1)          All it takes to get caught up in the discomfiting hideousness of transgression is a simple rejection of the express word of Jehovah, the Creator. Every intelligent being is created a free moral agent. God does not dither in stocking the intelligence of free moral agencies with the necessary knowledge to guard against inappropriateness.

It is clear that God knew that His grace would come to Adam’s rescue. He empowered him with dominion [Gen 1:26]; being the ‘dresser’ of the world [Gen 2:15]; the ‘keeper’ of it (Gen 2:15); more than enough of victuals (Gen 2:9) and the fifth is the knowledge to keep away from annihilating evil (Gen 2:17). A calculated study of these authorising items shows that Adam was actually given four tools of empowerment to enable him retain his sole dominion. ‘Dominion’ is the Hebrew râdâh (raw-daw’) ‘to tread down, that is, subjugate; specifically to crumble off.’ The word ‘dress’ in Genesis 2:15 is ‛âbad (aw-bad’) ‘to work (in any sense); by implication to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.’ ‘Keep,’ of the same verse is shâmar (shaw-mar’) ‘to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.’

The first part of Genesis 2:9 says “And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food.” Adam’s dominion makes him the sole determining worker. He is well equipped to protect Eden (as the ‘dresser’), and by extension the whole world, against any foreign invasion. Abundant food to strengthen, and for refreshment of his soul was available for his use. To ensure his eternal life of dominion, Genesis 2:17 says, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

God did put everything in his hands and under his control; it is just sad that the man threw all caution to the winds of carelessness. Adam was created to crush any opposition to the word of God. He should have tied the invading ophidism of Lucifer in knots and flung away. Four is the scriptural number of creation. On the fourth day was the creation of the lights of earthly illumination. Adam was sentiently and intelligently endowed, as the federal head of humanity. So, what happened to him? An unnecessary risk beckoned on him for a ride into obliquity. Stupidly, he decided upon this embarkation. Our pristine dad did not embrace the wisdom of God. He, unexpectedly, played God.

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” [1Timothy 2:14]. ‘Not’ is ou (oo) in the Greek, and it means: ‘the absolutely negative adverb; no or not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.’ The verb ‘deceived’ is apataō (ap-at-ah’-o): ‘to beguile, cheat, that is, delude.’ Adam knew exactly what he was doing. He was not under any delusional mesmerism. He decided on the commission of hara-kiri, seeing that the woman had degenerated into a walking cadaver.

Adam, you are not God. You should have done what your wife failed to do: waited till the cool of the evening when the LORD God came to fellowship with you as He was wont to. Yes, you are the lord of the earth, but the LORD God who did put you in charge will ask you to give an account of your action. This is why we need to be circumspect in every course of our earthly act, especially, the one that has to do with God.

Get Jesus initiated by getting born again: pray this prayer, believing it with all your heart. Say, “Dear heavenly Father, I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe in my heart that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sin. I believe that You raised Him from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I receive Him now as my Lord and my Saviour. I give God all the glory. Amen!”   (…to be continued…)

Read 2nd part, click here.

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