Men of the Bible

By Larry Miller and Larry Richards

Be Mentored by the Most Powerful Men of the Bible

God had a purpose for each man in the Bible-and He has a purpose for you. Larry Miller takes you through the struggles and temptations of men in the Bible and helps you discover the blessings and strengths of being a man of God today. Men of the Bible will mentor you on topics like strength, humility, faith, restoration, destiny, and more.

Smart Guide to the Bible is a series of simplified commentaries designed to uncomplicate God's word for everyday Bible readers. Every page contains handy features or learning aids like these:

• cross-references to other Scriptures
• brief commentaries from experts
• points to ponder
• the big picture of how passages fit with the entire Bible
• practical tips for applying biblical truths to life
• simple definitions of key words and concepts
• interesting maps, charts, and illustrations
• wrap-ups of each biblical passage
• study questions

Whether you're new to the Bible, a long-time student of Scripture, or somewhere in between, you'll appreciate the many ways the Smart Guide to the Bible: Men of the Bible goes far beyond your typical Bible study tool. The practical, relevant helps on each page lead you to get the most out of God's word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Nov 18, 2007
• ISBN: 9781418587321

Larry Miller

Larry Miller was appointed the first chairman of the Jordan Brand Advisory Board in January 2019. Under his leadership, Jordan Brand has grown from a $200-million basketball-shoe company to a $4-billion athletic footwear and apparel firm. Miller helped found the Jordan Brand at Nike in 1999 before becoming president of the Portland Trailblazers from 2007 to 2012, after which he returned to Jordan Brand. Miller graduated with honors from Temple University in 1980 and earned an MBA from LaSalle University. He has served on the boards of directors of Self Enhancement, Inc. A passionate advocate for education and mentorship, he’s taken leadership roles with the Urban League and Junior Achievement in the past. Born in Philadelphia, he lives in Portland, OR.

Book preview

Men of the Bible

The Smart Guide to the Bible™ Series

Larry Miller

Larry Richards, General Editor

Nelson Books

A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers

Since 1798

www.thomasnelson.com

Men of the Bible

The Smart Guide to the Bible™ series © 2007 by GRQ, Inc.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Originally published by Starburst Publishers under the title Men of the Bible: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept. Now revised and updated.

Thomas Nelson, Inc. titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email [e-mail].

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version® (

NKJV

), copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

To the best of its ability, GRQ, Inc., has strived to find the source of all material. If there has been an oversight, please contact us, and we will make any correction deemed necessary in future printings. We also declare that to the best of our knowledge all material (quoted or not) contained herein is accurate, and we shall not be held liable for the same.

General Editor: Larry Richards

Managing Editor: Lila Empson

Associate Editor: W. Mark Whitlock

Scripture Editor: Deborah Wiseman

Assistant Editor: Amy Clark

Design: Diane Whisner

ISBN 10: 1418510009

ISBN 13: 9781418510008

Printed in the United States of America

07 08 09 10 RRD 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Chapters at a Glance

Introduction

Part One: Men of the Old Testament

Chapter 1: Adam—Man of Dust and Destiny

Let’s Create a Man

Let’s Give This Man Something to Do

The Name Game

Wow! She’s Just Like Me!

Uh-Oh, Trouble in Paradise

It’s Her Fault!

Consequences for Adam

Chapter 2: Abraham—Father of Promise

A Big Step

Incredible Appearance

The Big Lie

Lot Walks by Sight, Abram by Faith

Abram’s Courage and Humility

Waiting for a Son

A Human Plan Gone Awry

A New Name and a Unique Pain

A Big Laugh

When Pleading Won’t Work

Laughter Finally in the House

The Ultimate Challenge

A Long Life of Love and Challenge

Chapter 3: Isaac—Man of Patience and Submission

Laughter Is in the Family

What Are You Doing, Dad?

Momma Is Gone; I Want a Wife

Favoritism Rules the Roost

Not Another Lie

The Wrong Son

A Disappointing Ending

Chapter 4: Jacob—Deceiver Who Learned Dependence on God

Early Beginnings Show the Heart

A Hairy Conspiracy

A Cheating Heart Runs Away

Jacob Encounters God’s Heavenly Ladder

Love at First Sight

Lots of Children and Lots of Trouble

From Deceiving to Working

Terror and Wrestling

Whew! Esau Got Over It

Sons Out of Control

Housecleaning

Deceived Again

Family Restored

Retirement Home Found

Predicting the Future of the Tribes of Israel

Chapter 5: Joseph—Obedient Servant

A Future Prime Minister Is Born

Joseph, the Naive Dreamer

Sold for Eight Ounces of Silver

Favor Brings Power

Run, Don’t Walk

Don’t Forget Me When You’re Restored to Your Position

Come—You’re Going to See the Pharaoh!

From Prison to the Palace

The Testing of the Brothers Begins

The Return Trip with Benjamin in Tow

Another Test

Joseph’s Shocking Revelation

Moving Time

A Drive Down Memory Lane

Chapter 6: Moses—Man of Humility and Strength

From Death Row to the Palace

From Prince to Shepherd

From Shepherd to Seeker

Not Me, Lord

Stepping Out in Faith

Crisis in the Desert

From Shepherd to Deliverer

From Deliverer to Reluctant Leader

Reluctant Leader Sends the Message

Death and Deliverance

Leader Challenged Again

The Challenges Never Stop Coming

I Want to Quit, Now!

Most Humble on Earth

Keep on Keeping On

Sit Down for Some Long Sermons

Chapter 7: David—Man After God’s Own Heart

Bad King, Good Shepherd

He Is Too Big to Miss

Spears Keep Whizzing by My Head

Labor-Management Conflict

David Pours Out His Fear

Returning Good for Evil

David’s Victories

That’s What Best Friends Do

Moments of Pleasure, Years of Pain

Like Father, Like Sons

Let’s Just Throw in the Towel

David Was Dangerous to Be Around

A Heart After God Dies

Chapter 8: Men of Strong Faith—Lessons in Perseverence

Noah—120 Years of Faithfulness

Job—Gaining a Godly Perspective of Suffering

Aaron—Moses’s Spokesman

Enoch—He Walked with God

Jehoshaphat—Learning to Make Wise Alliances

Chapter 9: Men of Power—Lessons in Might and Missteps

Samson—Man of Great Physical Power

Elijah—Loner to Mentor

Elisha—Miracle Man

Joab—Strength in Battle but Not Much Else

Chapter 10: Men of Wisdom—Lessons in Obeying God’s Word

Samuel—Prophet of Integrity

Solomon—Wise Mind, Empty Heart

Ezra—Man of the Law

Nehemiah—Building Walls, Building Bridges

Chapter 11: Men of Courage—Lessons in Strength and Bravery

Caleb—Man of Courage and Faith

Joshua—Mentored into Leadership

Gideon—Man Who Grew in Spiritual Strength

Jonathan—Faithful Friend

Chapter 12: The Prophets—Lessons in Speaking the Words of God

Isaiah—Willing Servant

Jeremiah—Weeping Prophet

Ezekiel—Watchman

Daniel—Man of Integrity and Insight

Jonah—You Can Run, but You Can’t Hide

Part Two: Men of the New Testament

Chapter 13: Jesus—Very God and Very Man

Shock and Awe

Prophecies Galore

Who Do You Say That I Am?

Born of a Virgin

Saved from What?

Jesus Became a Bondservant

He Lived for Thirty-three Years

Need for Humanity

Jesus’s Deity

Jesus’s Humanity

Jesus’s Death

Sacrifice Called For

Resurrection: Conquered Death

Chapter 14: Paul—Passionate Writer for God

I’m Gonna Get Those Christians!

Light Brings a Changed Heart

I’ll Send You Letters While I’m Away

Winner of the Unpopularity Contest

Gentiles Need Jesus Too

I Won’t Let Him Flake Out on Us Again!

Paul’s Death

Chapter 15: Peter—Growing in Faith

Ready, Fire, Aim!

Jump Now, Float Later

I Know Who You Are!

Open Mouth, Insert Foot 1

Open Mouth, Insert Foot 2

Pride Before the Downfall

Peter and the Wail

I’ll Pick Jesus Over a Huge Catch

Career Move: From Fisherman to Shepherd

The Church Has Begun

Chapter 16: Men in Ministry—Lessons in Following Christ

John the Baptist—Cousin of the Messiah

Luke—Chronicler of Jesus and the Early Church

Mark—Original Comeback Kid

Barnabas—The Encourager

Matthew—Despised Tax-Collector Turned Disciple

Andrew—Passed Along the Good News

Thomas—Doubter but No Coward

John—The One Jesus Loved

James—Brother of the Messiah

Stephen—First Martyr

Philip—Powerful Witness

Timothy—Youthful and Timid Pastor

Titus—Paul’s Trusted Servant

Onesiphorus—Unashamed Follower

Nicodemus—Radical Change of Heart

Zacchaeus—The Taxman Cometh

Appendix A—Time Line

Appendix B—Paul’s Missionary Journeys

Appendix C—The Answers

Appendix D—The Experts

Footnotes

Glossary

Endnotes

Introduction

Welcome to Men of the Bible—The Smart Guide to the Bible™. This book is part of a series designed to bring God’s encouraging and loving message to you in an easy-to-understand and relevant style. You are about to discover a new commentary that will change your outlook on the Bible forever.

To Gain Your Confidence

You will also gain confidence, as you skip the complicated stuff and zero in on the truth of God’s Word. If you want clear information, Men of the Bible—The Smart Guide to the Bible™ is for you!

What Is the Bible?

The Bible is like no other book. Written over a span of fifteen hundred years, it is a collection of sixty-six books written by at least forty different authors but with one message to tell: God loves you and wants the best for you!

The Bible is divided into two main sections: an Old Testament and a New Testament. The Old Testament was written between 1400 BC (Before Christ) and 400 BC. The New Testament was written in about sixty years, between AD (Anno Domini, which is Latin for in the year of our Lord) 40 and AD 100. The Old Testament deals with the old covenant that God had with his chosen people (the Hebrews) before the birth of Jesus Christ, while the New Testament is about the new covenant—Jesus’s birth, life, resurrection, and the spread of the early church by Jesus’s followers.

Centuries later, experts divided the books of the Bible into chapters and verses. Thus, Genesis 12:3 refers to the twelfth chapter and the third verse in the book of Genesis. If you know the name of the book and its chapter and verse number, you can locate specific Bible verses, stories, and teachings.

Who Wrote the Bible?

At least forty different people wrote the Bible, but all of them believed they were writing the word of God. Some were educated; some were not. Some were mighty kings, and others were lowly shepherds. Moses, for example, was a prisoner and a slave before freeing the Hebrews with God’s help. He is credited with writing the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. King David, on the other hand, was Israel’s greatest king and wrote many worship songs and poems in the book of Psalms. Four of Jesus’s disciples, all from different backgrounds, wrote what are known as the Gospels, which are titled by the names of those disciples: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The disciple John also wrote the book of Revelation under the guidance of its true author—the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. The word trinity is not found in the Bible, but we use the term to describe the three ways God reveals himself: God the Father; God the Son, Jesus Christ; and God the Holy Spirit. Think of the Trinity as three different expressions of God just as you express yourself in three different ways, actions, spoken words, and written words.

The Languages of the Bible

The first books of the Bible and most of the Old Testament were written in Hebrew. Parts of the books of Daniel and Ezra, however, were written in Aramaic, a related language spoken by most Near Eastern peoples from about 600 BC onward. The people of Jesus’s day also spoke Aramaic in everyday situations but studied the Bible in their ancient tongue, Hebrew. About a hundred years before Christ, the Old Testament was translated into Greek, because most people throughout the Roman Empire spoke Greek.

The New Testament was written in the Greek spoken by ordinary people. This meant that the New Testament was easy for all people throughout the Roman Empire to understand so the message of Jesus spread quickly.

Because the Old and New Testament books were recognized as holy, first by Jews and then by Christians, they were copied accurately and carefully preserved.

Why Study the Bible?

Because …

for over two thousand years, millions of people have improved their lives by following its wisdom. The Bible tells us repeatedly that when we study the Bible we will receive valuable blessings.

Because…

many people believe that God communicates with us through the Bible. Within its pages God tells us he wants us to know him and to follow his guidelines for how to live. Romans 15:4 tells us, Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (NKJV).

Because…

all of us want to respond to life’s challenges in a godly way. Even though the Bible was written many years ago in a totally different place and culture than ours, the Bible offers answers to the troublesome situations and the difficult questions we all face today.

Why Learn About Men of the Bible?

The men of the Bible can show us how to live, what choices to make, and why. These men faced failure and success just as we experience them. No matter where we are in our lives, we can gain courage and wisdom from these men. They struggled through difficulties, yet most endured and built their faith. Moses led the Israelites from Egypt but struggled with fear and uncertainty. David led a kingdom but succumbed to temptation; he is remembered as a man after [God’s] own heart (Acts 13:22 NKJV). We can learn to lead our families and lives with purpose and confidence by examining these examples in the Bible.

God had a purpose for each man in the Bible, from Caleb’s faithful and courageous walk to Saul’s utter collapse. God also has a purpose for each one of us. By studying the lives of the men of the Bible, we can know God, bring him into every area of our lives, and build our faith and character.

Many men failed and then rallied to success. Some men compromised and demonstrated their faithlessness. When we examine each life, principles for success are showcased and the consequences of disobedience are painfully driven home. (For a time line of the men of the Bible covered in this book, see Appendix A.)

How to Use Men of the Bible—The Smart Guide to the Bible™

As you read this book, keep in mind its main sections:

• Part One, Men of the Old Testament (chapters 1-12), discusses major men of the Old Testament—Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and David—as well as some others whose stories you will find enlightening.

• Part Two, Men of the New Testament (chapters 13-16), presents the stories of Jesus and of Paul, Peter, and other men who were influenced by Jesus.

Dates

Unlike any other book, the Bible was written over a span of fifteen hundred years! Because of this long period of time, biblical experts sometimes differ in the dates they give for various events. Thanks to archaeologists and their discoveries, however, the accuracy of these dates has improved. We can now accurately date many of the events in the Bible. See Appendix A for time lines that show when in history the men of the Bible lived.

A Word About Words

As you read Men of the Bible—The Smart Guide to the Bible™, you’ll notice some interchangeable words: Scripture, Scriptures, Word, Word of God, God’s Word, etc. All these terms mean the same thing and come under the broad heading of the Bible.

In most cases the phrase the Scriptures in the New Testament refers to the Old Testament. Peter indicated that the early writings of the apostle Paul were quickly accepted in the early church as equal to the rest of the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:16 NKJV). Both Testaments consistently demonstrate the belief that is expressed in 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (NKJV).

One Final Tip

God gave us these stories of the men of the Bible so we could learn from them. With God’s help, you can use what you learn from this book to improve and bless your life. Open your heart. Ask God to speak his Word to you.

About the Author

Larry Miller is a husband, father, author, speaker, and retired police lieutenant for the Huntington Beach Police Department in California. Larry was a policeman for thirty-one years and currently speaks to men’s groups and writes books. His wife, Kathy Collard Miller, is an author and popular women’s conference speaker. Together they speak at couples’ events.

Larry has authored several books, including God’s Vitamin C for the Spirit, and he and Kathy collaborated to write What’s in the Bible for Couples.

Larry has spoken in several states and three foreign countries. When he’s not writing at his desk or speaking before a group, you’ll find him on the golf course.

About the General Editor

Dr. Larry Richards is a native of Michigan who now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was converted while in the Navy in the 1950s. Larry has taught and written Sunday school curriculum for every age group, from nursery through adult. He has published more than two hundred books, and his books have been translated into some twenty-six languages. His wife, Sue, is also an author. They both enjoy teaching Bible studies as well as fishing and playing golf.

Part One

Men of the Old Testament

Chapter 1

Adam—Man of Dust and Destiny

Chapter Highlights:

• Creation of Man

• Creation of Woman

• The Fall

• Blaming Others

• Consequences of the Fall

Let’s Get Started

Imagine waking up and being the only person alive. Of course, for Adam, it didn’t seem strange at all because he didn’t know anything different. For us, the idea of being utterly alone on the planet is incomprehensible. God saw right away that it wasn’t good for Adam to be without a companion and so he created woman. God designed Adam and Eve for fellowship with himself. He asked only one thing: they could not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It seems such a simple request, but they couldn’t obey it. The consequence of their disobedience serves as a powerful motivator for us to do what God says!

Let’s Create a Man

GENESIS 2:7-9 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden [see Illustration #1], and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (NKJV)

On the sixth day of Creation* God, who desired fellowship, made Adam from the dust of the ground by breathing life into him. Adam was created a fully grown man and had everything he needed to survive. Adam did not evolve.

What Others Say

Allen P. Ross

God’s breathing the breath of life into man transformed his form into a living being (lt., a living soul). This made man a spiritual being, with a capacity for serving and fellowshiping with God.¹

*Illustration #1 Garden of Eden— While we don’t know exactly where the Garden of Eden was, we do know four rivers ran through Eden, including the Tigris and the Euphrates. This area is the present day location of Iran and Iraq. The first civilizations developed here.

God could have formed this first human creation of anything he desired in any way he desired. This new creation could have had six eyes or three legs or any number of other appendages or parts, but everything created within man’s body had a purpose and a reason. Then God provided for man by placing him in a garden, giving him all the food and supplies he needed.

Nothing God created was happenstance or by mistake. There was a reason behind everything he did in creation and in the way he created Adam. The word in the Hebrews for formed refers to the work of an artist.

God wants every one of us to feel special, for he created each one of us for a specific purpose. Psalm 139:13-14 says, You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well (NKJV).

Each one of your children is not a mistake, accident, or plan of yours apart from God. God is fulfilling his desires for the formation of that child. He knows exactly the plan he has for him or her, and a father should cooperate with God’s blueprint for that child. You can’t force a child to grow or develop, but you can participate in God’s design* for him or her.

Let’s Give This Man Something to Do

GENESIS 2:15-17 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (NKJV)

Right from the beginning, man had work to do. But Adam’s work was purposeful and meaningful. Drudgery and trouble would enter the picture only after the Fall.

But the plot thickens: there was also a possible temptation* in the form of a tree that contained the knowledge of good and evil, and there was a consequence for disobedience.

If Adam hadn’t been presented with a choice to obey God, he would have been a robot. But with this commandment, God made it possible for Adam to prove his love and devotion to his Creator.

Love without a choice is not love at all.

What Others Say

Charles R. Swindoll

Americans did not invent the idea of freedom… . It began with God, way back in the Garden of Eden when he made Adam and Eve. God made them—and he has made you and me—to enjoy the pleasures and responsibilities of freedom. How?

• God made us with a mind … that we might think freely.

• God made us with a heart … that we might love freely.

• God made us with a will … that we might obey freely.²

God never tempts you to do evil, but he does give you occasions to prove your love for him. His commandments are not some helter-skelter mistake to trap you in sin. They are rules intended for your best and to test* your love and devotion for your Creator. God created you to have a relationship with him.

Just as God clearly defined the rules and the consequences for disobedience, fathers must clearly communicate the rules of their households to their children. They must express the advantages of obeying, and they must make clear the consequences for disobedience.

The Name Game

GENESIS 2:18-20 And the LORD God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him. Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. (NKJV)

God created Adam as a thinking, reasoning human with a need to be creative. Naming the animals gave Adam purpose. However, it wasn’t satisfying for Adam.

Man was all by himself. And God, the Creator who wanted his creation to be perfectly happy, recognized that this wasn’t good. Everything else God had created was immediately labeled "good*," but it wasn’t good that Adam was alone.

Wow! She’s Just Like Me!

GENESIS 2:21-25 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said:

"This is now bone of my bones

And flesh of my flesh;

She shall be called Woman,

Because she was taken out of Man."

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (NKJV)

God created a woman from Adam’s rib. Now Adam had a suitable complement for the new task of running Eden. She could walk like him, talk like him, and reason like him. She was just like him. What a relief after dealing with all those animals who couldn’t talk. The first marriage was complete, and even though they were not yet parents, God predicted the future of new couples: they should be independent from their parents. But the best thing about this new couple was that they were unashamed of their naked bodies. They had complete acceptance and total love for each other. Ah, Paradise!

What Others Say

Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.

These are the first recorded human words, and they are poetry. What do they express? The joy of the first man in receiving the gift of the first woman… . The man perceived the woman not as his rival but as his partner, not as a threat because of her equality with himself, but as the only one capable of fulfilling his longing within.³

Some writers have said about this passage that Adam gave the first wolf whistle when he saw Eve. She must have been a perfect beauty because God would have wanted him to be attracted to her. God knew what would please Adam, and God made sure she fulfilled Adam’s expectations, even though he hadn’t yet formed any. She was perfectly suited just for him.

Adam found out that humans truly find fulfillment only in relationships. Men may think work will bring satisfaction or that things will bring a sense of completeness. But it doesn’t work that way. God designed humans to be fulfilled in relationships—in relationships with other human beings and with their Creator.

God had said that he would make a helper* suitable for Adam. When Scripture uses the word helper in reference to a woman, it isn’t meant to be demeaning. God himself is called Helper.* The word comparable can also be expressed as a help opposite him or corresponding to him. God intended to provide for Adam exactly according to Adam’s needs. That’s how God wants a man to view his wife: as someone valuable who completes what he lacks. In fact, God asks men to love their wives so much that they should be willing to give* their lives up for them. Now that is a valuable asset.

*Illustration #2 Serpent—Satan is described in the Bible as a serpent who led Adam and Eve to disobey God. These poisonous creatures are used throughout the Bible to symbolize sin and evil of many kinds.

Uh-Oh, Trouble in Paradise

The Big Picture

Genesis 3:1-7

Satan appeared in the Garden of Eden as a serpent [see Illustration #2] and tempted the woman into eating from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then she gave some of the fruit to Adam, and he ate too. It didn’t take long for them to realize they had disobeyed, for they became conscious of their nakedness. Ashamed, they tried to make their own clothing from fig leaves.

Just imagine the front-page headlines that could have been written after the Fall:

• Why Wasn’t Adam Watching the Store?

• First Man Fails; Everyone Else Pays with Their Lives

• Warning Signs Improperly Posted at the Tree of Knowledge; Liability Questioned

• Eve Says, Adam Never Told Me

From the biblical account we don’t know if Adam was there when Satan tempted Eve, or whether he appeared after she had taken her first bite. Regardless, they both knew that something was wrong. They had never looked at each other before and felt vulnerable. Now clothing seemed like something they could hide behind. Even though Satan had promised something good to Eve, neither she nor Adam saw the promised results.

What Others Say

Herschel H. Hobbs

The devil opened their eyes, but not to becoming as God, but rather to shame. Their physical nakedness suggests their greater nakedness of soul. Theirs was the self-consciousness of guilty hearts.⁴

Do you wonder how Adam could have blown it so big? He had it made. He had perfect health, a perfect domain, the perfect job, and the perfect wife. He talked daily with his Creator. He was placed in the Garden to take care of it. It was his service to God, and it was marked by ease and pleasure. Yet it wasn’t enough. He thought the forbidden fruit would bring additional satisfaction.

Adam never had to work as you and I do. It was Paradise. Really! With all of this, God placed one condition on Adam’s life: don’t eat the fruit from one tree. In his complacency, Adam took for granted the overwhelming abundance. He didn’t know anything else, and he sacrificed it all because of wanting something he wasn’t supposed to have.

Ever since the sin of our first parents, man has hurt himself, his relationship with others, and his relationship with God. Like dominoes, the consequences of sin have tumbled into the present. Marriages and families suffer from selfishness. Society is self-indulgent, and our culture is rotting as sin’s poison spreads. The arts, sciences, disciplines, and structures of our world are an apple with a worm in it. And the worm is hungry! What was originally meant to reflect the glory of God became a support mechanism for sin.

We are not to love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15 NKJV). We are not to be insulated or isolated from the things of the world. We are to live in the world without being of the world.

It’s Her Fault!

GENESIS 3:8-13 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Then the Lord LORD God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you? So he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat? Then the man said, The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate. And the LORD God said to the woman, What is this you have done? The woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate. (NKJV)

God knew what Adam and Eve had done, yet he patiently questioned them. This is the first recorded incident where God demonstrates his willingness to have an open relationship with us in spite of our disobedience.

Adam and Eve responded to God’s appearance by hiding and then blaming each other and Satan. God tried to reach out to them, but their guilt prevented them from feeling his love. Distance, separation, and fear took their first sneaky steps into the hearts of men. No one wanted to take responsibility. Instead, they pointed fingers, trying to transfer the blame and shame. This is the first buck that was passed—and it’ll continue passing for the rest of humanity’s existence.

What Others Say

Alan Redpath

So often the providence of God seems to run completely counter to his promises, only that he may test our faith, only that he may ultimately accomplish his purpose for our lives in a way that he could never do if the path were always smooth.⁵

Adam told God he was fearful. Even though his hiding didn’t help the situation, at least he expressed his fear, showing he still had an open relationship with God. Moses* was another biblical leader who once was filled with enough courage to kill an Egyptian. Yet forty years later when facing God at the burning bush, he fearfully told God he couldn’t deliver the Hebrews. Each man struggled with fear in his daily life but both candidly expressed their feelings to God.

Men today often hide their feelings, but the first man didn’t have any trouble describing his emotions. Neither should you.

Consequences for Adam

The Big Picture

Genesis 3:14-4:2

God responded to the sin in the Garden by disciplining the serpent, Eve, and Adam with different consequences for each. Then God provided clothes from animal skins for Adam and his wife. Adam gave the woman the name Eve because it means living or life. She would become the mother of all the living. They were finally banished from the Garden.

God referred to his provision of a Savior in the future when he told Satan, I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel (Genesis 3:15 NKJV).

Adam and Eve thought they would experience the freedom of becoming godlike. Instead, they got painful consequences that reminded them even more of their humanness. God rebuked Adam for not being a leader. He should have refused Eve’s encouragement to eat the fruit: Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:17-19 NKJV). To Adam’s credit, he didn’t argue, blame his wife again, or try to change God’s mind. He accepted his correction like a man.

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