The Last Enemy, Death, Brought to Nothing - HOW DEATH ENTERED THE HUMAN FAMILY

After Eve was created, Adam informed her of God's command.  She knew it well and was able to repeat it almost verbatim. (Genesis 3:1-3)  She did so to someone who presented himself as a serpent, a cautious creature.  The one behind  the serpent as Satan the Devil, a spirit son of God who had allowed himself to nurture a desire for independence and personal power.  (Compare  James 1:14, 15)   To achieve his evil ends, he accused God of lying.  He assured Eve  that reaching out for independence would result, not in death, but something like God. (Genesis 3:4, 5)  Eve believed him, asserted her independence by  eating the fruit, and persuaded Adam to join her.  (Genesis 3:6, 17) The Devil lied.  (Read  1 Timothy 2:14)  Still. Adam  "listened to [his]wife's voice." Though the serpent might have seemed to be a friend, Satan the Devil was in reality a cruel enemy who knew the fatal consequences of his suggestion to Eve.

For personal reasons, both Adam and Eve rebelled against the One who gave them life and everything else they had.   Jehovah, of course, was aware of all that had happened.  (1 Chronicles 28:9; Proverbs 15:3)   He had allowed the three individuals  involved to show how they felt toward him.  As a Father, surely Jehovah was deeply hurt.  (Compare Genesis 6:6) He then had to act as judge, supporting his own statement of the consequences.

Next time: The Last Enemy, Death, Brought to Nothing - Conclusion of HOW DEATH ENTERED THE HUMAN FAMILY

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