Genesis
Three chapters into the Bible, and things begin to literally and figuratively fall apart. The falling part goes pretty quickly, it only takes about 7 verses.
Adam and Eve have a perfect life. I mean really, what did they have to do? Tend a few trees, watch the animals, etc etc. So how did this idyllic life slip through their fingers so quickly and so easily?
Adam is the person who is held as being primarily responsible for the fall. But it would seem that most of the action centers around Eve. So, why isn’t it all her fault?
In the 3rd chapter, we are introduced to a new character, Satan. And even though this is his first appearance in the story, we can see that he is smart and crafty and shrewd. He seems to be a lot more on the ball than our two main characters, Adam and Eve. In plain English, he is more worldly.
Divide and Conquer
What was there about this brief encounter between Satan and Eve that upsets everything? And what can we learn from it?
First, of all we notice that Satan doesn’t come and talk to Adam. He doesn’t approach “the boss.” He doesn’t step up to the person who is supposed to know all the answers, the person that has been around the longest. Satan settles on an attack through the “helper,” Eve.
Why does he do this? I think he does this because he knows that if he can sway Eve, Adam will probably follow her.
He also probably knows that God did not give the commandment about the forbidden fruit directly to Eve, but to Adam. So, the information she is working off, is second hand, and perhaps even a little incomplete.
Satan also has one or two other tricks that he uses in his approach to her.
He approaches Eve as seeker, a subordinate. He, Satan, has come to her with an innocent question, merely seeking some clarification. He seems open and genuine, and he also seems willing to accept her correction. He wants to learn from her.
How many times have we all gotten sucked into a trap by a seemingly innocent question? It starts out with one question, quickly followed by, “Well then that must mean…” and there you go, on your way down the rabbit hole.
Satan also comes to her as an ally. He sounds as though he truly has her best interests at heart, and would do anything to help her. He just wants to know what’s up with this rule and what’s up with this tree. Maybe they can sort it out together…
So what? What’s the everyday application?
Everyone wants to be perceived as a leader, someone on the know. Our pride and our egos struggle with us when we want to open our mouths and just say, “I don’t know.” We don’t want to look stupid or like we are just an underling. So we are happy to share the little information we actually know, mixed with a few conjectures and interpretations from our own imagination, and maybe even a lie or two. We think it makes us look smart.
As we can see from Eve’s encounter, it doesn’t take long to get out of our depth.
What we do in these situations should point back to our servant’s hearts rather than toward our egos.
What to do
- Don’t answer right away.
- Take a deep breath. Always remember to breathe!
- Search your mind and your heart for the truth.
- Search your heart, spirit, ego and list of responsibilities about what you should be sharing.
- Ask yourself, “Will sharing this information be helpful or beneficial, or harmful?”
- And then listen carefully to the answer your heart gives…and do that!
- As much as our egos may chafe against it or hate it, often the best answer is, “I don’t know,” or “I don’t know, but I can direct you to someone who does know.”
What do you think? What else would you add to this list?
photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonked/2358339193/sizes/m/in/photostream/