Do you have favorite lines or scenes from movies? (Lines like the famous one from Terminator: “I’ll be back.”) Here is one of my husband’s favorite scenes from Indiana Jones, The Last Crusade. The scene is toward the end of the movie when Indiana, the bad German, the knight, who guards the Holy Grail, and the blonde are in a room filled with cups. The cups are all shapes and sizes. The bad guy wants the Grail. The knight tells him that he will have to choose one. The bad guy looks at all the cups and admits he does not know which one to choose. Elsa, the blond, offers to choose for him. She falsely chooses a cup that would be fit for a King. He fills it with water and drinks. He dies dramatically and turns to dust. The knight replies: “He chose poorly.”
Choices, choices, there are so many choices we have to make in our life times. Choices we make affect others. Choices others make affect us. Choice – a funny word. Here are some other words used to describe choice: selection, alternative, option and preference.
What do we know about Eve? Her story begins in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible. “Then God said, "Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life--the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals." Genesis 1:26
The Hebrew word for “people” is “adam” and literally means “groundlings,” but through the years we have understood it as “man” meaning mankind or all humans.
So we know that Eve was created in God’s image.
“So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
We know that Eve was created as Adam’s equal.
“God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.”” Genesis 1:28
“And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." So the LORD God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, birds, and wild animals. But still there was no companion suitable for him. So the LORD God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam's ribs and closed up the place from which he had taken it. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam.” Genesis 2:18-22
Ribs, the Hebrew (Tsela) literally means side and does not refer to the rib bone. It was not until the medieval times that Rabbis taught this translation to support that women were made inferior. They also used the same verse to teach that women were created as an after thought and in the image of man rather than God.
God made a companion to help him. The Hebrew here is “Ezer Kenedo” and means “helper corresponding to.” It is interesting to note that God often refers to Himself as “Ezer,” our Helper. There is nothing subordinate in that job description.
We know that God was happy with His creation.
“Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31
We know that God created the world with human kind in mind so Eve really had it made. God gave them permission to eat all the fruit in the garden except the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
“Then the LORD God planted a garden in
“But the LORD God gave him this warning: "You may freely eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die."” Genesis 2:16-17
We know that Eve was curious and liked to “push the envelope.”
She was inspecting the tree.
“Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the LORD God had made.”
"Really?" he asked the woman. "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?"
"Of course we may eat it," the woman told him. "It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die." Genesis 3:1-3
She was considering truth of what God said.
She added to the truth. (Even touch it.)
She refers to the forbidden thing by its position in the garden rather than by its content.
She rationalizes and she was ripe for the temptation offered and the hidden lie.
“"You won't die!" the serpent hissed.
"God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil."
The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too.” Genesis 3:4-6
Eve made her choice. She took the bait because she ignored or forgot the truth. (Truth: She was already like God because she was created in the image of God.)
Adam was with Eve, but we do not hear or see him trying to stop her.
They both swallowed the lie.
The consequences:
Eve became separated from God by her choice to eat the fruit. Adam became separated from God by his choice to eat the fruit.
Eve lost everything. Adam lost everything
Their rebellion caused sin to enter into our world.
Generations have been affected and infected by their choice.
It is true that the choices of others affect our lives. Their choices may narrow our choices or may bring more choices. Think about how your lives have been affected by the choices of others. Some have brought you good and some have brought you bad. Think about how your own choices have affected you. Every day we have a choice: We can be like Adam and blame Eve or someone else for the consequences of their choices. We can choose to wallow in the mire of bad choices or we can choose to take responsibility for the choices we have made and take responsibility for our future.
Choices, choices we have so many choices to make. Will you choose wisely?
Will you choose to share the Gospel Story with someone who needs to hear it today. Will you choose to Win One Woman?
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