ask  those who often mock Adam and Eve who chose to disobey and eat the fruit,  the question why do you sometimes disobey.

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