God presented a perfectly logical idea to Adam and Eve; that a
knowledge of right and wrong would enable them to achieve righteousness.
It makes sense, doesn't it? How can a person do what is right if he
does not know the difference between right and wrong? And God knows the
difference between right and wrong, doesn't He? And look at how holy God
is! But God told Adam and Eve that learning right and wrong would be a
sin worthy of death. He asked them to ignore 'logic' and take Him at His
word; to simply trust Him.
Why would God do that? Why would He command Adam and Eve to act contrary to their own intelligence? Because God's commandment represented the question of whether or not Adam and Eve would acknowledge Him, and His infinitely greater wisdom as the Creator of the universe. Adam and Eve were being asked to acknowledge the profound difference between God and themselves; that the smartest of human beings are mere children in comparison to the One who created us. They were being asked to acknowledge that, no matter what might seem to make sense to us, if God says something different, then we are always smarter to trust Him above ourselves or anyone else.
Adam and Eve's choice was simple; when challenged with the most important decisions of life, would they lean upon their own understanding, or would they acknowledge God's glory and depend upon Him? In both the Old Testament and the New, God's relationship with mankind is frequently compared to that between sheep and a shepherd. God wants us to acknowledge that in comparison to Him, we as human beings truly are 'sheep'. We need the guidance and protection of a Divine Shepherd. Sheep who wander off often come to tragic ends; those who stay close to their master enjoy safety and our righteous state before God is as filthy rags before Him is what He says in the book of Isaiah
Although this idea is silly, it conveys the point that I am trying to make here. God's wisdom is so much greater than ours, that if confronted with a choice between His wisdom or ours, every one of us would be well-advised to take His and 'burn' our own. This is what the forbidden Tree in Eden represented; the question of whether or not we would acknowledge God, and how much wiser He is than we are. When God's wisdom is properly appreciated, it can rightly be said that it is He alone who really has any wisdom at all:
It is true that many professing Christians give people the impression that Christianity is a religion of ignorance and superstition, but this is not true. God does, however, require us to acknowledge that ultimately, when confronted with a choice between knowledge or simply taking Him at His word, the truly intelligent person will always trust God above all else.
Why would God do that? Why would He command Adam and Eve to act contrary to their own intelligence? Because God's commandment represented the question of whether or not Adam and Eve would acknowledge Him, and His infinitely greater wisdom as the Creator of the universe. Adam and Eve were being asked to acknowledge the profound difference between God and themselves; that the smartest of human beings are mere children in comparison to the One who created us. They were being asked to acknowledge that, no matter what might seem to make sense to us, if God says something different, then we are always smarter to trust Him above ourselves or anyone else.
Adam and Eve's choice was simple; when challenged with the most important decisions of life, would they lean upon their own understanding, or would they acknowledge God's glory and depend upon Him? In both the Old Testament and the New, God's relationship with mankind is frequently compared to that between sheep and a shepherd. God wants us to acknowledge that in comparison to Him, we as human beings truly are 'sheep'. We need the guidance and protection of a Divine Shepherd. Sheep who wander off often come to tragic ends; those who stay close to their master enjoy safety and our righteous state before God is as filthy rags before Him is what He says in the book of Isaiah
Man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4
Know that the Lord, He is God. It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 100:3
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1 Peter 2:25
I would ask my reader to bear with a story. Many years ago there was a public employee, working for a local county road commission. Some of the men who worked there had other careers on the side, doing construction and other things after work. Sometimes his co-workers would laughingly tease each other, saying 'Man, if I had your money, I would burn mine!'. In other words they were saying that the other guy was so rich that, if they could have his money, they would take their own money and waste it.Although this idea is silly, it conveys the point that I am trying to make here. God's wisdom is so much greater than ours, that if confronted with a choice between His wisdom or ours, every one of us would be well-advised to take His and 'burn' our own. This is what the forbidden Tree in Eden represented; the question of whether or not we would acknowledge God, and how much wiser He is than we are. When God's wisdom is properly appreciated, it can rightly be said that it is He alone who really has any wisdom at all:
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17
To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.
Jude 1:25
It was not that God wanted mankind to be ignorant. He did not forbid Adam and Eve to build computers, split the atom or map human DNA. In fact, God commanded Adam and Eve to subdue the earth and rule over it. God loves human intelligence, industry and creativity. It was He who made us this way, and put these traits within us.It is true that many professing Christians give people the impression that Christianity is a religion of ignorance and superstition, but this is not true. God does, however, require us to acknowledge that ultimately, when confronted with a choice between knowledge or simply taking Him at His word, the truly intelligent person will always trust God above all else.
