Lesson 14 – Pondering Questions
Textbook: Spiritual Identity by Dr. Merle Ray
Question:
Can you imagine being loved on forever? How important is our identity?
Read Genesis 3:20-24 to find out what happened after God finished speaking to Adam and Eve about their sin.
Genesis 3:20-24 (KJV)
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the Garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
According to these verses, what happened to the man and woman after God finished speaking to them about their sin?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Read Genesis 2:9. According to this verse in the beginning, the Lord God made all kinds of trees to bear fruit and seed for the man and woman’s food, nourishment and comfort. Other than trees for food, nourishment and comfort, there are two other kinds of trees mentioned in Genesis 2:9 that God placed in the garden.
Name the two other trees:
Tree Of _____________________________
Tree Of _____________________________
Read Genesis 2:15-17, what did God say about the tree of knowledge of good and evil?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Read Genesis 3:22, what do you think God means when He says, “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:” Write as least two meanings for this phrase below. Remember, God is referring to mankind, including woman, not just man.
- Mankind now knows
and
- Mankind now knows _____________________.
When God created man and woman, did He put anything bad or evil inside them? What does this tell you about God the Creator’s character toward the man and the woman?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
According to all you have read in Genesis, did the man or woman have any experience or intimacy with evil before they disobeyed God’s instruction? Up until the time they sinned, who had they had experience with knowing? What does this say to you about the meaning of the word “know?” To “know” means to have an _________________________ knowledge of or have an __________________________with.
What do you think it means to “know” evil? (Or “who” do you think it means to know evil? To “know evil” means to have an _____________________________ knowledge of or an _________________________________ with ______________________.
Based upon what you have just stated about the meaning of the word “know,” fill in the blanks again concerning evil this time as it relates to the man and woman:
Man and woman are now with and have with evil.
Considering what we now know about the word “know,” why do you suppose the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil was in the garden?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Do you think that God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden to trick Adam and Eve?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
In regard to the Tree of Life in the midst of the garden, what do you suppose God meant by the phrase, “lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever” in Genesis 3:22? What does this verse tell us about the Tree of Life?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Given their changed state having been both intimate with evil and intimate with good, what does this say about the condition of man and woman now?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Do you suppose that God now hated the man and woman? What does putting them out of the garden away from the tree of life say about God’s character?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Why do you suppose God put the Tree of Life in the garden in the first place?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
When God made all kinds of trees to bear fruit and seed for the man and woman’s food or nourishment, and comfort, what does this say about our God’s character?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Why do you think God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
As you reflect on all God did for the man and woman when He created them and what God did for them after they sinned, what does this say about God’s feelings for them?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
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Yolanda Perry On July 30, 2020 at 8:03 am
According to these verses, what happened to the man and woman after God finished speaking to them about their sin?
God put them out of the garden, to prevent them from eating from the tree of life.
Read Genesis 2:9. According to this verse in the beginning, the Lord God made all kinds of trees to bear fruit and seed for the man and woman’s food, nourishment and comfort. Other than trees for food, nourishment and comfort, there are two other kinds of trees mentioned in Genesis 2:9 that God placed in the garden.
Name the two other trees:
Tree Of Life
Tree Of Good and Evil
Read Genesis 2:15-17, what did God say about the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Not to eat of it!
Read Genesis 3:22, what do you think God means when He says, “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:” Write as least two meanings for this phrase below. Remember, God is referring to mankind, including woman, not just man.
Mankind now knows Good
and
Mankind now knows evil
When God created man and woman, did He put anything bad or evil inside them? What does this tell you about God the Creator’s character toward the man and the woman? God did not put bad and evil inside of Adam and Eve. He gave them the power of choices.
According to all you have read in Genesis, did the man or woman have any experience or intimacy with evil before they disobeyed God’s instruction? Up until the time they sinned, who had they had experience with knowing? What does this say to you about the meaning of the word “know?” To “know” means to have an experience knowledge of or have an intimacy with.
What do you think it means to “know” evil? (Or “who” do you think it means to know evil? To “know evil” means to have an experience knowledge of or an understanding/intimacy with it.
Based upon what you have just stated about the meaning of the word “know,” fill in the blanks again concerning evil this time as it relates to the man and woman:
Man and woman is now experienced with and has intimacy with evil.
Considering what we now know about the word “know,” why do you suppose the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil was in the garden? God gave man a wife.
Do you think that God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden to trick Adam and Eve? No, Adam and Eve have a choice.
In regard to the Tree of Life in the midst of the garden, what do you suppose God meant by the phrase, “lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever” in Genesis 3:22? What does this verse tell us about the Tree of Life?
The Tree of life is eternal
Given their changed state having been both intimate with evil and intimate with good, what does this say about the condition of man and woman now?
Mankind has the power to choose who they will continue to be intimate with good or evil or both. The words say I whether you be hot or cold either I will spew you out of my mouth.
Do you suppose that God now hated the man and woman? What does putting them out of the garden away from the tree of life say about God’s character?
God loves mankind so much he doesn’t want us to live eternity in sin.
Why do you suppose God put the Tree of Life in the garden in the first place?
I believed God put the tree of life in the garden for his glory. In addition to give man the power of choice.
When God made all kinds of trees to bear fruit and seed for the man and woman’s food or nourishment, and comfort, what does this say about our God’s character?
God trust man and respect our decisions.
Why do you think God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?
God gave them the power of choice.
As you reflect on all God did for the man and woman when He created them and what God did for them after they sinned, what does this say about God’s feelings for them?
God loves his creation and he wants to be in a relationship with them.
Barbara Crater On July 25, 2020 at 4:13 pm
1. Our identity is important because it reflects God’s glory, and how we adore, worship, celebrate, exalt, honor, and praise Him.
2. God sent them forth out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken.
3. The tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.
4. But of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in that day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
5. Mankind now knows good and evil.
6. No, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Gen. 1:27.
God is not selfish, he wants us to have the prime of life.
7. I don’t believe Adam or Eve had anything to do with evil before they disobeyed God.They were in communion with Him.
To know means to have an intimate knowledge of or have an experience with.
8.
9. Man and woman are now contaminated with the nature of sin and have had a relationship with evil.
10. God new that we were going to mess up and that we would need something that would cause us to have our ” original
identity and relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.”
11. No, the tree of good and evil was always for our protection and us to have a choice.
12. I believe that it meant if man ate from the tree of life, he would always live in the contaminated state he was in that God had
not created him for.
13. God still loves us and we can ” still have our original identity and relationship through Jesus Christ” Glory!!!!!!!!
14. I believe because God knew the way of mankind, He was saving them from total separation from Him.
15. The tree of knowledge has all the knowledge and understanding we will ever need, and is given by the instructions of God.
16. God is concerned about every area and makeup of mankind.
17. I believe they would not know how to handle the causes and effects of it as with the eating of the apple. God is Faithful and
He still believes that what He has created is good and very good.
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 6:47 pm
Why do you think God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? God knew all that entailed evil, the depths of depravity, rebellion, sin and what it would do to one’s soul and physical body. God knew what the consequences would be not just for them but for all mankind and the price of the requirement to reconcile them and humanity back to himself.
As you reflect on all God did for the man and woman when He created them and what God did for them after they sinned, what does this say about God’s feelings for them? God loved them, provided for them, even when they sinned against Him. He even had a plan of redemption and atonement to bring them back into right standing with him as well as recover their true God given identities. God knew the meaning of good and evil yet remains God, because he has complete control over it. Adam and Eve did not exercise their full potential and full power of dominion given to them.
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 6:46 pm
Do you suppose that God now hated the man and woman? What does putting them out of the garden away from the tree of life say about God’s character?
No God does not hate them, this is an act of love, mercy and protection
Why do you suppose God put the Tree of Life in the garden in the first place?
To test them, their faithfulness and obedience
When God made all kinds of trees to bear fruit and seed for the man and woman’s food or nourishment, and comfort, what does this say about our God’s character? God provided them with everything they needed physically as well as spiritually.
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 6:11 pm
In regard to the Tree of Life in the midst of the garden, what do you suppose God meant by the phrase, “lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” in Genesis 3:22? What does this verse tell us about the Tree of Life?
Now that they have experienced evil, disobedience, what is to keep them from eating from this tree as well? Gal 6:8. If you sow to the flesh you will reap corruption, destruction or death, if you sow to the spirit you will reap eternal life
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 3:26 pm
Considering what we now know about the word “know,” why do you suppose the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil was in the garden? The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was one of many trees God caused to grow out of the ground. (Gen 2:8-9) I believe it was an extension of who God is, a part of his Person. When God put Adam in the garden, he also told him about this particular tree, he gave him a command NOT to eat of it. Adam and Eve were created with the ability to make a moral choice, they had free will. In actuality, God was taking a risk, but God knows all things, They could choose to follow God or rebel. Once they “knew” they exercised that right. I don’t think God put it there to trick Adam and Eve, that is not in the character of God, He is incapable of trickery. This was a morale test of faithfulness. God continues to test us even today.
Do you think God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden to trick Adam and Eve?
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 3:09 pm
According to all you have read in Genesis, did the man or woman have any experience or intimacy with evil before they disobeyed God’s instruction? Up until the time they sinned, who had they had experience with knowing?
They had no experience or knowledge of sin. They only experienced each other and God.
What does this say to you about the meaning of the word “know?”
To “know” means to have an understanding or perception as fact or truth, have an understanding of; to recognize the nature of; have knowledge of or have an acquaintance or experience with .
What do you think it means to “know” evil? (Or “who” do you think it means to know evil?
To “know evil” means to have an intimate, cognizant knowledge of or an experience with sinful, wicked impulses, choices or actions
Based upon what you have just stated about the meaning of the word “know,” fill in the blanks again concerning evil this time as it relates to the man and woman:
Man and woman are now are cognizant and knowledgeable with evil (sinful, wickedness, bad character or conduct) and have encountered and practiced evil.
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 2:37 pm
When God created man and woman, did He put anything bad or evil inside them? What does this tell you about God the Creator’s character toward the man and the woman?
No, they were created in the image and likeness of God, there is nothing bad in God. This shows how much God loved them and cared for them, he gave them an opportunity to be like Him, to reflect his character, love, thoughts, everything that he was, they could be. God was merciful to banish them out of the garden, because they now had knowledge of evil, not of just the disobedience to God but access now to all “undiscovered” evil, God would not allow them to eat from tree of life an become immortal and forever in a sinful state, they would not have ever been able to be in his presence again. It shows how much He wanted to preserve the love and fellowship with his created beings.
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 2:27 pm
Read Genesis 3:22, Mankind now knows:
1. He has become as one of Us: the Trinity: Father Son and Holy Spirit
2. He knows good and evil: man now knows sin intimately, the seed was planted by Satan and will continue to grow, and reproduce; capable of sin, before sin they lived in a perfect, innocent state, listening to the voice of God, like a child who is innocent and listens to their parent’s voice; but now Adam and Eve know evil, because they did not listen to the voice of God but to another voice. Once children lose their innocence, they can never get it back. Only through Jesus Christ’s redemptive work on the cross can we become innocent, blameless and pure before our Father.
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Read Genesis 2:9. According to this verse in the beginning, the Lord God made all kinds of trees to bear fruit and seed for the man and woman’s food, nourishment and comfort. Other than trees for food, nourishment and comfort, there are two other kinds of trees mentioned in Genesis 2:9 that God placed in the garden.
Name the two other trees:
Tree Of Life
Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil
Read Genesis 2:15-17, what did God say about the tree of knowledge of good and evil?
For in the day you eat of this tree, you shall surely die – physically and spiritually
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 1:52 pm
Read Genesis 3:20-24 to find out what happened after God finished speaking to Adam and Eve about their sin.
Its moving day. For their next:
Adam renamed his wife – woman to Eve-mother of all living.
God covered their nakedness by killing an animal and using its skin to hide or cover their sin– a foreshadow of what Jesus would later do for all mankind. Then they were sent out of the garden, their home, a paradise where everything they needed was made available to them and they had dominion over it, now they would go outside of their comfort zone and Adam was given a job to cultivate the land. A seemingly harsh judgement but an act of pure love. Now that they know good and evil, they were banished out the garden; it kept them from being trapped in a physical immortal body and a forever sinful state separated from God
Adam and Ever realized you reap what you sow and God carries through on his promises as well as his judgements. Their sin had activated death who was over there in the corner chilling with no power or authority. Now he has been activated to carry out his purpose, he now has power because now everything would eventually die.
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 6:43 pm
In regard to the Tree of Life in the midst of the garden, what do you suppose God meant by the phrase, “lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” in Genesis 3:22? What does this verse tell us about the Tree of Life?
Now that they have experienced evil, disobedience, what is to keep them from eating from this tree as well?
Given their changed state having been both intimate with evil and intimate with good, what does this say about the condition of man and woman now?
Free will and choice and the consequences that go along with each choice. Gal 6:8. If you sow to the flesh you will reap corruption, destruction or death, if you sow to the spirit you will reap eternal life. God knew the degradation of the soul due to sin, the moral consequences of sin, God knows the end from the beginning and vice versa.
Do you suppose that God now hated the man and woman? What does putting them out of the garden away from the tree of life say about God’s character?
No God does not hate them, this is an act of love, mercy and protection
Why do you suppose God put the Tree of Life in the garden in the first place?
To test them, their faithfulness and obedience
When God made all kinds of trees to bear fruit and seed for the man and woman’s food or nourishment, and comfort, what does this say about our God’s character? God provided them with everything they needed physically as well as spiritually.
Why do you think God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?
God knew all that entailed evil, the depths of depravity, rebellion, sin and what it would do to one’s soul and physical body. God knew what the consequences would be not just for them but for all mankind and the price of the requirement to reconcile them and humanity back to himself.
As you reflect on all God did for the man and woman when He created them and what God did for them after they sinned, what does this say about God’s feelings for them? God loved them, provided for them, even when they sinned against Him. He even had a plan of redemption and atonement to bring them back into right standing with him as well as recover their true God given identities. God knew the meaning of good and evil yet remains God, because he has complete control over it. Adam and Eve did not exercise their full potential and full power of dominion given to them.
Kimberly Thompson On July 19, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Can you imagine being loved on forever? How important is our identity?
We were made in His image and likeness; He lives forever so we should live forever. God knew Adam and Eve would sin, and God did not allow them to forever live in that sinful state. That is why he drove them out of the garden, an act of love. He already had a plan that would redeem us back to our true identity. And we needed that because identity determines purpose. Through our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, we have been given access to experience love for eternity. Through his death, burial and resurrection we will live forever, it would take a sinless sacrifice on our behalf for that to happen, to get us back to our intended identity so our destiny could be manifested. So we could be the glory carriers God created.
Evelyn Wilson On June 28, 2020 at 5:13 pm
God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them God said it was good and God blessed them. God s not a man that he should lie God does not have evil in him God can not sin because of character,.
Eve believed the lie from Satan that she was not like God already. she rejected the mark of excellence and glory that God put in her at creation
Evelyn Wilson On June 28, 2020 at 4:34 pm
1.That man would now become like (one of us) capable of knowing everything. ranging from good to evil
2.If he reaches out and take from the tree of life and eat and live forever. God could not allow that to happen.
Evelyn Wilson On June 28, 2020 at 4:09 pm
God told him not to eat of the tree of good and evil for in that day you will surely die.
Evelyn Wilson On June 28, 2020 at 3:56 pm
1.The tree of life
2.The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Evelyn Wilson On June 28, 2020 at 3:52 pm
God made coats of skin, and clothed them and God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man,
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 10:22 am
God’s loves run deep and why He cares so much about man is a mystery, being that He can create anything He wants at any time, He just really loves His creation man and that’s an honor to us because He does not have to put up with us but He does.
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 10:18 am
You know what that’s a good question, because He already knew that they were going to eat of it anyway, so honestly I do not know why.
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 10:16 am
God was not only wanting a relationship with man, He also knew that man needed nourishments for the physical body and so He took care of every need of man, that shows that our God cares for the whole being of man.
Dr. Merle Ray On May 30, 2020 at 6:33 pm
Absolutely, Brenda, you’re so right!
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 10:13 am
I believe that God placed the trees there because He wanted to, if Eve had ate of the tree of life we would not be in the state we are in today and although He knew that Eve was going to make the wrong choice, He placed them there anyway.
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 10:10 am
Man and woman are now confronted with evil and now have conflict with evil.
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 10:06 am
To know evil is to have a clear knowledge of or have an encounter with sin.
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 10:04 am
To know means to have an understanding and knowledge of or have an relationship with.
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 10:00 am
When God created man and woman, He made them perfect, after His own likeness, so I believe that God only had the best intentions for man when He created them.
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 9:47 am
1. Mankind knows the difference between good, the right way to be , which choices are right.. 2. Mankind knows evil, those choices that are not godlike. evil in nature.
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 9:43 am
Genesis 2:17- But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.(AMP)
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 9:38 am
1. Tree of life 2. Tre of knowledge of good and evil
brendab On May 25, 2020 at 9:36 am
God made clothes for Adam and Eve to wear and then He sent them away from the garden, for Adam to till the ground.