Thoughts for the Day

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God say, "You shall not eat from any tree in the garden"?' The woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die." ' But the serpoent said to the woman, 'You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

....the Lord God called to the man, and said to him 'Where are you?' He said 'I heard the sound of you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.' He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?' The man said, 'The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.' Then the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this that you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent tricked me, and I ate.'

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

When the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew into Greek the first book was called ''Genesis' meaning 'birth' or 'beginning'. People think it was written to explain how the world began, but it seems rather to be about showing us how God loves us. and the response to that.

I have twice read aloud (publicly) the whole of the Bible over a period of five days, and I can tell you I have a profound memory of sadness at the way that the Hebrew people treated God. Book after book describes how His people let Him down, acting contrary to His laws.

In today's story about Adam and Eve we see that Eve is tempted by the serpent to break the only law that God has given them - not to eat of the tree in the middle of the garden - and when God discovers this she is quick to blame the serpent. "It's all his fault" she effectively says. And when Adam is questioned by God, even though he was with Eve at the time he is quick to blame Eve. Neither are willing to be responsible for their sin. It takes courge to admit your failure and take the blame!

Monday 14th September, follow up thoughts

Lord God,
often we are to blame
when things go wrong and
we have deliberately
taken the wrong path.
Help us to be honest with
ourselves and with You,
to admit when we are wrong,
and ask for forgiveness.
Amen.