Lately, my son has grown fond of the word No. He loves that little word. To hear it, he’ll crawl up to things (like electrical cords) and touch them, waiting for me to say it. When I do, he pulls his pudgy hand away, gives me his gap-toothed smile, and reaches for it again. There’s something so tempting about reaching for those things that are off limits. The word No fascinates him. He tries his very best to get us to say it, to test his boundaries, to see what will happen if he disobeys.
I was thinking the other night how similar I am to my son. I’ve been reading Tosca Lee’s, Havah, which is a story about Eve. It’s made me examine Eve’s story closer than I ever have before. The fall of man is a fascinating topic. Tosca does such a good job setting it up. How wonderful and glorious is the garden! God created it for them – a special, perfect place where God’s presence permeates everything. Nothing is off limits. Except for that tree. That tempting, fruit-filled tree. And what do you think Eve focuses on? Not the abundant blessings, but on the one and only thing that is forbidden.
I’m not going to try and tease apart this aspect of humanity. I’m not going to psychoanalyze it. I just thought I’d bring it up for brain fodder.
Question to Ponder: What do you think it is that attracts us to the forbidden?
What is it about humans that points us in the direction of forbidden things? That is one I am saving for the Master, but if I could speculate just looking at my own life. Whenever I take my eyes off of Him, I slip in to temptation on every side.
Too bad when our souls are saved our flesh isn't too. One thing I appreciate about Eve's story is that it reminds me that even when I stumble there nothing that can seperate me from God's love. I may prolong by blessings and even temporarily cut off my communition, but I can always find my way back home.
Thanks Katie!
Blessings to you…
i have absolutely nothing to add to a discussion like this. [tongue in cheek!] 🙂
but seriously, not inclined to pick my job-application-fried brain at this point in time. 🙂
love ya.
This book is next up to read for me. It's on my nightstand waiting.
The forbidden? I think it's that we're a selfish being–we want everything! ANd we want to prove that we can turn everything to our advantage. So sad, but I think that's the crux of it. Okay, now heading into prayer for forgiveness.
Oh yes–abundant blessings indeed. But I just know there's a few more in the cookie jar deep in the cupboard and out of reach!
Great question Katie. Hmmm, I like all these answers but in the end I think I'm torn between the rebellious nature and the need to know. I think the rebelliousness came from sin, but I don't think Eve was rebellious. Maybe we do have that innate, God-made curiosity? I don't know so now this question really fascinates me. LOL!
I think we all bear that curse of the sin nature now. We think that what we can't have will somehow fulfill us in a way that only God can!
I think it's a desire to UNDERSTAND that which is forbidden. For example, I was forbidden to smoke growing up, but I also saw my dad struggling to quit. So, I understood what smoking was, and knew why it was forbidden, and had no interest in it whatsoever.
However, if there had simply been a closet I was forbidden to open? That would have been irresistable, because of the need to learn more. The need to KNOW.
I think – especially into today's society – we feel entitled to have whatever we want! We're told we deserve it; that we shouldn't deny ourselves. WE ARE DECEIVED! 1 Peter 5:8 (Totally didn't mean to sound like a preacher there! LOL)
Maybe it's the possibility of what we don't understand and want to have. And there's something about human nature that chafes at being told what to do. It seems to reduce us in a way, from individuals to someone who isn't allowed to exercise their free will. Just a theory. :0)
Everyone likes a challenge, right? And we were created to want what is forbidden. It's in our makeup. I'm not sure I can think of a good reason why other than, "just because."
We are rebellious by nature. We need relationship with God.
~ Wendy
It is inevitable that all will won't what they can't have. Sigh….
Why, indeed? I love the story of Adam and Eve. I love to speculate theirs as the ultimate love story. Eve, doomed to death, and Adam, not wanting to live without Eve, sacrifices his own life and eats of the fruit so they will be doomed together. It sounds so much better than Adam being a wimpy male and giving in to temptation too. That's my take. 🙂 lol