Opening The Door
For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:5 (my translation)
Knowing – Adam opened the door. That’s the way Paul puts it in his letter to the Roman congregation. “As by one man sin entered” uses a Greek verb that suggests opening a door. Adam let sin in. You might ask why Paul doesn’t say that Eve opened the door, but that question belongs to another day. Today we will look at what is implied in the serpent’s suggestion. How does eating this fruit make it possible to know good and evil? Once again, it’s all about a door.
“God knows,” says the serpent. “The problem in your life, woman, is that you don’t know in the same way God knows. Oh, you know what God says. I can see that. You can quote His words. But all you’re doing is mimicking Him. You don’t really know what it means to decide between good and evil. You’re a bit deficient in that area. But you could know if you just decide to take things into your own hands.”
The verse uses the Hebrew verb yada in both occurrences of “know.” Yada is a very big verb. Yada covers everything from knowing that 2+2=4 to knowing the intimacy of sexual relations. In this verse, the power of yada is revealed in its pictograph. Yod-Daleth-Ayin paints the picture “to make the door of experience.” In other words, yada is about making something happen. What will I make happen? I will make a way to open the door of experience for myself. I will walk my path through the door into the world where I have experiential knowledge, where I have participated in the matter at hand. Why is Havvah tempted to eat from the Tree? Because she believes that eating of the Tree will improve her ability to make decisions on her own. She won’t have to rely on the manual anymore. Now she will intuitively know what to do. She will have experience.
Isn’t this a common temptation among us today? Don’t we still desire to “just get a taste of it” so we can decide for ourselves rather than relying on the word of someone else? The appeal of the Tree is the suggestion that I can cut my own path. The promise of the Tree is that I will no longer be dependent on another. The sin of Adam and Havvah is idolatry. “Disguised polytheism is also the religion of him who combines with the worship of God the devotion to his own gain.”[1]
“God, I worship You. I know You want me to be all that I can be. So, just help me be a little more prosperous, a little more independent, a little more self-reliant. Just make me more capable of taking care of myself. Just help me accomplish my goals in life. Then I’ll even worship You better.” Making our own way is eating from the Tree. But now you know better, don’t you?
Topical Index: know, yada, experience, Genesis 3:5
[1] Abraham Heschel, God In Search Of Man, p. 392
“No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)
There is another Tree we all need to participate in. It is the Tslav, the execution stake of the Messiah, our Christ. In the day we eat of it, we shall know the difference between that which is good and that which is evil.
“The time is coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” (Jeremiah 31:31)
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (Hebrews 10:16)
All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace. (Isaiah 54:13)
“No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)
“In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22.20)
“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9.22)
“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of G-d;from that time waiting until His enemies are made the footstool of His feet.(Hebrews 10.12)
“Therefore G-d has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, (Philippians 2.9)
“Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53.12)
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; (Philippians 2.10)
“and when they saw Him, they worshiped Him..” (Matthew 28.17)
“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10.9)
SKip
Great comment. I believe this is another of the big “misses” in theology today. What is wrong in this world? It’s man’s desire to “know” – to determine for himself or herself – the categories of good and evil, right and wrong, truth and error. This is the epistemological “challenge” – how do I know, and how do I know that what I know is true?
But this passage also implies a rejection of YHVH. Apparently no one, not even YHVH, can know for sure that eating of the tree will result in death. Thus, in a world of chance, of contingency, even YHVH must be subjected to man’s investigations, experience, and conclusions. It is, as you say, idolatry, in fact, the ultimate idolatry.
When we get this point, the remainder of Scripture falls into place. Torah, to teach us YHVH’s instructions of what really is right and wrong, good and evil, as a reminder that that is not our role or purpose on earth. The history books to not only teach us about YHVH’s Providence in His creation. The Psalms to exalt YHVH and His instructions, the Prophets to call us back to obedience, and the Messiah to “solve” the ultimate problem of separation from God, address the issue of disobedience, and bring us back into fellowship with Him.
You and I could not AGREE more on this. Thanks, Ian.
“But this passage also implies a rejection of YHVH. Apparently no one, not even YHVH, can know for sure that eating of the tree will result in death.”
מוֹת תָמוּת “a dying you will die” Is this just a moot point? [insert little yellow smiley face] He sounds pretty emphatic and confident to me.
Doesn’t YHVH know for a FACT that opening the womb in the first trimester of life brings death? Or did He (along with Adam “who was with her”) wait to see for Himself if His hypothesis would stand up to the test? The thought is just too foreign to me to embrace.
I’m open to exploring the idea but I’m so grateful my salvation doesn’t hing on my being able to understand it!
Would someone please tell me how to get that smiley face in the text!
I am not sure how Ian would respond but here’s what I say. God knows for sure that disobedience leads to death. That is part of His moral government. What He cannot know “for sure” is if Adam and Havvah will be obedient. That can only be known through their actions. He can warn them about the certainty of the result should they choose that path, but He does not know in advance of them choosing that they will in fact go that way. This does not diminish God’s knowledge at all. God still knows all the possible outcomes of Man’s choices. But the choices don’t exist as real events until they are made.
All of this depends on breaking the grip of the Greek metaphysics of time (the idea that time is like a river where events in the temporal stream already exist and are only floating toward our vantage point on the river bank). My comments in Today’s Word do not suggest that God doesn’t know the outcome of disobedience. I believe that He does and therefore He warns of the actual results.
Ian?
Yes, the quotation in your comment was a quote from a comment by Ian Hodge. It wasn’t what I wrote, so I thought I’d better let him reply to it.
Thanks Skip. I was being silly. I should have responded “Ian are you out there?”
I’m still mulling over your comment (which makes more sense by the way). I have several giant pots of various brews simmering on my back burners. I keep adding new ingredients to them as they are presented to me. Sometimes it improves the flavor often I have to throw out the entire mix.
As I’ve said in past blogs one of my favorite phrases is “for now”. What I believed even last year has changed significantly. I’m not opposed to listening to others opinions and in fact appreciate being corrected. The reason I am in the place I’m in today is because I prayed a prayer nearly 30 years ago. “Father I don’t care what the truth is just as long as it is the whole truth. Teach me to love what you love and hate what you hate.” We’ve walked a strange path ever since.
A friend of mine once wrote “The truth that is not the whole truth is not the truth at all!” I believe that with my whole heart. There IS a truth that is pure truth. That’s what I’m after.
“Would someone please tell me how to get that smiley face in the text!”
Pam,
You use a colon immediately followed by a closing parenthesis 🙂 (your browser will recognise that and automatically display the “smiley”). You can also use a semicolon for a wink 😉 or an 8 followed by a parenthesis for sunglasses. 8) There are stacks of others as well – google “smileys” if you really want to know.
🙂
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Lets see if a geek deficient old dog can figure that out. Here goes. Did it work? 8()
Rats!
Pam – you put the 8() instead of just 8 ) (without the space). Think of a smile on its side (that’s the closing parenthesis). 8)
“Why is Havvah tempted to eat from the Tree? Because she believes that eating of the Tree will improve her ability to make decisions on her own. She won’t have to rely on the manual anymore. Now she will intuitively know what to do. She will have experience.”
Here’s my original poetic response–off the top of a very weary head today….
It was right. It was good.
Behind the fence, it was understood.
It was safe. It was sweet.
It looked good enough to eat.
What voice did she hear? What words did she know?
She could see better if she got up close.
What happened AFTER? She wanted to know.
Who would tell her if she didn’t find out herself?
Was anyone around as reliable and trustworthy,
As transparent and vulnerable, as open and caring
As the voice calling sweetly, softly, low?
A whisper so subtle came to her ear
“I’ll show you, my dear, take a look over here.
You will see something so good, so beautiful and true,
It must be meant for you!”
Alas, as she heeded the voice and drew near
It became a trap—that much was now clear!—
But the deed had been done.
Now what would become of her, her man, and her son?
The fence was broken down,
The evidence was apparent
The light became darkness.
And as they hid, afraid of their Maker
Who would ask them the question
If life seemed to matter.
His love was shared so freely,
How could they dare to tell Him
The shame of their loss?
Now hiding in fear, and broken in pieces
They couldn’t face the truth—
It had come to set them free, but they had discarded it for a lie.
What else was left but to die.
Thanks for this, Cyndee. After you read a bit more of Guardian Angel you might want to revise the thoughts about “being afraid of their Maker.” I think the text is far deeper. Adam doesn’t say he is afraid of YHWH. He says he is afraid of being naked. I believe we are to understand that he is now afraid of himself. He realizes that he is now capable of disobedience. Before it was only a vague possibility. Now it is a reality. Just like the serpent, he is now able to live two lives at once. He is able to deceive, even himself. He fears what he has become.
What else was left but to die?
🙂
whoo hoooooo! 😉
Coooooooooool!!! 8)
Pam, the truth is not a concept. It is Christ. He (Himself) is the Truth. The Bible is our “Him-book”. He is the center, the compass and the circumference. “Christ is all, and in you all.” He is (not was) the Lamb of G-d which takes away the sins of the world. -“Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith..” “Not I, but Christ..” Christ, the Incarnate, resurrected, (now) ever-living, ever-lasting Word. Christ, the second Adam. Our Redeemer, Friend, Elder brother, Master Teacher, soon coming King. He is (not was) LORD. The Way, The Truth, The Life- Christ. “Christ in you, the hope (certainty) of glory (beauty).” “It is He whom we proclaim as we admonish and wisely teach everyone, so that we may present everyone mature in the Messiah.” (Colossians 1.28).
Like most words in English, “truth” has several meanings. LIke most words in any language, context determines a great deal of the nuances of meaning. So, while it is “true” that “truth” in the framework of John’s gospel is centered in the idea of a person, the word “truth” is also applicable to many other contexts in Scripture which are not personal in nature. For example, the legal requirements of Torah are true but they are not essentially personal. They are codified regulations for the believing community. Nevertheless, they can rightly be called the truth. “God created the world by spoken word, not though a battle with a powerful evil force or by manipulation of pre-existent matter.” This statement is biblically true but in a different way than Yeshua’s claim to be the “truth.” So, Carl is correct that “truth” in relation to the context of Yeshua is personal, but Pam is also correct that “truth” in relation to concepts, legal principles and theological statements is most often not personal. It’s strictly business. 😉
Not a problem Skip- 2+2=4 is a true statement. But Yeshua is the (now) living, reigning Word of G-d incarnated into human flesh. He is YHWH’s final answer to us. The measure of all things is Christ. “Christ is all and in you all.” Look for Christ in Genesis,Exodus,Leviticus through Malachi (my Messenger) and you will find Him. Look for Christ in every single story in the Bible and you will find Him. G-d became the Son of man that we (the sons of men) may become the (now adopted) sons of G-d. This is true and made possible by knowing Him who is the Truth. Even our common word “amen” is our acknowledgment of what is true- “amen”, “it is so”, verily, verily, truly, truly!. G-d’s truth stamp as you have accurately described it. Christ is the Amen of G-d, sent from heaven above to reveal the heart of G-d to men. Alpha through Omega, it was Rabbi’s Sha’ul’s burning desire to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings and uttered these very odd words: “not I, but Christ.” This is the gospel truth, “centered” in the cross of Christ, allowing us (all) a right relationship “both” vertically with our holy and compassionate Creator and also horizontally with our fellow creatures. “Behold, I make all things new” are the words of Christ. We should “both” heed and hearken (shema) to His words. As His mother instructed the servants (us)- “whatever He says to you, do it.” Encapsulated in one word to the people of Israel, “Shema.” Listen and obey (Him). Yeshua was pleased with the confession of Peter and said unto him, “upon this rock I will build my church.” Peter’s confession was (and our’s needs to be)- “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the (now) living G-d.” Yeshua’s “self-confession” was “I AM.” This should be our our’s as well. Why? Because HE IS. Are we (daily) listening to the voice of Truth?
One final thought. (Finally…lol!!- I doubt that..) G-d never lies. His words are true and His words remain. They are “forever” words. Wow!- They are just as fresh as today’s newspaper. Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Good News!! “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the (resurrected, now living) LORD.” Truth? And the answer is.. -(in truth) “amen.”
“It’s strictly business.”
Or in the words of Moses; De 32:47 “For it is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life; and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.”
I spent too many years telling my children lies and to my shame and utter sorrow now I’m like Lot.
They think I’m crazy when I tell them to flee the Sodom I brought them into and raised them in.
But I have grandchildren now.
Yes Carl Yeshua is Messiah The Way The Truth and The Life. But what is that really? Do I send them to Church to find out? Woe to ME if I fail to bring them THE TRUTH. I am more responsible for the truth that I now know (and continue to learn) than ever before. I need the pure truth because they need the pure truth about who YHVH really is. What does He looks like? He looks like Torah.
When I see Yeshua I see Torah lived out to the fullest. A life poured out in reflection of YHVH back to YHVH. Face to Face like a double rainbow that mirror images it’s colors back to itself. One from heaven looking down and the other a pefect mirror reflection looking back from whence it came. And we as the part of the creation that is formed for the express purpose of bearing His image need that Torah imprinted on us (like the signet imprints a wax seal) in order to perform the function for which we were created.
We need to look like Torah! And we need to instill that same purpose for life into the next generation who struggles desperately to find any meaning in their existence! @};-
“They think I’m crazy when I tell them to flee the Sodom I brought them into and raised them in.
But I have grandchildren now.”
Pam,
I can identify with these statements. Truly, there were no more determined adherents to the ‘attend and participate’ mentality than our family, as we were raising our children. This was what ‘we thought’ was the right thing to do. And yet, now from time to time, one or more of the grandchildren have an interest in, and acceptance of, the things we talk about “as we are going along.”
Even though our family has received much mercy and grace over the years, I now ask for a different kind. Now, I desire the opportunity to lead them to the TRUTH, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Help me, God!
Bless you dear sister,
My heart trembles in fear and breaks in anguish as my son-in-law mocks my preparations for the feasts of YHVH.
As His grace abounded in our ignorance so shall HE have mercy on us all as we return to His covenant sowing THE TRUTH watered in tears of repentance. He will surely help us!
Shalom