The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-13
. BEGINNING OF SIN '
 AND REDEMPTION. ' , (Gen. iii: 1-15)
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l = 4 < < \ < Context-The story of the ereatlch IS l evidently twice tcld in Genesis. Last lesson covered the first account. the second record ccndenses in'o iout | verses. (Gen. ii, 4-D what was gwen | in greater detail in twenty eight verses | (Gen. i. 2S) but with new view or the | origin of man. Then follows ofiet description of mans home In Eden ana the commend not to eat of the trut or l a certain tree, anl a somewhat exteh1- ! ed reference 10 the creation o1 woman as the companion of man. tGeh, a' s-25) How long Adam and Eve r'maln . ed in Paradise we are not informed It is generally supposed that the tune was short. as their stay was terminated by the events to be studied today. our present lesson is one of very great and universal interest. It has been inter r-eted il. many different ways. The greater number approach it as history. believing that on no other ground could 1t find sueh prominence in the sacred vclupfe. X few scholars are disposed to regard the narrative as fiction illus
 tSative of the relas sion between material
 and spiritual things and of the laws ot
 spiritual life.
 Insinuation--(verse D One very mys- teriouS being had access to Eden. He
 is called the serpent. Some think he vas an animal. at first erect In form, afterwar6 degraded. Others claim that
 he was the highest earthly creature
 next to man. of whom he was jealous
 because of mans dignity and authori-
 ty. The Scriptures appear to teach
 that he was the great adversary of our
 race. (Rev. xii. 9) once an inhabitant of
 hxNa At@I H nx-h nrrk
 with others on account of sin. (Jude
 6) entering for the present purpose into
 the creature called the serpent. He
 is said to have been exceedingly cum
 ping. Seizing favorable opportunity
 he approached the woman when she
 was alone with an insinuating aues-
 ton, Hath God said ye shall not eat
 of every tree Of the garlen:" The
 evident purpose was to suggest to her
 that this was an unreasonable prohibi-
 ton. that God had given this home to
 the happy pair and He would certainly
 not deny to them any of the good
 things therein contained. A question
 was greater temptation than an as-
 sertion would have been.
 Response--(Verses 2 and 3 The wo-
 mans reply was prompt. emphatic and
 appropriate in two parts. She first as-
 serted that ample provision had been
 made for their bodily wants by the
 wise and good Creator. The fruit of
 the trees of the garden had been given for their food. (Gen. i, 29) Without
 question there were many different kinds of fruit trees, so that there would
 be no lack. Therein was displayed the love of God toward them, q Tim. vi, ID and there was no occasion for dis
 trust on their part. She then added that one tree had been interdicted. a tree standing in a very conspicuous place in the midst of the garden. She also gave the reason for withholding the fruit of that tree-it Was for their good. If they should eat they would die, In these two replies Eve had ef- fectively repelled the tempter. She had vindicated the wisdom and good ness of God. and she had showed that she and her husband were restrained. not for any purely arbitrary reason, but to protect their lives. So far she was safe.
 Assertion--(verses { and 5 Every temptation appeals to ones desire for gain. Human nature is so constituted that in it's normal state 1t seeks con- tinually to advance to that which is higher and better. (Phil. iii, 13). HIS ulSpOSltAOn toWdIQ pIoSICoS hiuSI have been very strong in our first parents in the time of their innocence, and it proved to be the point of great est weakness. Having failed in his attempt to show that good God would not restrain man from wholesome food, the tempter determined to make bold attack upon the one reason for refusing the fruit of a particular tree. In doing this he dismissed the method of ques- tion by which to awaken reflection. and the plan of positive assertion. He had the audacity to contradict God, and to give a reason for the contra diction. By eating the forbidden fruit man would become a god. His eyes would be open and his knowledge in creased. Moreover. he declared that God knew this result would follow. and for that reason He had commanded not to eat.
 Rehections--(Verse 6) Two opposing are before the woman. Which shall be accepted as truthful? She might have decided according to the credibility of the speaker. the safer course in this instance. She pre- ferred to reason in the case, to put one | assertion over against the other and ] see which was more probable. The suggestion concerning Gods motive | was so plausible that it may have in- clined her to this method. Her ref1eC- |