If my mom and dad wanted to make me mad, just say, "because I said so!" I felt they were taking the easy way out, not having to explain their side. They were shutting the debate down. There was no debate. Their way or the highway! I could do things my way but there would definitely be consequences. I knew where they stood and they got to call all the shots, the end!
I was reminded of "because I said so" a few weeks ago in a Bible study that I am doing with my daughter and some of her friends. We were discussing Adam and Eve. I always say I think God gave us family units so we could understand our parent-child relationship with Him. We are His children and we act like little kids! Sometimes we just don't get it. Adam and Eve were no different!
Genesis 2: 16-17, "And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,for when you eat from it you will certainly die.'” God made it clear they were not to eat from that tree and even told them what the circumstances would be. Like most "kids," because they could not have it, they wanted it. All of the wonderful trees they must have had to choose from. The best, prettiest fruit we could ever imagine! They did not even have ten commandments - just one. Do not eat from this tree - because I said so!
Knowledge is good but this tree represented knowing of evil that was dangerous. Adam and Eve did not even know the word evil or what evil was. Like we do our children, their Heavenly Father was trying to protect their innocence.
One thing the girls and I had never thought about was how perfect Eve was. She was the first female and you know she was beautiful, the perfect body and a great personality! The whole package and no drama, no mean girls, no comparing, no body issues, no competition! And my girls would like this - no genetic anomalies! She had the perfect life and threw it all away! Just like we do everyday! Our sin gets in our way! We don't appreciate what we have and we want more.
Genesis 3: 1, "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'” Doesn't that sound like us? The voice in our head trying to justify what we are getting ready to do. In Genesis 3: 2, she answered the serpent. "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden. Now she was engaging in conversation. Flee, Eve, flee! The devil likes to find us alone to work on us. He did not go to both of them, together. Genesis 3: 4-5, "'You will not surely die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'And you will be like God....'" The serpent never said another word. He didn't have to because he had planted the seeds. You know the rest of the story. Genesis 3: 6, "...and ate it." Adam and Eve ate the apple and that was the beginning of shame. Poor Eve, she could not even blame her parents for her childhood that led her astray!
Can you see yourself in this story? I can. Let's take lessons from Eve. Let's keep looking to God for His truth. The world is constantly trying to tell us it's way but God is the One and only Way! Let's look at all of the good that we already have! Let's look to other godly role models for counsel when we are struggling. Let's look to God!
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