Neither Should You Touch It

In Genesis chapter 3 we come upon the fall of man from the presence of God. Many people have heard the story of Adam and Eve, and how they were deceived by the Serpent to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil causing them to be cast out of the Garden.

Usually when I hear this story told, there is a lot of emphasis on how the serpent twisted Gods words and deceived them both into eating of the tree. While this is important and true this is not the first time, we see someone altering the Word of God.

In Genesis 2:16 we see the command given to the man; “And the Lord God commanded the man saying, ‘you may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but the tree of the knowledge of goods and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of is you shall surely die.” The command was given to the man alone, before God had created the woman.

Why do I bring this up?

I think it is important to note so we may better understand the nature of humanity that is at odds with God. So, we can truly embrace our federal head for who he was and what he did and all the more, it will magnify what Christ did on the cross.

As we move along in the account of the fall, we see the interaction between the serpent and the woman. This is the part where many people linger and build their theology around the serpent being the ultimate bad guy, which he is but I think to our detriment.

The focus shouldn’t be so much on the question that is asked of the woman, but the response.

Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’ and the woman said, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die,” Gen 2:17

I think the response speaks volumes. Notice how she added to God’s command; ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it.”

God’s command was good, but that little addition would seal the deal to ensure that we never eat of that tree.

Wrong.

This is SIN. Man thinking we know better than the creator and sustainer of all. It always leads to death and separation from God. We always look at the event of eating of the fruit, but as I write this the words of Jesus ring in my mind, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Mat 15:11

And d where is the man? Why did he not speak up and correct his beloved? As he said after God created woman, “This at last is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh” (Gen 2:23) He didn’t say anything because he was in complete agreement with everything that was said.

The fall had already taken place, in their hearts. They wanted to be like God and the serpent just helped to fulfill the desire that was already there. This is what we call Original Sin.

When we can look at that first couple for who they really were and see that they have no one to blame for there trespass, it becomes impossible for us to pass the buck in our own lives and the perfect life of Christ in full obedience to the Father, even unto death on a cross becomes so beautiful.

Romans 5:12-21

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men5 because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness7 leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

But, please look for yourself. I'm just a no good theologian.