Genesis 3:2-3–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

Posted by Seth on Jan 8, 2010 in Bible Study, Daily Devotions |

Genesis 3:2-3–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Genesis 3:2-3 wherein we consider the trouble that comes when we add to the Word of God.

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

One of the first errors of mankind might have been legalism. It’s difficult to know exactly what was going through Eve’s mind when the serpent asked her about the rules God had set in place for what could and could not be eaten from the trees in the garden, but it seems that she decided to add a bit to God’s command. His instruction was against eating of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but not against touching it. Now, we certainly might argue that hanging around it and turning the fruit over in one’s hand to admire it wasn’t a good idea; that’s common sense. But Eve went farther than this in actually retelling God’s command in an inaccurate manner, adding to His words instead of sharing her own convictions that were based on what God had set in place. This legalism, this holding up the rules of man as if they were the same as those of God, proved lethal for her. Nothing of course happened when she touched the fruit because, though probably unwise, the action was never one connected to condemnation. Eve though, having misrepresented God’s words, was then convinced that God was either soft, kidding, or absent. Thus followed the bite and thus began the great and terrible fall.

I’ve had different well-meaning brothers in the Lord uphold legalism as something that is sometimes helpful. To be fair, these are godly men who love God’s Word and seek to live for Him, but this is a point at which I would have to disagree. I would propose that we do all that we can to know so very well exactly what God has said, what He has declared as good and as harmful, and then seek to be biblical instead of legalistic. Some of the problems here do exist in definitions, for I know that some would consider me a legalist as I am concerned about the specifics when it comes to obedience, but I don’t obey in order to be saved; I obey because I have been saved through the work of Christ. There’s obviously a fine line here when we come to the application, although I believe it’s an important distinction to make. The problem with becoming a legalist, living (or believing) as if God has instituted more than He actually has, will lead us toward being judgmental instead of reminding people that there is a Judge to whom we will all give account. It will lead us toward accepting as ultimate truth that which is only a rule that we have put in place, a rule that if we end up crossing will lead us to imagine that there is no consequence for sin, the exact thing that Eve began to believe, the exact thing that led her to actually cross the true line that God had set.

Are you growing in your knowledge of God and His Word? Are you clear on what He has said and what He has not? If we’re not continually seeking to know Him more, we’ll either spend a good amount of time having to set up our own parameters, guessing as we go, or in simply throwing all guides out the window. Neither will do. Open up your Bible and seek Him today.

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