Adam was not deceived
The accounts of the events in the garden of Eden are very much interesting. More than that, they are eye-openers to many things pertaining to man’s surjourn here on earth.
Thousands of years after the cataclysmic events in that garden, the apostle Paul writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, had this to say:
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (1 Timothy 2:14)
Those are powerful words that we must not gloss over. We gloss over them to our peril. Very clearly, from the very accounts of Genesis, Eve was deceived or beguiled by the serpent. She was tricked, and that trickery led her into transgression.
Was that bad? Yes; but it isn’t as bad as what Adam pulled. Paul stated clearly that Adam was not deceived. But if Adam was not deceived, why did he follow through with what Eve had started? If he could see clearly that Eve was wrong, and that what the serpent had told her was wrong, why then did he eat of that tree?
Perhaps Adam chose to uphold his relationship with Eve above his submission to God? It is difficult to find any other plausible reason. At any rate, it is always a dangerous thing to uphold relationships above obedience and submission to God”s commandments.
It does not matter what sort of relationship is under view – husband-wife, employee-employer, citizen-government – whatever. It is always wrong. The Lord holds the place of pre-eminence over all.
That is why it bothers me to no end that the teaching that says “God has created us for relationships” is so prevalent today. I have seen too many professing Christians hold on to relationships because some pastor has taught them that this is the most important purpose of God for their lives on earth. And honestly, that is nonsense.
Jesus taught us to be ready to sacrifice relationships for the kingdom”s sake (Matthew 10:37-39). We also see that the apostles defied even civil relationships where it copntradicted the Lord’s instructions to them. They did not attempt to reason it away and find some point of compromise. They had only one Lord and Master – and Him they obeyed, even to the death.
Adam’s sin was all the more grievous because he was not deceived. He was fully aware of what he did when he ate that fruit – probably to please, or be in solidarity with, his wife.
Revelations 4:11 states clearly that all things – man inclusive – were created by God”s will and for His pleasure – certainly not for the purpose of relationships. The one relationship that matters is that of the Lordship of Jesus to us. And that relationship demands submission and obedience to Him above the demands of any other.
