I often say to friends and acquaintances when the opportunity presents itself, when perhaps the subject of church or the Bible comes up, "Remind me sometime and I'll tell you what really happened in the garden". It always provokes curiosity, and it seems that the interest in that type of scandal is ageless, if you know what I mean. In any event, many have been driven into studying the Word of God when the traditions of men have been exposed.
The truth of the seduction in the garden, has been covered up, hidden by the cloak of the "fig" apron, and has been replaced with fairy tales about "apples" and "upright snakes". Satan has succeeded in deceiving those who read into taking the words which are written as literal "to the letter" instead of seeing the "truth" contained in that which is figurative and symbolic. He tried that "trick" on Jesus Christ Himself, when he tempted Him in the wilderness by quoting (misquoting) the Word of God, implying the literal letter (read Mat. 4:1-11). Christ didn't "buy it" and neither should you.
In as much as the flower of the fig is hidden within its casing, it is the very reason that the word "fig" is still used to symbolize something that is "hidden" from view. I hesitate in saying this, but if you would like a real education about the word "fig", then go to the library or obtain an unabridged Webster's Dictionary, look up the word "fig", and read all of the various definitions. I'll quote just two of the many definitions of this "f" word from that source:
Webster's New Twentieth Century Unabridged Dictionary:
A fig for; a phrase shortened from "I don't care a fig for," expressing the speakers contempt for the object or person mentioned.
fig, v.t. 1. To insult with ficos or contemptuous motions of the fingers. 2. To put, as something useless, into one's head.
Whether you check it out or not, know this: The traditions of men qualify as "something useless" in one's head. Enough said.
We now return to the garden of Eden. Our Father has been "spelling out" the consequences earned from man's first sin. Adam has fallen from grace. Here's what he's got coming:
Genesis 3:17
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
I know this is the 1990s. But like it or not, Adam was placed in authority and God held him responsible for allowing this carnal event to transpire. Worse yet, he not only permitted it to happen, he participated as well, the exact circumstances of which I will leave to your own speculation and imagination, trusting that you will use good common sense and wisdom. Sometimes those who are "street wise" have an advantage in understanding the realities of the flesh man.
[18] Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Hey, it's time to plant wheat and corn for food, pal, and don't forget to pull the weeds or they will choke out the crop.
[19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
You had it made right there in the garden of Eden, Adam. Perfect utopia. But you blew it! Dad's no longer going to provide everything for you "on a silver platter". Go find out what it is like to have to work for a living. Then of course, you're going to die, son!
[20] And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Obviously, Eve is no more the mother of all the different races than she is of Adam. Remember, our Father created the races on the sixth day and Eve was not formed until the eighth day (if you've just joined our study please refer to the previous lessons for a more detailed explanation).
The name "Eve" means life-giving in the Hebrew tongue. Now, it has just been pronounced in the previous verse that man shall die. But our Father, in His infinite love for His children, had already prepared a way in which we could "live". It is called the plan of salvation.
That plan provided that it would be through this woman, EVE (and her offspring), that the only Way to life, the Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ, should be born. This is the primary reason that Satan wanted to destroy the woman, to destroy the plan of God, to prevent the Messiah from being born, and instead, have his own born. That's why he was there, in the garden.
Plain and simply then, all people, all races, will either eventually accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, or they will no longer have life. They'll be gone! Therefore Eve IS the mother of all living in that she IS the mother (grand) of Him.
[21] Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Adam and Eve now needed a covering, because of sin. We all need a covering, because of sin!
Here we see animals being used (sacrificed) to provide that covering. This beginning of "blood sacrifice" would continue down through the ages until the supreme sacrifice, of that unblemished Lamb of God, paid the price on the cross, to provide our covering once and for all.
And guess what? Because He did pay the price, we now get to wear the gospel armour (Eph. 6) as full protection from that fiery dart-throwing serpent. I don't know about you, but this Knight really likes the fit.
[22] And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Man had become as one of whom? As one of the Elohim, God and the host, i.e. God and His sons, the angels. They certainly knew the difference between good and evil from the "world that then was" which God destroyed at judgment. That's why we have the plan of salvation, of restoration (see lessons 1 and 2).
[23] Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Start plowing, Adam! It is for that purpose you were created, i.e. to "till the ground". God will eventually use this man's descendents to cultivate civilization, the real purpose for which he was created, using His "sword", as both the plow and the seed. It was to be the destiny of the race of eth' ha Adam. History documents it thoroughly. God's Word is true!
[24] So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
That Way, the path to eternal life through that "tree of life", would now be withheld until Jesus Christ, the Messiah walked the earth. And in due time, right on time, as was first prophesied in Gen. 3:15, He did come and walk among men! It was God's most precious gift to His children. How can we not pour out our hearts in love to Him when we see how much He loves us? Do you see?
Well, we didn't quite make it far enough in today's study to meet Eve's twins, the two seed lines. But they are "next up" in chapter four of this incredibly fascinating Book of Genesis. What a thriller it is! See you tomorrow.
Continuation of study...
Well, it's now "Good By Eden" and "Hello Cruel World"! (Somehow I can really relate to that and I suspect many of you can too.)
Eve is about to give birth to fraternal twins. That isn't commonly taught in the story books of churchianity, but it is recorded in the Word of God.
Genesis 4:1
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
As it is written, Adam did know his wife and she did conceive (the object, conception, defines the action of the verb, to know, which means the same as "horizontal cha-cha"). It would appear, without further examination, that the result of this conception produced her first born, Cain. But such is not the case. Adam was not the father of Cain. You will find that Cain is not even listed in Adam's genealogy in chapter five of Genesis. Why? Because his father was the devil, that old serpent, Satan himself.
There was a conception that took place in the fig grove, at the seduction of Eve. It was declared in verse sixteen of chapter three!
The next verse documents that Eve had twins.
[2] And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
The word "again" is translated from the Hebrew word yacaph, which means "to continue to do a thing". Look it up for yourself. In other words, Eve continued in labor and bare Cain's brother Abel.
If you are not familiar with "twins" you can surf the web and learn a great deal. Start with http://www.twinsfoundation.com .
Basically, there are two types of twins. 1) Maternal twins, usually called identical twins, are produced from the same conception in which a single ovum splits into two groups of cells soon after fertilization. 2) Fraternal twins are produced from two separate conceptions, i.e. they develop from two separate ova which are each fertilized before implanting in the uterus. While it is true that fraternal twins "usually" have the same father, it is not at all uncommon for them to each have a separate father. Such is the case with Cain and Abel. They were both Eve's sons, but they both were not Adam's, only Abel was.
Once again, remember that in Gen 3:15 God said that He would enmity between Satan's seed (offspring) and Eve's seed (offspring). That enmity produced the first murder!
[3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
"In process of time" means "at (the) end of days" and shows that there was an appointed time to bring an offering. The place and the offering would have been appointed as well.
Notice that Cain did not bring a sacrificial offering, for there is no blood shed. We also know from the Book of Jude that his offering was merely a "religious act", for his way was that of natural religion, not the way God had appointed. Cain's heart was not in the right place, and he was not being honest, as we shall document in verse seven. Keep in mind that our Father knows the hearts and minds of Cain and Abel (and you and me as well).
Jude 1:11
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Dr. Moffat translates this verse, "Woe to them! they go the road of Cain, rush into Balaam's error for what it brings them, and perish in Korah's rebellion." In other words, Cain's offering was self-serving.
[4] And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Abel brought the choicest, nicest, unblemished lamb from his sheep herd that he could find among the firstlings. What a great attitude!
[5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Let's see what we have here. Cain brings some "fruit of the ground" (it doesn't say of the first fruits, or of the fat thereof, or the best of the best) and presents it to the LORD, figuring he's done his duty to the letter of the law. That should be acceptable and good enough to find favor with the LORD. How would the Lord know, anyway, that he just grabbed some produce off the pile, in a "rush" as we just read in Jude 11?
So the LORD, knowing what is in Cain's heart, doesn't buy this religious routine of just plopping a few extra brussels sprouts in the offering plate.
Does Cain then examine himself and his motives to see the error of his ways, in order that he might repent and change his attitude? No way! His name means "possession" and he is out to "get", not give. So he performs another religious act and gets PO'd (a slang contraction for angry) at the LORD for not believing his "insincerity" and not accepting his inappropriate, non-sacrificial offering.
There is nothing new under the sun. Many people to this day wonder why God doesn't bless them. Perhaps they haven't read Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Not just Sunday morning by bringing a few extra tokens and throwing them in the offering plate.)
[6] And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
[7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Dr. Moffat (Moffat Bible) best translates this verse:
Gen. 4:7 If your heart is honest, you would surely look bright? If you are sullen, sin is lying in wait for you, eager to be at you - yet you ought to master it.
The point is that Cain was not honest and God knew it, but our Father still gave him a chance. If he would just be honest, God would accept his offering. But he would not, for there was no honesty in him, because "his father", the father of lies, was in him.
[8] And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Cain wasn't "talking" with his brother, he was luring him into country so he could murder him! And he did!
The N.E.B. translates this verse, "Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let us go into the open country.' While they were there, Cain attacked his brother Abel and murdered him."
This is the first murder recorded in the Bible. Later, Cain's descendents would plot the murder of Jesus Christ. Let's pick it up in John chapter 8 where the religious leaders, the descendents of Cain, with murder in their hearts, are trying to convince Christ that they are of the good seed, the seed of Abraham. They are boldly, without shamefulness, directly lying to Messiah, as there is no honesty in them either.
John 8:39-40
They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Jesus doesn't "buy it".
[40] But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Unbelievable, isn't it? These "religious" leaders are running around telling folks that they are God's chosen people (which they are not), and all the while they are plotting to murder Jesus Christ, the Son of God! Christ identifies their sireship.
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Christ is speaking of the murder and the lies of which are studying now in Genesis!
It is also recorded in the first epistle of John that Cain was "of" (meaning offspring of) that wicked one. Plain and simply, like it or not, believe it or not, Cain was Satan's son, not Adam's.
1 John 3:12
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
Let's return to Genesis where the LORD is inquiring of Cain as to the whereabouts of his brother.
[9] And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
Hey, surprise, surprise! Cain was dishonest again! This time he lied directly to our Father and followed that lie with a sarcastic, smart aleck question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" You just can't trust an habitual liar!
[10] And He said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
God knew exactly what he had done.
[11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
[12] When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
To this very day, the ground will not yield its potential to the descendents of Cain.
[13] And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
[14] Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Cain knew there were other people on earth. In fact we will discover that he goes into the land of Nod and takes a wife. Where in the world did she come from? Answer! She was from the sixth day creation (refer to previous lessons).
Cain also knew that his actions would get him in trouble and even get him killed. So God will place a "mark" upon him. In our next study we will learn what that "mark" was? Do you know?