Genesis 2:25-3:7: Feeling Shame

Read: Genesis 2:25-3:7

What does it truly mean to “know good and evil”? From childhood, one learns the difference between right and wrong, yet Genesis presents experiencing the implications of wrongdoing as a watershed moment: the loss of something precious rather than the gain of simple understanding. The nakedness of Adam and Eve is clearly connected to their innocence. Before the fall, the text explicitly points out how they were both unashamed of their nakedness. For them, it was how God had made them and, in a manner of speaking, completely “normal.” After making this editorial remark at the end of Chapter 2 about nakedness, the passage shifts to a scene where the serpent tempts Eve. From early times, serpents were seen as significant, partly due to their poisonous nature and mysterious appearance, particularly their unblinking eyes. The serpent is often associated with both death and wisdom. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, a serpent plays a crucial role by stealing a magical plant that would have granted Gilgamesh eternal youth, thus linking serpents to the theme of lost immortality. Elsewhere, Ningishzida, a Sumerian god depicted as a serpent, is associated with the underworld, the abode of the dead. The story in Genesis though flips the script: men and women are already living in a place of eternal life rather than in a pursuit of eternal life.

In the scene, the serpent’s temptation of Eve prompts her to respond. She responds by quoting God, but not in a way that is completely accurate, at least in the commands he gave to Adam. In Genesis 2:16-17, God tells Adam that he may eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if he eats from it, he will certainly die. The command never said anything about touching the fruit, rather the command was not to eat it. Eve's expansion of the commandment reflects a human tendency to create 'buffers' or additional rules around prohibitions. The addition of the prohibition to not touch the fruit could be seen as an early instance of humans altering divine commands, either to make them more stringent as a protective measure or due to a misunderstanding. In any case, it creates confusion about the interpretation of divine commands.

Before Eve ate the fruit, the text notes three things: it was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise. Everything else in the garden that was edible could accomplish the first two. The very word “Eden” is indicative of a place of delight and bliss. The latter, the pursuit of making one wise, is the struggle. The serpent does lie to Eve when he tells her that she won’t die, but he does tell her the truth about becoming like God in knowing good and evil. In the Ancient Near East, wisdom is often seen as a divine attribute or a gift from the gods. Deities were believed to possess the ultimate understanding of good and evil, and this wisdom was sometimes shared with humans, either as a blessing or as a test. Several ancient myths prominently feature themes of striving for divinity and missed chances to attain god-like status. In the story of Adapa, one of the seven pre-flood sages and a pioneer in bringing civilization to Eridu, a critical opportunity is missed. Adapa, while working as a fisherman, ends up having an encounter with the south wind, leading to a meeting with Anu, the supreme deity. Advised by the god Ea, Adapa declines Anu's offer of food, only to realize later that it was the food of immortality. Similarly, as mentioned, the quest for eternal life is a key theme in the Epic of Gilgamesh. In these narratives, becoming god-like is equated with achieving eternal life.

In Genesis, however, to obtain wisdom is to obtain that which belongs to the God. Likewise, Genesis does not play out as a conflict between God and his creation; rather, it plays out as a moral struggle and the loss of innocence. First, though, it’s important to note that there is a difference between knowing what is right and wrong and knowing good and evil. Knowing right and wrong is about recognizing the prescribed behaviors and prohibitions and their consequences. Clearly, Adam and Eve understood what they were to do and not do. Good and evil, however, are fundamental forces or principles that transcend specific actions or laws. This knowledge encompasses a broader, more profound understanding of the nature of morality and ethics. It's not just about what actions are right or wrong, but about understanding the very essence of what makes something inherently good or evil. When Adam and Eve lost their innocence, they gained awareness of moral evil. This was a sort of “wisdom,” albeit one that came with a cost. Wisdom, in this context, is understanding that good and evil are a departure from the simplicity of innocence, which is embodied by a complete loving and trusting relationship with God. They became aware of their disobedience, and that newfound shame brought about a state of guilt and moral responsibility—or lack thereof, which comes later in Chapter 3.

Even so, wisdom through obedience is still accessible after the fall. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, 3:5-6, Psalm 111:10). Ecclesiastes concludes that true purpose is found in fearing God and obeying His commands because God is the ultimate judge of all human actions. This fear is not mere terror but reverence, awe, and submission to God's authority. Obedience flows naturally from this fear, as it aligns one’s life with God’s will. The New Testament builds on this concept by contrasting worldly and godly wisdom, a theme that is covered in detail in 1 Corinthians 1 and the following chapters. Here, Paul contrasts the wisdom of the world with God's wisdom, showing that worldly wisdom fails to bring people to a true knowledge of God and that God's wisdom often defies human expectations and understanding. 1 Corinthians 2 explains how godly wisdom is spiritually discerned and cannot be fully understood through natural human reasoning alone. It requires the Holy Spirit. Chapter 3 continues in the same theme when it talks about the values of the world compared to the values of God. While it would be impossible to return to the state of innocence experienced by Adam and Eve, Christians can return to God and experience the pure delight and pleasure of being in a right relationship with God through Christ. Some level of this is accessible to Christians through the Holy Spirit. When one sheds the earthly body and goes to be with God, the imperishable and holy nature is restored through God. Death is defeated, and the effects of the fall are unmade. God gives this promise to all who believe, and the Holy Spirit is an earnest for it and a foretaste of right relationships restored. The pursuit of wisdom is not inherently bad, but it must be built on the right foundation—the foundation of God. Then, and only then, will one truly be made wise.

Lord, true wisdom comes from you alone.

Help me to seek wisdom through obedience and to trust in your perfect design.