Introduction
Genesis chapter 2 informs us that God created man and put him in a « garden » called Eden of several thousand hectares, if not more. Adam was in ideal conditions. In this paradise setting, he enjoyed great freedom (John 8:32). However, God set a limit on this immense freedom: a tree: « Jehovah God took the man and settled him in the garden of Eʹden to cultivate it and to take care of it. Jehovah God also gave this command to the man: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die » (Genesis 2:15-17). « The tree of knowledge of good and bad » was simply the concrete representation of the abstract concept of good and bad. Henceforth this real tree, represented for Adam, the concrete limit, a « (concrete) knowledge of the good and the bad », fixed by God, between the « good », to keep obeying Him and not to eat of it and the « bad », the disobedience.
It is clearly evident that this commandment of God was not « burdensome » (compare with Matthew 11:28-30 « For my yoke is kindly, and my load is light » and 1 John 5:3 « His commandments are not burdensome » (those of God)). By the way, some have said that the « forbidden fruit » stands for carnal relationships: this is wrong, because when God gave this commandment, Eve did not exist. God was not going to forbid something that Adam could not know (Compare the chronology of events Genesis 2:15-17 (the command of God) with 2:18-25 (the creation of Eve)).
« Now the serpent was the most cautious of all the wild animals of the field that Jehovah God had made. So it said to the woman: “Did God really say that you must not eat from every tree of the garden?” At this the woman said to the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. But God has said about the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden: ‘You must not eat from it, no, you must not touch it; otherwise you will die.’” At this the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die. For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.” Consequently, the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something desirable to the eyes, yes, the tree was pleasing to look at. So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her, and he began eating it » (Genesis 3:1-6).
The sovereignty of God has been openly attacked by the devil. Satan implied that God was withholding information for the purpose of harming his creatures: « For God knows » (implying that Adam and Eve did not know and that it was harming them). Nevertheless, God always remained in control of the situation.
Why did Satan speak to Eve rather than Adam? To use the inspired expression of the apostle Paul, to « deceive » her: « Also, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was thoroughly deceived and became a transgressor » (1 Timothy 2:14 ). In what way was Eve deceived? Because of her young age, because she had very few years of experience, while Adam was at least over forty. In fact, Eve was little surprised, at her young age, that a snake spoke to her. She normally continued this unusual conversation. Therefore, Satan took advantage of Eve’s inexperience to cause her to sin. However, Adam knew what he was doing, he made the decision to sin in a deliberate way. This first accusation of the devil was linked to God’s evident right to rule over his creatures, both invisible and visible (Revelation 4:11).
Shortly before the end of that day, before sunset, God judged the three culprits (Genesis 3:8-19). Before determining the guilt of Adam and Eve, Jehovah God asked them a question about their gesture. So they replied: « “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate.” (…) “The serpent deceived me, so I ate.” » (Genesis 3:12,13). Far from admitting they were guilty, both Adam and Eve tried to justify themselves. Adam even indirectly reproached God for giving him a woman who made him sin: « The woman whom you gave to be with me ». In Genesis 3:14-19, we can read the judgment of God with a promise of the fulfillment of his purpose: « And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head, and you will strike him in the heel » (Genesis 3:15). By this promise, Jehovah God was particularly signifying that his purpose would inevitably come true, by informing Satan the devil that he would be destroyed. From that moment on, sin entered into the world, as well as its main consequence, death: « That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned » (Romans 5:12).
The challenge of Satan the devil
The devil hinted that there was a flaw in human nature. This is evident in the devil’s challenge regarding the integrity of faithful servant Job:
« Then Jehovah said to Satan: “Where have you come from?” Satan answered Jehovah: “From roving about on the earth and from walking about in it.” And Jehovah said to Satan: “Have you taken note of my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth. He is an upright man of integrity, fearing God and shunning what is bad.” At that Satan answered Jehovah: “Is it for nothing that Job has feared God? Have you not put up a protective hedge around him and his house and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock has spread out in the land. But, for a change, stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your very face.” Then Jehovah said to Satan: “Look! Everything that he has is in your hand. Only do not lay your hand on the man himself!” So Satan went out from the presence of Jehovah. (…) Then Jehovah said to Satan: “Where have you come from?” Satan answered Jehovah: “From roving about on the earth and from walking about in it.” And Jehovah said to Satan: “Have you taken note of my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth. He is an upright man of integrity, fearing God and shunning what is bad. He is still holding firmly to his integrity, even though you try to incite me against him to destroy him for no reason.” But Satan answered Jehovah: “Skin for skin. A man will give everything that he has for his life. But, for a change, stretch out your hand and strike his bone and flesh, and he will surely curse you to your very face.” Then Jehovah said to Satan: “Look! He is in your hand! Only do not take his life!” » (Job 1:7-12 ; 2:2-6).
The fault of human beings, according to Satan the devil, is that they serve God, not out of love for their Creator, but out of self-interest and opportunism. Under pressure, by the loss of his possessions and by fear of death, still according to Satan the devil, man could only depart from his loyalty to God. But Job demonstrated that Satan the devil is a liar: Job lost all his possessions, and he lost his 10 children and he came close to death with a « painful boil » (Job 1 and 2). Three false comforters took it upon themselves to psychologically torture Job, implying that all his misfortunes came from hidden sins on his part, and that therefore God was chastising him for his guilt and wickedness. Nevertheless, Job did not depart from his integrity and replied: « It is unthinkable for me to declare you men righteous! Until I die, I will not renounce my integrity! » (Job 27:5).
However, the most important defeat of the devil regarding the integrity of man until death, was connected with Jesus Christ, who has been obedient to his Father, until death:“More than that, when he came as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, yes, death on a torture stake » (Philippians 2:8). Jesus Christ, by his integrity even to death, offered his Father a very precious spiritual victory, that is why he has been rewarded: « For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground— and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father » (Philippians 2:9-11).
It is important to know the biblical information about the devil to fully understand the reasons for God’s permission of evil and the current sad condition of humanity.
Jesus Christ described the devil very concisely: “That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie » (John 8:44). Satan the devil is not the abstraction of evil, but a real spiritual person (Matthew 4:1-11). Likewise, the demons are also angels who have become rebels who have followed the example of the devil (Genesis 6:1-3, to compare with the letter of Jude verse 6: « And the angels who did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place, he has reserved with eternal bonds in dense darkness for the judgment of the great day »).
When it is written, « he did not stand fast in the truth », it shows that God created this angel without sin and without any trace of wickedness in his heart. This angel, at the beginning of his life had a « beautiful name » (Ecclesiastes 7:1a). However, « he did not stand fast » in his integrity, he cultivated pride in his heart, and over time he became « devil », which means slanderer, and Satan, opponent; his old beautiful name, his good reputation, has been replaced by one of the everlasting disgraces. In the prophecy of Ezekiel (chapter 28), against the proud king of Tyre, it is clearly alluded to the pride of the angel who became « devil » and « Satan »: « This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “You were the model of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eʹden, the garden of God. You were adorned with every precious stone —Ruby, topaz, and jasper; chrysʹo·lite, onyx, and jade; sapphire, turquoise, and emerald; And their settings and mountings were made of gold. They were prepared on the day you were created. I assigned you as the anointed covering cherub. You were on the holy mountain of God, and you walked about among fiery stones. You were faultless in your ways from the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you » (Ezekiel 28:12-15). Through his act of unrighteousness in Eden, he became a « liar » who caused the death of all of Adam’s offspring (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). Currently, it is Satan the devil who rules the world: « Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out » (John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 5:19) .
Satan the devil will be permanently destroyed: « For his part, the God who gives peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly » (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20).
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Why God Allowed Suffering and Wickedness ?
A respectfully asked question, with concrete answers as to the reasons for the current situation…
This meditation will be based on Job’s dialogue with his three accusers or his false friends, on Elihu’s speech and finally the intervention of Jehovah God, the Heavenly Father, in order to discipline Job on his words.
What is the message of this prophetic enigma? Jehovah God informs that his purpose to populate the earth with a righteous humanity will surely be fulfilled (Genesis 1:26-28). God will redeem the humanity through the « offspring of the woman » (Genesis 3:15).
The Abrahamic covenant is a promise that all humanity obedient to God, will be blessed through his offspring…
This covenant has a spiritual meaning, which is spelled out in the farewell speech of Moses in the book of Deuteronomy: « You must now cleanse your hearts and stop being so stubborn » (Deuteronomy 10:16).
The purpose of the Law given to Israel was to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. The Law has taught the need for liberation from the sinful condition of humanity (represented by the people of Israel)…
This New Covenant concerns all the faithful Christians, whatever their hope (heavenly or earthly)…
The Covenant for a Kingdom concluded between God and Jesus Christ and between Jesus Christ and the 144,000…
Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles (Please click on the link above to view it)…
Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
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