The Fall of Adam and Eve

OBJECTIVE

Free Will in Order to Love
The Deception of the Devil / Fall of Adam and Eve
The Rejection of God

INTRODUCTION

We've heard about the fall of Adam and Eve multiple times but is the fall really a matter of just eating from the fruit? Did God just get mad because Adam and Eve ate from a specific tree? Did they only disobey God, or is there more to it?

HOLY SCRIPTURE

"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.'" (Genesis 2:16-17)
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1)
Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was apleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. (Genesis 3:4-7)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS)

Recap of "The Creation of Mankind" lesson : God created us out of love. We are made in His image. We were given logic and freewill. God gives us Himself.

The Garden of Eden and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

The Garden of Eden was beautiful, filled with everything Adam and Eve could want and need. It was paradise.

There were two very important trees also placed in the Garden of Eden: The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Adam and Eve were allowed to eat from any tree in the garden except the Tree of knowledge of good and evil (cf Gen 2:15-17).

If God loves us, and wanted to share Himself with us, why would He create something that we cannot share? Why would He create something and command us not eat from it?

The Church Fathers saw this commandment as a loving act from God because He gave man the power to use his free will to obey and live with Him forever. Saint Gregory of Nazianzus says:

God gave Adam a law as material for his free will to act on. This law was a commandment as to what plants he might partake of and which one he might not touch. This latter was the tree of knowledge; not, however, because it was evil from the beginning when planted, nor was it forbidden because God grudged it to us -- let not enemies of God wag their tongues in that direction or imitate the serpent. But it would have been good partaken of at the proper time.

But why would God want Adam (and us) to exercise free-will, even if it means rejecting Him?

Without free will, a person cannot truly love. True love does not exist except with free will, despite making evil possible. Free will is the only thing that makes love, goodness or joy possible and worth having. God did not make us to be robots but to free, voluntarily choose Him and be joined to Him.

"Nobody has ever become good by force", says St. Symeon, but instead, through a life of unceasing growth in virtues, man was meant to mature to the fullness of perfection, to the point of utter assimilation with God's will and insight of all that is good.

God placed the tree there as a tool for Adam to grow in virtue and spiritual maturity so that by following the commandments he could learn that true freedom and eternal life are found only in obedience to Him. St. Athanasius said that if man "kept the grace and remained good, they might still keep the life in paradise without sorrow or pain or care besides having the promise of incorruption in heaven." In this context, death is not a mere "punishment" for eating of the tree of good and evil, but more so, the natural consequence of disobedience and turning away from God. By using his free will improperly to cut himself away from God, the Source of All-Life, man chose to die.

The Fall

It is clear, like all else in Genesis, this is an historical account, but one which must be understood, first and foremost, in a spiritual sense.

The Deception of the Devil

The Greek word for "Devil" is diablos which means "the slanderer." This is because the devil is the father of lies, bending and mixing the truth with deception to trick mankind. He lacks integrity and honor, envying man, desiring that he fall into death. He even "used the good creation made by God as a tool to destroy man." What makes the devil's lies persuasive is that he often uses true statements to make false conclusions appealing.

He begins tempting Eve by whispering questions: "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'" The serpent's questions subtly interrupted man's natural trust in God and suggested that God has withheld something good from their experience.

The problem is Eve engaged in conversation with the serpent and allowed him to plant a seed of doubt within her mind. This caused a shift in her perception of God from a state of wonder and thanksgiving for God's abundant provision to the possibility that there is something missing in her personal experience.

This slight shift opens the door to the devil's next challenge: "You will not surely die if you eat or touch the fruit. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Meaning, after the devil worked to have Eve distrust God and then tempted her to believe that God withheld something good from Adam and Eve, he then tricks her into believing that her life could reach fulfillment in something other than God. Even more so, he tricks her into believing that she could be her own god, knowing what is best for herself and for others.

We can see how the devil exploits what is most basic to our human nature, our desire to be made whole (which can only be done in God). Every human being has a natural desire for completion and spiritual maturity. When this drive finds God as the target, man becomes what he was created to be, free, joyful, and truly eucharistic. However, when it runs the other direction, man will experience endless distractions, frustrations, and suffering. Instead, they become enslaved to whatever is keeping them away from God, aimlessly running towards something that can never fulfill them. As St. Augustine is famously known for saying: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."⁵ The devil was successful in tricking Adam and Eve that they could be made whole by their own power rather than communion with God.

Was this just a story, an allegory or spiritual lesson provided to us by Moses the Prophet?

No, this literally happened just as St. Paul writes:

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all sinned" (Romans 5:12)

And

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)

There is a reality that through Adam and Eve, sin entered the world. These verses do not make sense if it was just allegory or a story.

DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY

"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

Could we ever find real joy outside of God?
What are some things that the devil tricks us into thinking will provide us with happiness?
Why do I seek happiness outside of God?

We will never be truly joyful without God. We were made to share in His love. To reciprocate His love. Oftentimes, we look to fill our brokenness. We chase after things that we think will boost our confidence or self-esteem (social media, relationships, substance abuse), search for belonging /acceptance in the wrong places (relationships, bad friendships etc...) or look to bury ourselves / keep ourselves busy so we don't face ourselves or face God (friends, work, school, substance abuse, reckless behavior, wasting time). Although some of these things can be inherently good, they're misused, just like the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Although they take up my time and bring me some relief, they either will lead to my destruction or only provide a superficial short-termed high or happiness.

I will never feel joy and fulfillment outside of God.

APPLICATION (Action)

This part can be printed and provided to the youth. See printable version below. Verses are examples of points and do not all need to be presented or discussed during lesson

So what is it that I can do to feel rest and fulfillment in God?

Come to Him

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

Know that He loves us unconditionally

This is shown so clearly throughout scripture. The more I read it, the more I know it. SEE HIS FAITHFULNESS THROUGHOUT TIME. Multiple righteous people reference the parting of the Red Sea, in remembering God's strength, care and governance (ex: Joshua set up stones as a memorial to remember their crossing of the Jordan).

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse (ponder) on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. (Psalm 143:5-6)
I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work,  And talk of Your deeds. (Psalm 77:11-12)

Trust Him

Trust in His love, His goodness. Trust Him as Pantocrator, the True Physician, the Good Shepherd.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)
"O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me, Lest they tear me like a lion, Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver." (Psalm 7:1-2)
"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You." (Psalm 9:10)
"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You." (Psalm 5:1)

Share with Him

Share your good, your bad, your ugly, your troubles, your success, your failures, your worries. Share the inner-depths of you. Give Him your brokenness to mend and heal. Give Him space to work by allowing Him into your life, laying things (e.g. problems, joys, hopes, success, failures) at His feet, and being malleable at His direction and ordinances in your life.

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7)
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
"But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

Learn from Him

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Mt 11:28-30)

Reject the lies of the devil / Reject conversing with him

Do not converse with the devil because all he will tell you are lies and false hopes.

When I know God's words and promises, I also, by default, know the things against His words, His characteristics, His image. When I hear or think things that are contra-God or have the desire to do things that take me away from God (whether they are inherently good or not)...then I must quickly reject them and put them aside and move along.

Remember the works of God in my life and throughout time to help me throughout the ebbs and flows.

Delight in Him

Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37: 3-5)
"As the desire of the flesh is to wish to have one's eyesight restored, to enable him, that is, to see that light, which can be seen by such eyes; so "the desire of the heart" relates to a different sort of light. For, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Delight you yourself in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your heart."" St. Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 37

God is "all in all", Father, Judge, Friend, Bridegroom, Creator, Healer, Savior, Shepherd, True Physician, JOY. He is all in all.

Even our pain and suffering can be fulfilled in Christ, if He is the goal and lens by which we see everything. All things are opportunities for us to turn to Him, trust Him, delight in Him and be filled by Him.

Commune with Him

Through the Eucharist, being one body with Him, touching Him, being joined to Him, the Lifegiver.