What is my problem?
“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.” – Genesis 3:6 (full)
“When the woman saw that the tree was good…she took of its fruit and ate…” – Genesis 3:6 (partial)
The story in Genesis 3 includes a naked woman, a talking serpent, forbidden fruit, and a passive husband.
Before Eve ate the fruit, she thought nothing of her nakedness. Afterward, she hid her body in shame. When we sin, shame engulfs more than we give credence, because what God created as good, Adam and Eve’s bodies, became objects of shame in the light of sin.
The talking serpent tempted Eve with a half-truth. Deception doesn’t usually come from darkness but from partial light. The serpent dangled the truth portion—the fruit was good, a delight, and desirable—and hid the dark truth until Eve and then Adam rebelled.
There are many forbidden fruits in our lives that we desire simply because we cannot have them. Pride led to Satan’s fall, Eve’s fall, and our sin on a regular basis. That’s why Jesus told us to lay down our crosses and follow Him. He doesn’t need our complete surrender and obedience, we do.
Instead of setting an example, warning her of the consequences, or urging her to stop, Adam stood passively by and watched Eve fall into temptation and then followed her example. He was with Eve doing nothing. It’s critical we stay in community and urge one another to good works.
