Part 5 of 6 parts. To read previous parts, click on the following: Part 1: ADAM & EVE ASK: HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? Part 2: ADAM & EVE ASK: HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? Part 2 of 6 Part 3:ADAM & EVE ASK: HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? Part 3 of 6 Parts Part 4 ADAM & EVE ASK: HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? Part 4 of 6 Parts In their shame and guilt, they attempted a futile cover-up to hid themselves from each other and from God. Their whirlwind of activity resulted in a stylish apron made of fig leaves. Fig leaves. Have you ever felt a fig leaf? At certain points in their growth cycle they feel like medium-grade sandpaper. Wearing a fig leaf while stark naked is a long way from the comfort of cotton or linen. Adam and Eve used these irritating leaves to try to cover up the new feelings loosed by their disobedience. Perhaps the leaves would also cover their altered thinking about God. Perhaps these leaves would prevent God from recognizing their transgression. Suddenly they heard God’s voice. For the first time, they feared His presence. He was no longer a loving companion, a partner in their creative endeavor, and a provider of good. Rather, He was the unwelcome voice of justice and truth, a truth they no longer wanted to hear. He was someone who would recognize their disobedience. What would the consequences be?” God called for them. They hid. God called again: Where are you?
Adam finally answered. “I was afraid, because I am naked. And I hid myself.” “Who said you were naked?” inquired God. “Did you eat from the forbidden tree?” Adam’s infamous reply was: That woman you gave me---she gave me some fruit---and I ate! God next asked Eve: What have you done? “The Serpent beguiled me,” she shot back. God’s assignation of responsibility and his consequent judgment were swift. The Serpent was cursed to forever crawl on its belly and have a perpetual struggle with the descendants of Eve. Eve would be forever subject to Adam. Her desire for him would lead to painful childbirth. Adam would continue to till the soil, but it would be rocky and yield “thorns and thistles” as often as edible crops. Furthermore, at the end of their lives, they would return to the dust from which they were made. Finally, they were banned from their homeland, Eden, prevented from returning by a monstrous cherubim with a whirling sword. Visit www.ProBlogs.com/CarolynCHolland next Sunday evening, when Part 6 of ADAM & EVE: HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT? will be posted. Meanwhile, visit this site daily to read regular posts, and visit the Beanery Online Literary Magazine at www.ProBlogs.com/beanerywriters and scroll down the categories to find more enjoyable reading. Remember to add both these sites to your “favs” list. | 
