Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-19

PRELIMINARY.-How long Adam and
Eve remained in innocence, in the state In
which they were created, the Scriptures do
not inform u.s. We may therefore assume
that it is not important for us to know, for
the Holy Spirit in the sacred volume has
withheld nothing from men that bears di-
rectly and inf1uentially upon the great prob
lens of life and destiny. The wonder is that
coming from the hand of God perfect be-
ing, with every facility for personal profit
and pleasure. the holy pair did not stand
fast. That they fell is q matter Of history,
to be studied today. The passage has been
interpreted In many ways. While a few
scholars regard the narrative as fiction. the
greater part approach 1t as a record of real
events. We include verses to IL, omitted
by the committee, as helpful to the proper
study.
INs1NUATIoN Verse D-one very
mysterious being had access to Eden. He is
called the serpent. Some think he was an
animal. erect in form, afterward degraded.
Others claim that he was the highest earth
~ creature next to man, of whom he was
jealous because of mans dignity and au-
thority. The Scriptures appear to teach that
he was the great adversary of our race,
once an inhabitant of heaven, from which
ne was cast out with others on account Of
sin dude, 81, entering TOR the present pur-
pose into the serpent. He Is said to have
been exceedingly cunning. Selling a favora-
BILE opportunity he approached the woman
When she was alone, with an insinuatng
question, Hath God said thou shalt not eat
of every tree in the garden?" The evident
purpose was to suggest to her that this was
an unreasonable prohibition, that God had
given this happy home to the pair and He
would certainly not deny to them any of the
good things therein contained. A question
was greater temptation than an assertion
would have been.
ID
ans reply was prompt, emphatic and APP
propriate in two parts. She first asserted
that ample provision had been made for
their bodily wants by the wise and good
Creator. The fruits of the trees of the gar
den had been given for their food Gen.
I'D. Without question there were many
kinds of fruit trees, so that there would be
no lack. Therein was displayed the love of
God toward them q Tim, vi:1D and there
was no occasion for distrust on their part
She then added that one tree had been in
terdicted, tree standing in a very con-
spfcuous place in 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 those two replies
Eve had effectively answered the tempter
She had INDICATED 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 Oversees and 5.-Every
IL,
Human nature Is so constituted that in its
normal state 1t seeks continually to ad-
vance to that which Is higher and better
phil, iii13). This disposition toward prog
ress must have been very strong in our first
parents In the time of their innocence, and
it proved to be the first point Of great
weakness. Having failed in his attempt to
show that a good God would not restrain
man from wholesome food the tempter de-
termined to make a bold attack upon the
one reason for refusing the fruit of a par
tcular tree. In doing this he dismissed the
method of question by which to awaken
reflection, and adopted the plan of positive
assertion. He had the audacity to contra
dict God and to give a reason for the con-
tradiction BY eating the forbidden fruit
man would become a god His ewes would
be open and his knowledge increa sed
Moreover, he declared that God knew this
result would follow, and for that reason
He had commanded not eat.
REFLECTIONS (verse 6)-TWo on
posing statements are before the woman
Which shall be accepted as truthful? She
might have decided according to the credi-
bility Of the speaker. the safer course in
this instance. She preferred to reason in
this case. to put one assertion over against
the other and see which was more prob
able. The suggestion concerning Gods mo-
tive was so plausible that it may have in
cined her to this method. Her reflections
were along a natural order l. The tree is
good for food. That was evident in the
refusal to eat But If 1t good for food
.. The tree was pleasant to the eyes There
was nothing about 1t repulsve Indicating
that In itself 1t was perncious and in
curious Its appearance favorable
3. 1t was desired Ito make one wise" This
was based on the assertion of the tempter
but there was no reason to doubt it be-
cause of the other two facts These re-
Elections led her away from former reflec-
tons. She desired wisdom and felt this
the way to obtain it.
CONSEQUENCES oversees Z and 81
Now it shall be known who was the wise
and friendly counsellor of Adam and Eve,
whether God sought their welfare or de-
sired to prevent them from entering a
higher state. Three results came quickly
J. Their eyes were opened even as the
tempter had said-they saw and knew what
before was invisible and unknown. Through
that open vision everything appeared to be
changed, is evident in other conse-
quences. .. They knew that they were
naked, and made coverings for themselves
These powers and functions given by the
Almighty Gen, i:2S) We're disturbed, made
abnormal Gen, ii:25). the beginning of the
age-long record of shame. 3. They heard
God in the garden and hid with fear Be
fore they delighted in His presence and
drove them from Him Gsa.. lX:2). This
last affords a key to the real situation.
There was probably nothing objectionable
in the tree or its fruit. 1t was made the
test of obedience, the only possible test at
that time. The reasoning of the woman
was in the wrong direction. She should
have thought of God. not the tree. And
death had come. spiritual death or carnal
mindedncss as God had said Rom.. vii:G).
INTERVIEW oversees 9-13).-What will
God do with disobedient, fallen, carnaly-