In Genesis, God planted a tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden, amongst many other trees. He described this tree as the source of good and evil. He then forbade man from ever touching nor think of eating from its fruits. Fast forward a short time afterwards, Eve, Adam's wife, convinced her husband to eat of this fruit. W e all know the rest of the story. Let me mention also the fact that it was another creature of God, the serpent, who showed Eve the seductive beauty of this forbidden fruit. Infact, he explained to her all the benefits attached to the consumption of this fruit. No wonder, the serpents in the advertising industry have successfully convinced women to serve as the medium of selling products over time. Something tells me that Eve offered Adam that fruit during a very steamy intimate and passionate moment. I mean, how else could she have persuaded her husband to forget Almighty God's instructions and eaten the forbidden fruit? History has proved time and time again how women have continually been the very original sources of the most astounding downfalls of world leaders.
The thing has continued to baffle me about this story since I first comprehended it is simply why God had to even plant that tree in the garden in the first place. Why would God intentionally put both good and evil choices before a man, who apparently from his actions since creation, cannot help his sinfulness? I have asked this question severally, but then everyone keeps telling me that there are certain mysteries that are left unresolved. I did left the question alone for sometime, but now, I need answers. The story in the garden of Eden could have gone in this way too: God not planting that tree in the middle of the garden or anywhere else for that matter. God could also not have created the serpent and given it the ability to be cunning and conniving. The result of this would be that there would have been no temptation to disobey God, man would still be in the Garden, of course in billions of number as of today, walking around naked and totally cool with each others nakedness, there wouldn't have been painful childbirths for women, difficult livelihood for men, no Cain killing Abel, no flood destroying the earth as in the days of Noah and so on and so on and so on. Just imagine that kind of a world. A perfect world!
Now, another story that fills me with confusion from the bible is the emancipation of the Hebrew people from Egypt. Agreed, the Egyptian king was reluctant in granting freedom to the race that provided him with the freest and most affordable source of labour, the Bible recorded in Exodus that God hardened the heart of this unfortunate Pharaoh, thus making him all the more obstinate in his stand to not let the Hebrews have their freedom. The question is this, since it was God that hardened his heart, we can logically say that he was not in control of his actions, right? It makes sense to me this way. It also means he had no chance at all from the beginning of the plagues that were inflicted on him and his entire kingdom. I mean, he was a puppet and God was pulling the strings. At the end, Egypt lost a whole generation of first born sons, got their economy, water, farmland destroyed, and even a whole army in pursuit of the escaping Hebrews.
Why didn't God just let the Hebrews fight just like the black race fought for freedom from slavery in America and Europe? That war was long, macabre, tough, violent, but it was won from persistent tenacity and a very long period of racial abuses and prejudices. There were several Moses but no direct divine intervention. Till today, the blacks are still recovering from the whole dastard experience that lasted several centuries. Didn't African colonies struggle under the most despicable and unfair rule from Britain and its sister Colonial masters over the longest time too?
Then there's the story of King Samuel. Sometimes, when I meditate on these stories, I shudder at God's scale of judgement. This poor man disobeyed God and was instantly condemned with no opportunity of repentance. The bible recorded that God sent an evil spirit from His presence to go and permanently torment Saul. An evil spirit o! We all know how possessed people behave right? All of this for not carrying out God's instructions to the letter. Meanwhile, his successor, David, the man after God's own heart, was a wife snatcher, he took Abigail from Nabal. He was marching down with his men to go kill Nabal when he was informed on the way that God had already taken care of that task for him. He also covetously seized Bathsheba from Urriah, and what more, even had him murdered! So, David was both a covetous man and a murderer, as recorded by the Bible. Yet he managed to curry God's favour every single time. He wasn't tormented with an evil spirit. Yes, I know my fellow Christians will say he enjoyed immense grace, but personally though, I find it confusing that God would choose one person over the other, yet we all are His creatures.
The most unfortunate of the pack was Judas Iscariot. I pity that man everyday. He had been specially chosen to be the one to betray Jesus.I really don't know why he had to suffer such fate though. Yes, he was dishonest and stole from the disciples' contributions, but so did Matthew before he became a disciple. He was a tax collector, which is equivalent to a Nigerian politician. He found grace but poor Judas didn't. He really deserved to be redeemed in my view, since somebody had to do that dirty job of selling Jesus out anyway, which if u asked me, was not necessary. Jesus could just as well have been arrested without the aid of one of His inner circle. And to seal such bad fate, he killed himself which in Christendom qualified him straight for blazing hell fire. How sad!
I really should stop talking now. I don't want my friends to start thinking that i have crossed to the other side. However, I think that we all should really be careful with God. If we happen to be as unfortunate as these ones that made my list, we all know what their ends were. Or maybe the prophets who constantly have visions and converse with God can ask Him why He was like that with these ones and the rest.
Nice piece. Spoke my mind.
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