4. Old Testament Walkers and Talkers

i. Adam and Eve

Thinking

Before digging deep into the Bible, it is important to remember what it is and how it comes to us. The Old Testament is a Jewish book. The early books (Genesis to Deuteronomy) were written down several hundred years after Abraham and Moses, but well before David. They are the recorded oral tradition of the Children of Israel passed down from father to son, and from priest to priest over the generations. Christians believe that this process was aided and guided by the Holy Spirit so that the text, even these ancient stories passed on by word of mouth, must be regarded as Scripture. To me, each word was written down with the personality of the writers and within the context of the day. It is often very helpful to retread the road that holy men and women have walked over the centuries. In their time, they were each reaching out to God, or rather, responding to God who was reaching out to them. As we come to see through the cultural and historic differences, we can find that their experiences speak to us because their needs were very similar to ours today. Yes, of course there are differences, not the least of which is that we live after Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, but the deep needs of the soul of men and women are the same. We have been created to live in fellowship with God.

This present book is about entering into the experience of those who journeyed before us with respect to walking and talking with God.

Adam and Eve

We have all read in the Bible that Adam was the first man, but he is also reported as being the first person that God spoke to. We read that God created man in his own image (Genesis 1: 26), and then said, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die" (Genesis 2: 16-17). Here was the instruction for life and for the limits of life - and the very first words - "You are free" (N.I.V. translation).

This story, which is oral tradition from the dawn of time, contains truths that are meaningful for us today. The words "You are free" also echo those of Jesus. In the due course of time, the Son of God came as a man to show us what God was like, and to bring us life with a vibrant relationship between God and man. Then the words become, "If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8: 36).

Praying

Lord, I believe that you want us to be free and to be able to walk and talk with you. I also need to pause and reflect on this passage for a moment because it speaks of your original intention towards us - to be created in your image - to be free. Later on when I come to read passages of the New Testament, I will read how you began to fulfill this purpose even more by making us part of your family. I believe this means to express family traits of love, righteousness, and many others that I don't need to go into here. I sense that this is part of being in your image. Others have written how it also means being like you in spirit as well as body.

Listening

Yes my son, and here - right at the commencement of the Bible, is the deep truth that walking and talking with me in conversation means growing and developing this special property of being in my image, being spirit, and being free. This ability is not for selected individuals, but is part of my purpose for every person who responds to me. It is my commitment to each of you and part of my love for you - to grow this faculty within you as you grow on and in to me.

Praying

Lord God, when I sense your voice in this way, I need to pause, tremble, and bow in worship. These are very precious words to me and to my brothers and sisters. I thank you for giving them to us.

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Thinking

Immediately after eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve heard the sound of God walking in the garden. God called out, and Adam responded, "I heard the sound of you in the garden and I was afraid," etc. (Genesis 3: 8-19). Then follows the confession, God's response, banishment from the garden, and the other consequences. We don't hear again of any other specific conversation with Adam.

What can we learn from this conversation? It's hard for us to understand the original meaning or intention of these words - "heard the sound God in the garden." Each of us will feel differently about these words. For me, it is sufficient to believe that man was and is intended to know and be aware of the presence of God. Today people do this in many ways - in private and corporate praise, sitting quietly at home, in a chapel or cathedral, attending the mass or Eucharist, or walking outside in the open air.

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Praying

Lord, I pray just now that you will grow within my friends and in me this faculty of knowing your presence.

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Thinking

The second lesson is that unforgiven sin makes it very difficult for us to hear God speaking. I think we can be sure that God was still saying "I love you" to Adam and Eve, indeed, the Scripture records that he fashioned for them garments of skin (Genesis 3: 21), but now Adam was spiritually dead. It seems that he couldn't hear God's voice.

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Praying

Lord, I was spiritually dead once, but you came to wake me, and to lift me up. I confess to you now the times that I have remained very drowsy, Lord, and I give you "carte blanche" to wake me up properly. And Lord, I didn't intend this to be a pun, but I thank you that through our Lord Jesus, you make us "white as snow".

Listening

My son, the reference is actually "whiter than snow" (Psalm 51: 7).

Praying

I thank you again, Lord, for this precious gift.

Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved.

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