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@unquiet1 | 13 January 11 | |
3. The tree of knowledge and the tree of life seem mythical. Actually, the Genesis account does not teach that these trees had any peculiar or supernatural powers of their own. Rather, they were actual trees that Jehovah(Gods personal name mentioned in Psalm 83:18 King James Version)... Jehovah invested with symbolic meaning. Do not humans do something similar at times? For instance, a judge may warn against the crime of acting in contempt of court. It is not the furniture, fixtures, and walls of the courtroom itself that the judge wants to protect from disrespect but the system of justice that the court represents. Various monarchs too have used the scepter and the crown as symbols of their sovereign authority. What, then, did the two trees symbolize? Many complex theories have been put forward. The genuine answer, while simple, is quite profound. The tree of the knowledge of good and bad represented a privilege that is Gods province alonethe right to determine what is good and what is bad. (Jeremiah 10: 23) No wonder it was a crime to steal from that tree! The tree of life, on the other hand, represented a gift that only God can bestow everlasting life.Romans 6:23. |
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@unquiet1 | 13 January 11 | |
4. A serpent that talks seems to belong to fairy-tale lore. Granted, this aspect of the Genesis narrative can be puzzling, especially if we do not take the rest of the Bible into account. However, the Scriptures gradually clear up this intriguing mystery. Who or what made that serpent appear to talk? The people of ancient Israel knew of other factors that shed much light on the role of that snake. For example, they knew that although animals do not talk, a spirit person can make an animal appear to speak. Moses also wrote the account about Balaam; God sent an angel to make Balaams donkey talk like a man.(Numbers 22:26-31; 2 Peter 2:15, 16.) Can other spirits, including those who are Gods enemies, perform miracles? Moses had seen the magic-practicing priests of Egypt duplicate some of Gods miracles, such as making a staff appear to turn into a snake. The power to perform feats like that could come only from Gods enemies in the spirit realm.Exodus 7:8-12. |
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@unquiet1 | 13 January 11 | |
Evidently Moses was also the inspired writer of the book of Job. That book taught much about God's chief enemy, Satan, who lyingly challenged the integrity of all of Jehovahs servants. (Job 1:6-11; 2:4, 5) Did the Israelites of old thus reason that Satan had manipulated the serpent in Eden, making it appear to talk and deceive Eve into breaking her integrity to God? It seems likely. Was Satan the force behind the serpent? Jesus later referred to Satan as ''a liar and the father of the lie.'' (John 8:44) ''The father of the lie'' would be the author of the first lie ever told, would he not? The first lie is found in the serpents words to Eve. Contradicting Gods warning that eating the forbidden fruit would end in death, the serpent said: ''You positively will not die.'' (Genesis 3:4) Clearly, Jesus knew that Satan had manipulated the serpent. The Revelation that Jesus gave to the apostle John settles the matter, calling Satan ''the original serpent.'' -Revelation 1:1; 12:9. Is it really far-fetched to believe that a powerful spirit person could manipulate a serpent, making it appear to talk? Even humans, though far less powerful than spirits, can perform baffling tricks of ventriloquism and create convincing special effects. |
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@unquiet1 | 13 January 11 | |
The Most Compelling Evidence Would you not agree that the skepticism about the Genesis account has little real basis? On the other hand, there is powerful evidence that the account is true history. For example, Jesus Christ is called the faithful and true witness. (Revelation 3:14) Being a perfect man, he never lied, never misrepresented the truth in any way. What is more, he taught that he had existed long before his life as a man on earthin fact, he had lived alongside his Father, Jehovah, before the world was. (John 17:5) So he was alive when life on earth began. What is the testimony of this most reliable of all witnesses? Jesus spoke of Adam and Eve as real people. |
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@unquiet1 | 13 January 11 | |
He referred to their marriage when explaining Jehovahs standard of monogamy. (Matthew 19:3-6) If they never existed and the garden in which they lived was a mere myth, then either Jesus was deceived or he was a liar. Neither conclusion is feasible! Jesus had been in heaven, watching as the tragedy unfolded in the garden. What evidence could be more convincing than that? In reality, disbelief in the Genesis account undermines faith in Jesus. Such disbelief also makes it impossible to understand some of the Bibles greatest themes and most reassuring promises. Have a look at my other topic WHY EDEN MATTERS 2 YOU |
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