Mona Hodgson - Real Girls of the Bible. A 31-Day Devotional

Read Eves story in Genesis 2:154:1.

P salm 139:1314 says, You knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. But it was different for Eve. God took a rib from Adam and made Eve, the first female on earth.

Right from the start God established that he had a special purpose for Eve. God formed Eve to be a friend, helper, and wife to the only other person on earth, Adam.

Talk about a great beginning! Eve lived in a garden full of flowering plants and tons of trees that produced yummy fruit. And Eve and Adam could pick fruit from any tree except the one in the middle of the garden. God had told them not to eat the fruit of that tree.

Red and blue and yellow birds flitted around the garden of Eden warbling songs of praise to the Creator. Animals of every kind roamed and romped all around Eve in her up-close and personal zoo. Adam and Eve enjoyed nature walks and long talks. All was well between Eve and God. Until that day.

While Eve strolled the gorgeous garden, a serpent slithered out on a branch and spoke to her. Did God really say you couldnt eat from every tree in the garden?

We may eat fruit from the trees, Eve said, but God said not to eat fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. He said if we touched it, wed die.

Thats silly. You wont die, the serpent sneered. God doesnt want you to eat it because when you do, your eyes will open and youll be like him.

Eve stared at the smooth and shiny fruit on the tree in the middle of the garden. The fruit was so pretty to look atripe and ready to eat. Tempted, Eve picked the fruit and ate some. Then she gave it to her husband, Adam, who also bit into it.

Satan, the crafty con, had disguised himself as a serpent to tempt Eve. And his half-truth worked. Hed told Eve that when she ate of the fruit, her eyes would open. They did, and Eve saw that she and her husband were naked. According to Satan, Eve would be like God when she ate the fruit. She wasnt all-powerful like God, but she did learn the difference between good and evil. Because Eve felt guilty for disobeying God, she and Adam picked leaves from a fig tree and sewed them together.

Later when Adam and Eve heard the Lord strolling in the garden, they ducked behind a tree and hid from him.

Have you ever done something you knew was wrong and felt guilty about it? Have you ever tried to hide what you did from your parents or a teacher? Can you hide from God? Could Eve?

God knew what Eve and her husband had done and why theyd hidden from him. Because God loved them, he showed them grace and used animal skins to make better clothes for them. But Eve still suffered the consequences of her sin. No more strolls in the beautiful garden with God. She and her husband had to leave the garden, and life became hard. They had to work for their food. Her pain in having babies was increased, but God gave Eve the strength she needed.

If you were out milking the goats with Eve today, shed probably warn you about your enemy Satan. Shed tell you Satan has an evil plan for everyone who knows and loves God. But shed also tell you God has a good and perfect plan for your life.

Eve would tell you Satan had taken the form of a serpent and twisted what God had said into a lie. Because Eve didnt know about Satans persuasive powers, shed listened to him and reached for the forbidden fruit. She might wipe tears from her cheeks and tell you God is a good God. That hell love you even when you mess up.