If you read the account, things can appear to be puzzling, but there is a lot that is explained elsewhere in the Bible.
For example.....we know that it was satan masquerading as a serpent, but why was he there in the first place?
Ezekiel 28:13-15 tells us....
"....you were the model of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eʹden, the garden of God.You were adorned with every precious stone—Ruby, topaz, and jasper; chrysʹo·lite, onyx, and jade; sapphire, turquoise, and emerald;And their settings and mountings were made of gold. They were prepared on the day you were created. 14 I assigned you as the anointed covering cherub.You were on the holy mountain of God, and you walked about among fiery stones. 15 You were faultless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you."
So the angel that became satan was once a faithful 'covering cherub' in the garden of Eden. Cherubs were the the guardians, which is why they were posted by the tree of life to prevent access to its fruitage after the first humans were evicted from the garden.
This explains why he was there. It also explains why he was able to approach the woman when her husband was not with her. He had time to observe and to plan his scheme to get to his prime target, which was Adam. He probably knew that a direct approach to Adam would have ended in a rebuff, but a request made through his wife might just do the trick....it worked.
Since we are not aware of any rebellion among God's heavenly family prior to the creation of man, we can assume that satan was never in a position to fulfill his ambitions to become "like God" because all the other angels were his equal in power. Only with the creation of humans could he be a 'god' and have lower creatures worship him and do his bidding.
God did not plan any of this. It was the exercise of free will that led the devil to influence the woman (to take her away from God) .....it was the exercise of free will that led the woman to eat of the fruit (she thought she would be better off )....and it was the exercise of free will that led Adam to accept his wife's offer. (He was forced to choose between the love of his life and the love of his God) Every one of those actions was precipitated by selfishness. All disobeyed, but for different reasons.
The outcome was foretold....it was no surprise because the penalty was clearly stated. From the day they ate of the fruit, they began to die. What was not anticipated was that their defect would be passed onto their children. (Romans 5:12)
This could well have been just the natural result of the physical imperfection that resulted from Eve's sin. It too was passed onto her children like all the other awful consequences of their disobedience. They would now descend into aging, pain and suffering, sickness and death...none of which were in God's original purpose for mankind. We only have to witness the birth of animals to know that it should not be painful. However, it should be noted that this has never stopped women from having children......the memory of the pain fades when you hold that child in your arms....it actually makes you appreciate them even more.....so much so that we go back and do it again and again....
He never did....all that was required of Adam and his wife was to obey one simple command that did not in any way inconvenience them. They had all the other trees bearing a wonderful variety of fruit for the taking. This one tree was God's property....so this was a test of their respect for what rightfully belonged to God as the one thing he did not give them. Their disobedience was due to them not respecting him and stealing something that did not belong to them. He had generously given them all they would need and more....yet it still wasn't enough. What can we learn from that?
Adam and his wife were perfect. There was no defect in them, which means there was no excuse for what they did. They didn't make a mistake....they chose to deliberately disobey, which is why we will never see them again.
If you remember that Jesus was also a perfect man who was tempted three times by the devil (God did not prevent this) .....each one was an appeal to selfishness. But each time, Jesus referred to scripture (his Father's teachings) to refuse to accept the offers that satan made. If Jesus could stand firm for his Father's commands, then Adam and his wife could have too. All were free willed and could have disobeyed....but only one remained faithful. The devil doesn't need new tactics because he already knows what works with humans who are inherently selfish. Being forewarned is to be forearmed, so if we know what bait the devil uses we will not be tempted to take it.
Just because we are born in sin, doesn't mean we have to commit sin. We have choices because we are all free agents.
God is incredibly proud of us when we give an answer back to the devil as Job did when the devil took so much from him. (Proverbs 27:11) But we have to read the end of Job, not just the beginning....
"After Job had prayed for his companions, Jehovah removed Job’s tribulation and restored his prosperity. Jehovah gave him double what he had before.....So Jehovah blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the beginning....He also came to have seven more sons and three more daughters....After this Job lived for 140 years, and he saw his children and his grandchildren—four generations. Finally Job died, after a long and satisfying life." (Job 42:10-17)
Since Job had faith in the resurrection, he will be blessed with all 20 of his children in the new world to come.....and be able to spend eternity with them in peace and happiness. There is nothing that is allowed to happen in this system of things that cannot be undone by God in the new system he has purposed to reward all the faithful ones like Job. We can be among them.
Why do you think it was a test from God?
