The Primacy of Story: Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve

Two people. One serpent. One tree. One piece of fruit. One deception. One bite. Two bites. One God. One (heart-rending) question (“Where are you?”). Death. Banishment. Promise of grace.

Is there a more human story than this in Scripture?

Whether you believe that Adam and Eve were real people or not doesn’t change the fact that this story is the story of humanity. This story didn’t just happen; it happens, everyday, everywhere. On the surface this is a story of a bad choice, of sin, rebellion against God. But did Adam and Eve really set out to be rebellious? Was it really their intent to know what only God needs to know? Did they even realize the implications of their choice beforehand? I would dare to answer “no” to all three questions. Why? Is it ever our intent to be rebellious (maybe occasionally, but often no)? Is it ever our intent to be like God, to try and take his place (we may try unknowingly, but often no)? Do we ever think about the implications of our choices (occasionally yes, but often no)? 

You see? It’s our story.

This story is about our desire for control. More on that later.

Some may think it unfair (I’m one of them) that God never gives them much of a reason why they shouldn’t eat from the Tree. “Don’t eat it or you will die.” That’s it. (There is a scene in the movie Animal House where John Belushi’s character “Bluto” is giving new pledges their official Delta House frat names. He tells the one fat, doofy kid, “Your Delta Tau Chi name is “Flounder”. “Why ‘Flounder’?” he asks. “Why not!?” responds a very drunk Belushi. Sometimes God’s reasoning seems that banal: “Why God?” we ask. “Why not?” He responds.) To my knowledge Adam and Eve never question the command. But I do know that the pull of the Tree was too much for them. It’s Pandora’s Box: they opened it, satisfying the curiosity, gaining control of your ability to choose, but a whole mess of crap came with it, none of it pleasant. 

One of the great tragedies of this story (and ours) is Adam and Eve’s decision to take control of what God alone should have control of: their lives. God’s control results in provision, care, communion, intimacy, satisfaction and life--real life. Their need for control--our need for control--brings hardship, frustration, toil, isolation, guilt, anxiety despair, and the desire for more control. The beginning of the story of Adam and Eve shows us that everything was supposed to be controlled for us--except our ability to choose love over control and allow God to love us and control us as only He can. 

And we chose poorly. And we choose poorly.

Now we are in a fight with our own fallen nature, grasping tightly our need for control, never realizing that in fighting for control we are actually losing control. In the cross of Christ we find, strangely, a God who so loves the world that he gives up control of his own life to his creation and dies. This is how an all-controlling God shows us his love, by giving up his control and dying, forever freeing us from the curse that we brought on ourselves by seeking the very same control.

May we follow the example of Jesus and die so that we might be free from the curse of trying to control our own lives. 

shalom, matt