Genesis 3:12-13 - Responsible for others
Scripture:
Genesis 3:12-13
12 The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me
from the tree, and I ate."
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
NASU
Thoughts:
The New Testament affirms that Eve was truly deceived, but Adam sinned.
1 Timothy 2:14
14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived,
fell into transgression.
NASU
Obviously Adam sinned by disobeying God's direct prohibition of the
fruit, but I think there may be more. If Adam was indeed there with
Eve as she was being tempted by the serpent, then he passively watched
all of this
take place. He didn't intervene as Eve was being deceived. He didn't
correct the wrong notions of what God had said concerning the tree. He
sat quietly by and let Eve make this tragic choice of their future. He
watched as she entered unknowingly into sin.
This is an uncomfortable point I imagine for most of us. What do we do
when we see someone teetering on the edge of sin; playing with
temptation, perhaps blind to the danger before them. Do we speak? Do
we get involved? The Bible exhorts us to do this very thing. Rather
than following in the footsteps of Adam, we need to come to the aid of
our brother or sister:
Galatians 6:1
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are
spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one
looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
NASU
Prayer:
God, forgive me for a sinful passivity when I should help others. Help
me to lovingly find the words to say to help those around me, should
they begin to stray from Your path.
Amen