EVE

We have been on the men of the Bible for a while. How about we do a little study on the women. For those of you who don't know or have forgotten about Eve and because she was the first women created by God we will start with her.

Genesis 3:1-5

EVE: life; living

The name given by Adam to his wife (Genesis 3:20; 4:1). The Creator, by declaring that it was not good for man to be alone, and by creating for him a suitable companion, gave sanction to monogamy (1 archaic : the practice of marrying only once during a lifetime 2 : the state or custom of being married to one person at a time 3 : the condition or practice of having a single mate during a period of time).

The commentator Matthew Henry says: "This companion was taken from his side to signify that she was to be dear unto him as his own flesh. Not from his head, lest she should rule over him; nor from his feet, lest he should tyrannize over her; but from his side, to denote that species of equality which is to subsist in the marriage state." And again, " That wife that is of God's making by special grace, and of God's bringing by special providence, is likely to prove a helpmeet to her husband." Through the subtle temptation of the serpent she violated the commandment of God by taking of the forbidden fruit, which she gave also unto her husband (Genesis 3:1-24;(Timothy 2:13-15 Adam wasn't deceived. He knew full well what he was doing. Chose to disobey as did Eve); 2 Corinthians 11:3). When she gave birth to her first son, she said, "I have gotten a man from the Lord" (Genesis 4:1).

Satan assaulted our first parents, to draw them to sin, and the temptation proved fatal to them. The tempter was the devil, in the shape and likeness of a serpent. Satan's plan was to draw our first parents to sin, and so to separate between them and their God. Thus the devil was from the beginning a murderer, and the great mischief maker. The person tempted was the woman: it was Satan's policy to enter into talk with her when she was alone. There are many temptations to which being alone gives great advantage; but the communion of saints tends very much to their strength and safety. Satan took advantage by finding her near the forbidden tree. They that would not eat the forbidden fruit, must not come near the forbidden tree. Satan tempted Eve, that by her he might tempt Adam. It is his policy to send temptations by hands we do not suspect, and by those that have most influence upon us. Satan questioned whether it were a sin or not, to eat of this tree. He did not disclose his design at first, but he put a question which seemed innocent. Those who would be safe, need to be shy of talking with the tempter. He quoted the command wrong. He spoke in a taunting way. The devil, as he is a liar, so he is a scoffer from the beginning; and scoffers are his children. It is the craft of Satan to speak of the Divine law as uncertain or unreasonable, and so to draw people to sin; it is our wisdom to keep up a firm belief of God's command, and a high respect for it. Has God said, Ye shall not lie, nor take his name in vain, nor be drunk, &c.? Yes, I am sure he has, and it is well said; and by his grace I will abide by it. It was Eve's weakness to enter into this talk with the serpent: she might have perceived by his question, that he had no good design, and should therefore have started back. Satan teaches men first to doubt, and then to deny. He promises advantage from their eating this fruit. He aims to make them discontented with their present state, as if it were not so good as it might be, and should be. No condition will of itself bring content, unless the mind be brought to it. He tempts them to seek preferment, as if they were fit to be gods. Satan ruined himself by desiring to be like the Most High, therefore he sought to infect our first parents with the same desire, that he might ruin them too. And still the devil draws people into his interest, by suggesting to them hard thoughts of God, and false hopes of advantage by sin. Let us, therefore, always think well of God as the best good, and think ill of sin as the worst evil: thus let us resist the devil, and he will flee from us.

Continued tomorrow. Well, I never said the stories of the women would be short. Maybe that is some of our problems today. Everything has to be made short, fast and easy. Where in the Bible does it say that as a child of God our lives are going to short, fast and easy? How many of us have suffered, yet, in the way He did or even those who followed after Him, His disciples, have? Our sufferings, such as they are, usually are of our own making. Jesus' wasn't. His sufferings were freely given for us. Ungrateful as we are a lot of the time. I can't help but wonder sometimes if He ever ask Himself, "Why did I go thru all that I did for them?" But then His love for us is our answer. OOPS, ramblin again.

I have included a couple of pages from the Jewish Dictionary (http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=527&letter=E&search=EVE). Good reading. Has some really interesting thoughts, I think, that hopefully will lead us to search out the Word of God a little more. Please understand that I do not necessarily agree with all that is said in this Dictionary, but as a child of God, I am an adopted Jew as are all of us who belong to God.

God's blessings to each of you,
LJG

SOURCES: King James Bible, Easton's Bible Dictionary, Matthew Henry