Have you started your study of the women of the Bible yet? I am loving it! I started with Eve (Genesis 2-3:7). I’m following the numbered questions I listed in my last blog.

1. Who? Eve.

2. She is the first and only woman made directly from the hand of God. She is Adam’s wife. She is the first person to be tempted by Satan to question God’s word. From Genesis 2, it seems God gave Adam the instructions to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (verses 15-17) before He created Eve (18-22). So Adam must have given these instructions to Eve.

3. She knows God’s word because she obediently and perfectly recites it to the serpent when he’s tempting her (3:2-3). But knowing God’s words wasn’t enough to keep her from giving in to temptation. Satan subtly challenges God’s words to Eve (3:1, 4-5). He puts himself in the know and creates cynicism in Eve. In essence he says, “God’s plan for you is not for your good as He said it was. He’s holding out on you.” Eve reconsiders God’s words and her trust of God (verse 6). She eats the fruit and then gives it to Adam.

4. Eve’s emotions–Eve didn’t trust God. She needed to trust God so she would obey His words and resist temptation. Instead she took it upon herself to decide what was best for her.

The distrust the serpent planted made her fearful. She couldn’t trust God and she would need more wisdom to take care of herself. Verse 6 says not only did the appearance and taste of the fruit tempt Eve, but it was “desirable for gaining wisdom” so “she took some and ate it.” Eve didn’t trust God to take care of all her needs and her very life.

She introduced the “take-charge-controlling-woman” poor character trait that we women default to when we are fearful and not trusting God. How often do I behave like Eve. I am fearful God won’t come through for me or my family? I stress and become difficult to live with, trying to make my family do life my way so everything will turn out the way it’s “supposed to.” Ha! That didn’t work for Eve and it won’t work for me either. God’s plan for me is the only plan that is best for me.

5. God told her through Adam to enjoy all the fruit except this one. God gave her many, many delicious choices. He only withheld the one that would hurt her and take her out of intimate, trusting relationship with God. That’s the thing she believed she had to have to be happy.

6. As I suggested earlier, it seems Adam would have been the one to tell Eve’s God’s instructions regarding the trees in the Garden of Eden. The Bible doesn’t say where Adam is when Eve is talking with the serpent, but he too gives in and eats the forbidden fruit. He is not the strong leader in their marriage.

7. Eve did not honor, trust, and obey God. As a result she brought sin into the human race and all God’s creation.

8. Eve’s story is a powerful reminder that God knows more than I do. Eve was in closer relationship with God than any of us can be, yet she was easily convinced by the serpent to not trust and obey God. Things aren’t always as they appear.

God always wants my best; I need to not only know His Word, but also trust and obey Him.

 

Those are a few of my thoughts on the first part of Eve’s story. I’d love to hear something you learned or something God spoke fresh to you.

Copyright, 2012, Brenda Garrison

Brenda Garrison is an author and speaker who empowers women with the confidence to live their calling. Brenda is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ministry Leadership with a Concentration in Women’s Ministry at Moody Bible Institute. She and her husband, Gene, are the parents of three young adult daughters and live near Metamora, IL.