1B25
© Jeff Stacey | Last updated: 19 September 2016
1B25. Initial reactions of Adam and Eve:
(a) By Adam before Eve was created
(b) By Adam after Eve was created
(c) By Adam and Eve when challenged by God’s Enemy
1B25(title) Initial reactions of Adam and Eve
When people first face situations that are acutely testing for them, they typically react initially in various ways before making decisive responses to those situations. In the biblical narratives these initial reactions can often be seen, including some by Adam and Eve.
1B25(a) Initial reactions by Adam before Eve was created
Adam’s aloneness in the Garden of Eden before Eve was created was “not good” Gen 2:18a,20b. But there are no indications then of any initial reactions by Adam to any potentially testing situations.
1B25(b) Initial reactions by Adam after Eve was created
Adam reacted strongly after God created Eve and brought her to him. When he first met her his initial reaction was an exclamation of delight! Gen 2:23. But there are no indications of any initial reactions then by Eve.
1B25(c) Initial reactions by Adam and Eve when challenged by God’s Enemy
Later Adam and Eve were suddenly hit with challenges by God’s Enemy [1B24(d)]. Before making decisive responses [see 1B28 and 1B30] they initially reacted in various ways, as follows.
1B25(c)(i) Eve tried to resist
In the dialogue of God’s Enemy with Eve, several of her initial reactions can be seen. When he asked her his first question Gen 3:1b Eve tried to resist by giving her version of what God had commanded Adam (which he had apparently told her previously) Gen 3:2-3.
1B25(c)(ii) Eve became confused
In her reply, Eve had mistakenly added to God’s command a further prohibition. She said that they must not even touch “the tree that is in the middle of the garden” Gen 3:3b. Nor did she indicate which of the two trees in the middle of the garden she was referring to Gen 2:9b. So in her initial reaction to the devious question from God’s Enemy, she became confused about what God had said.
1B25(c)(iii) Adam was passive
Although Adam was present with Eve, his initial reaction was to make no attempt to intervene Gen 3:6c. He simply left Eve to struggle alone against God’s Enemy and his provocations to disobey God.
Adam’s inaction was inexplicable and inexcusable! God had originally given His command and warning to Adam even before Eve had been created. So Adam was primarily responsible and accountable for obeying it! [1A10(sub-title)].
God had also given them authority to “rule over all the creatures that move along the ground” Gen 1:26b,28d. So Adam (or Eve) could simply have said “no” to the serpent or told it to be silent or to go, or have just driven it away! They did not have any obligation to answer its questions. But Adam just said and did nothing.
This reaction by Adam was tragic. God had created Eve to be “a helper suitable for him” Gen 2:18. Surely her greatest way of helping Adam would be to encourage and support him in fulfilling his primary responsibility. And this is exactly what she was trying to do!! But he did not respond either to God or her encouragement…
1B25(c)(iv) Eve was strongly tempted by God’s Enemy
In his dialogue with Eve, God’s Enemy had deceitfully put the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in a category all of its own. He gave it unique potential Gen 3:5b going far beyond just being beautiful and able to satisfy hunger Gen 2:9. He even suggested that God had set His one requirement with unworthy motives! Gen 3:5a. Without any further word, God’s Enemy just let Eve be challenged by these thoughts.
Eve then reacted by being directly tempted not merely by the food value and attractiveness of the Tree itself Gen 3:6a. Her self-serving desires were aroused by the breathtaking suggestion that she could “become like God”! Gen 3:5b. She would gain such “wisdom”! Gen 3:6b. But this “wisdom” was to “know good and evil“, as deceptively suggested by God’s Enemy Gen 3:5c. Apparently the force of this temptation upon Eve was very strong.
1B25(c)(v) Adam and Eve became compelled by the temptation
God’s warning of certain death must surely also have had force in the thinking of Adam and Eve. But ultimately they were totally beguiled by God’s Enemy who had aroused their self-serving desires. He had persuaded them that to eat the fruit of this Tree was not hazardous, and was preferable to obeying God’s requirement.
Their reaction to this temptation – to take and eat the God-forbidden fruit – then became COMPELLING!!
Arrows 1B24 -> 1B25
This arrow indicates the initial reactions of Adam and Eve when their commitment to God was being acutely tested By God’s Enemy.