Two Men,Two Wives and Two Choices

Have you wondered why Adam bears responsibility for the Fall, even though Eve ate first?

There are many commentaries on the subject, which explore the topic deeply, but there is one point to which I would like to draw your attention.

Eve, it is said in Scripture, was deceived. (Reference 1 Tim 2.13,14). She fell into sin first, and approached Adam with the fruit.

There is a parallel to this scenario in Job. When Job's life began to fall apart, he was completely ruined. Those closest to him turned on him. His wife's sage advice to him was: "curse God and die."

Job and Adam both were presented the same choice: God or your wife.

Job, because of his troubles, found himself cut off from all friends and family. The only people still speaking with him, were hostile to him.

Adam, not surprisingly, had no friends or family, except his wife, who was tempting him to join her in sin.

Job could have become indignant, and cursed God with any number of accusations against His character. He did not. He chose to submit to God, even in this, rather than join his wife in her bitterness.

Adam found himself alone again. His wife pulled him in one direction, and the commandment of God pulled him in the other. Scripture is silent as to why he made the decision he did, and it is likewise silent about how well he understood (or didn't) the implications of his action.

It is enough that he knew that this was the fruit he was commanded not to eat. He essentially was given a choice agree with God, (and align himself against his wife) or agree with Eve (and align himself against God).

In the final analysis, Adam, presented with a choice, made a conscious act of his will. His choice was disastrous for the rest of humanity.

I'm not bashing marriage, or the counsel of a wife. I'm married and value my wife's judgment. God's Word clearly tells us that "he who finds a wife finds a good thing, and finds favor from the Lord." However, as good a gift as marriage is, sometimes even the judgment of our closest friends and family can be wrong.

The question becomes: when you or I are tempted by those who are closest to me (and who can be closer than one's spouse?), what do we do? Will we stand firm in Christ? Will we remain true to our convictions? Will we cave?

While Eve may have been deluded into her sin, Adam had to make a choice. Adam's first crisis hinged on peer pressure.

This is where we need our priorities clearly established. We must love God more even than our dearest relationships. More even than the comforts of life itself. We must cry out for His grace to sustain us that we may truly walk worthy of the high calling of Christ Jesus.