These are some thoughts of a few years ago introducing my web site itsaboutGod.com. I revised these thoughts today, but much of it is as it was.
Amos 🙂
The first Bible study
It all began in that beautiful garden. . .the first argument over Gods words:
(Genesis 3:1 NIV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The first recorded quibbling over expression, the first manipulation of the Majestys intent, the first questioning of his authority and goodness.
Define quibble
Petty arguing; nit-picking; evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections.
And thus the first recorded Bible study
Simple, crafty, effective Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden? The serpent said to Eve as he led her in the worlds first Bible study.
Eve (the woman) knew the answer to the question and the serpent knew she knew.
(Genesis 3:2 NIV) The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden.
But her knowing wasnt the point. The arrow of doubt had struck its mark. Eve was well on her way to forming her own opinion apart from God, learning to think for herself, so to speak.
And she did.
(Genesis 3:6 NIV) When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Now everything was different, different as in nothing would ever be the same again on our planet.
Eves focus changed as the center of her universe shifted away from God to herself; the rules of the game turned upside down; it was now about her.
God had been holding out on her.
She now saw first-hand that this was quite a good tree. The tree was good for food; it was pleasing to look at, and it made a girl smarter. Wow! Was God ever wrong.
Except. . .
God never said the tree wasnt an excellent tree. He created it. Of course it was wonderful. He simply said Dont eat from it, or you will die.
New thought as I am writing this.
Eve surely was not familiar with the concept of dying. Possibly God had explained this on a previous evening garden walk, possibly not. We know she had no personal experience or observations, so this concept of dying was past her categories. She needed to trust God beyond the limits of her knowledge, past her boundaries. But she formed her opinion based on her personal database, not the information received from God.
Just trust the words, girl!
But she couldn’t. She couldn’t trust the words, or more accurately would not because they didn’t fit.
And we do the same thing.
We all fall for the same deception. We search for truth that will support our life direction. We choose a god or no god whose truth fits our life track, our agenda.
Bible study but God isnt present.
We even go to the Bible to see what God really says. But not really. Yes, we have our Bible studies, but we dont invite God, just like Eve didnt invite God to her Bible study. You noticed that didnt you in the text? Why didnt Eve ask God what he said? Why didnt Eve ask God to clarify? Because she didnt want information that didnt fit her plans.
And we wonder why things are as they are in the world and in the Church wrong as they are, sad as they are, tragic as they are, hopeless as they are.
WordPerfect’s “make it fit” function.
WordPerfect has the ability to take a longer document and make it fit on one page so it is more manageable. That’s what Eve did; that’s what we do. We make God’s truth fit our desires. We manipulate, often in the name of God, to come away with the knowledge we want.
The problem is that glory doesn’t fit into our categories.
(Romans 11:33-36 NKJV) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (34) For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? (35) Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him? (36) For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
