All that they knew, they trusted. Some thoughts on Gen 2:16-17
Ahhh!! Wedding season is upon us again. Skies are clear, flowers in bloom, venues are filling, school’s out and the in-laws decided they’d stay in town. Nothing speaks more Spring-y than the festive gatherings of a local wedding, somewhere near you.
Just the thought of two people coming together for Holy Matrimony is quite an event. All things are in place. Rehearsals are in the books. Justice-of-the-peace is here. The wine bar is readying itself. Sounds like a great idea, with the best of intentions. What could possibly go wrong? 
Well, if you live in the United States then you know nearly half of all marriages will end in divorce, or separation. But does that necessarily mean the marriage failed? Or did the people in the marriage fail to uphold the covenant or the matrimony they signed on to?
Well, certainly not the first time for unintended consequences. In fact, the very first couple betrothed to God (Adam & Eve) had a huge setback in their first relational test when they had to choose between two trees. The shared decision was terrible, and they were booted out of God’s Garden and banished to figure life out for themselves, without the Father’s trust and provision as was before.
There in that place the woman gave to him (Adam) he did partake of the fruit of the vine. Not necessarily an apple. Jewish traditions suggest the idea that certain vines, producing what could be considered fruit or grapes; perhaps even that Eve made wine from the fruit.
It likely now makes sense in how wine traditionally at weddings, betrothals, and engagements throughout the history of more than just the Jewish people holds a certain sacredness celebrating both joy and life. Sanctifying the occasion with family ties and blessings to all.
The wine that was shared at the wedding in Cana represented new life together. The idea around such wine is the idea that new life needed to be poured into new lives. All of what we gain (take in) of God is based on knowledge of His presence. So did they know when drinking of the new wine (water turned into wine) at the wedding feast, that they were actually drinking in of the knowledge of the presence of God? Read John 2:1-11
Between these two events another Marriage took place at Sinai, the mount of God in the desert. Again God rescues and causes the exodus for millions of His chosen to be brought unto Himself at the Mount. There He would explain His Person in this majestic Betrothal.
However, man (that’s you and I) as always in our presumption, saw the self-righteous holdings it had because of all those years of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, decided against his person and would instead – keep the law…. And what a great job they did.
The hot, dry, but memorable 38 years of subsequent wandering, never allowed rest (see 1st couple above) but to struggle against unbelief; on up to the time of John the Baptist, having never found any rest (see Heb 4).
The ground of the Son (the tree of life) from which all life is out from, stands ever ready in pure, full knowledge of the Father – waiting to be dispensed in the most death-filled situations, so that those who would drink in of this life (in the form of new wine) would find greater reason to celebrate than the seemingly impending death of the old celebration from which that wine was getting ready to expire.
That was the glorious value of the first miracle of Christ, to restore once again a betrothal first through some chosen disciples, which would bring forth Church. (read John 1:10-13)
According to scripture, Eve was sharing the fruit of the Vine with her husband – a commitment to share all aspects of a life together. That was repeated many times, including Cana, and of course the mention of the Great Wedding feast. In the parable of the great wedding feast listed in Matthew (22:1-14). We’re being schooled in this passage from the so many previous failed marriages and the ceremonies, where the agreement to be faithful was witnessed by all, and that it’s important to have the right attire (1 John 5:12) and of course, it’s to also have the right etiquette for the Main course (John 6:53-56).
Well, to not have that is to experience what our original ancestors and many more throughout history have discovered (Matt. 22:13) and that is unfortunately to experience banishment. Away from the Glory and Presence. (2 Kings 17, 24; 2 Chron. 36)
So how did we get here? What was, and is the fail in these betrothals? It points back to my Subtitle. All that they knew, they trusted. You see there’s a certain order that must be adhered to in order for relationships to grow, develop, and mature. In the Garden story, God is the head of man, man the head of woman. Which is not a subservient thing. Don’t get this wrong because the tempter came to Eve knowing the order that God had set up, and when she assumed the headship role, she took the fruit and shared with her husband without consulting him first.
Before you begin blaming Eve, keep in mind she’d not been taken from Adam’s side when the command was given. So it’s an authority thing. Let’s look.
The Church, which is the Bride of Christ, He is our husband, and if we don’t consult Him first, (James 1:5) then we’re left to eat from the other tree, etc., etc. Again, this is not gender thing, but authority. Remember, authority doesn’t mean you’re in charge, it means you have charge for those under your responsibility. So the irresponsibility falls on the part that Adam loved Eve more than God, and not conveying truth is to not convey trust. I can personally attest.
All throughout scripture this has been the offering from God who gave His only- begotten (John 3:16) as a sign of relationally knowing Him (Phil. 3:10) and trusting what you know from him by faith (Matt. 9:9). This is the reason why we can celebrate Christ in communion with wine (in type), not just in ritual but in spirit – for your spirit is made up of conscience, intuition, and communion. That is where we enjoy Him today. Above all else just know that He so much more enjoys you.
Thanks for reading, hope this helps. Best day ever!
