The original design for human creation was to govern planet Earth. Before humans, Satan held this responsibility and his actions led to the degradation and confusion described in Genesis 1:2. The subsequent restoration of order on Earth, often mistaken for the original creation as outlined in Genesis 1:3-25, preceded the creation of humans. God then explicitly defined humanity’s role on Earth. From then on, Satan ceased to hold moral authority to govern Earth.
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28 NKJV).
From that moment on, humans were supposed to have taken on the responsibility of governing planet Earth. However, Satan, who had originally been assigned this duty, had not been deposed, leaving the path unclear for mankind’s dominion. This situation is metaphorically similar to the biblical account of David, who was anointed as the future King of Israel while Saul still occupied the throne. As Satan maintained spiritual dominance, humanity found itself spiritually debilitated following the fall in the Garden of Eden. Governance fell to these spiritually weakened humans, leaving them vulnerable to the wiles of the crafty Satan.
God had disclosed to Satan that humans would assume governance of the earth after Satan had plunged it into chaos. Aware of his diminishing spiritual sway, Satan recognizes that he cannot accomplish anything without human collaboration. He achieves his objectives by spiritually coercing humans into succumbing to his will. Thus, any governing authority rooted in selfishness and marked by pride falls under Satan’s sway, highlighting the deep-seated confusion that envelops humanity.
Humans might not always be aware of their vulnerability to spiritual influences, which stem from the uncertain beginnings of their morality, a reflection of their spiritual essence. Morality, an aspect unique to humans, shows a susceptibility on a spiritual plane. This moral state, whether tainted or pure, signifies a spiritual status derived from either divine or evil entities. Importantly, such entities can affect the world through human interaction. For instance, God called upon Moses to free the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, whereas Satan swayed the rule of Egypt.
God could not directly communicate with Pharaoh unless Pharaoh submitted to His authority. Direct communication would contravene God’s law that respects human autonomy. As spiritual beings cannot directly interact with physical beings, God reaches out to humanity through intermediaries who accept His authority. This is why Jesus came to Earth in human form. Although God is sovereign, humans possess the intrinsic freedom to choose allegiance to either God or the devil.
The dominion over planet Earth was granted to humans. God, being the origin of this dominion, is believed to empower humans to wield it according to His will. Satan’s opportunity to influence arose from Adam’s misunderstanding, conveyed through Eve. Had Adam replicated God’s instructions accurately, the outcome might have been different. It’s conceivable that his misunderstanding also diminished Eve’s comprehension, paving the way for Satan’s interference in their spiritual realm. The condition of humanity is currently that of moral confusion.
Satan’s influence should not be overlooked in worldly affairs, yet he is powerless without the implicit cooperation of humans. It is unwise to hold Satan solely accountable for the misfortunes in our surroundings, as humans were entrusted with the stewardship of Earth. While Satan may sway individuals, he cannot compel anyone to partake in his harmful schemes. In the same vein, God may guide people but does not coerce them into following His benevolent plan. The duty to manage Earth, endowed upon humans at creation, remains with them.
The deception that engulfed the couple in the Garden of Eden was fueled by their uncertainty about the origin of their authority to govern. The obligation to follow authority should stem from the validity of the authority’s origin. Anyone can assert authority, but it is only a confused person who does not confirm the legitimacy of the source of that authority. Eve’s dialogue with the serpent is a classic illustration of this type of confusion.
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave it to her husband with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings (Genesis 3:1-7 NKJV).
When analyzing the aforementioned episode, the focus is on the serpent’s cunning nature. Should the blame lie with the serpent’s inherent cunningness or the serpent itself? In the case of a woman who lures a man into adultery, should the blame fall on her or the manipulative behaviour that led to the man’s seduction? Put differently, should the man bear full responsibility for allowing himself to be seduced? How does one arrive at a fair judgment in such a scenario?
The fact is, cunningness isn’t inherently theft. It can be utilized by anyone to acquire something that might otherwise be out of reach, without necessarily being deceitful. Cunningness is not exclusive to any gender; it is used by some women and many men, particularly in adulterous situations. Salespeople also employ it, often leading customers to purchase unnecessary items. The subtlety of cunningness catches people off guard, prompting actions they hadn’t initially planned. Essentially, cunningness targets the latent desires within a person.
In a competent court of law, filing a lawsuit for being seduced may be impossible. There are instances where seduction is later reinterpreted as rape, especially if the individual realizes the abuse stems from manipulative communication. The goal might be to seek redress while also deceptively presenting a rape case that did not occur. Ultimately, it is challenging to assign blame to the manipulative individual, as it involves a shared responsibility that is difficult to distribute.
In the Garden of Eden incident, no one was exonerated from responsibility. Adam tried to blame his wife but to no avail. The woman, in turn, tried to blame the serpent, yet she did not emerge blameless. The outcome of that event has shaped the present state of humanity. The serpent’s guile had momentarily triumphed, as Satan got what he wanted. It would be Jesus’ later intervention, enabling the attainment of redemption; albeit after considerable harm had already occurred. People might continuously attribute blame to supernatural beings, yet the decision stands, determined by the events that transpired in the Garden of Eden.
The principle of cause and effect stands as a fundamental truth. Nothing exists without a cause. Often, troubles arise from a failure to effectively assess data and ascertain its authenticity. Adam and Eve might have echoed God’s warning to avoid the forbidden fruit, yet they did not grasp its meaning. Eve was informed that God’s assertion of the tree being unfit for consumption was false. However, the critical question remains: upon what basis did the serpent make its claim? This inquiry could have been enough to break the serpent’s temptation. The couple needed to be clear about the source of information.
Many individuals are currently trapped in a state where they cannot effectively assess information, leading them to persist in blaming Adam for present circumstances. However, Jesus has come to shed light on the situation, rendering Adam’s failure insignificant for those alive today. Every person can make decisions as if they were in Adam’s position. Jesus offered a model that anyone can follow to overcome the serpent’s deceit.
Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands, they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him (Matthew 4:3-11 NKJV).
If Adam had been as fully informed as Jesus, he might have acted in the same manner as Jesus did in the referenced scriptural passage. Adam was uncertain about the authenticity of the information from God versus Satan’s assertion. This uncertainty is a dilemma that all people worldwide face, even today. Despite Jesus providing a clear voice, the blame game persists without resolution. The concept of regularly pausing to reflect before utilizing available resources may not appear logical to some.
Instead of accepting Jesus’ teachings as genuine, many Christians believe that obedience to Church authorities is paramount. Similar to Eve, they may not consider the potential for deceit from sources other than those deemed divine by Jesus. This is despite Jesus’ explicit warnings about the potential for manipulation from sources other than Himself. Assisting someone in recognizing deception can be quite challenging.
“All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
“But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My sheep and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so, I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:8-15 NKJV).
While it’s heartening to reflect on the words, “I am the good shepherd, and I know My sheep and am known by My own” (John 10:14), there’s a lingering discomfort in witnessing the arrogance that some hold onto. Sharing God’s truth with friends and acquaintances is thrilling, yet it can be challenging to convey. Meanwhile, the devil’s cunningness persists, as the deceptions cast by Satan are readily embraced by those drawn to misleading information.
Jesus teaches that any other informant is a thief, vulnerable to manipulation by the mastermind of theft, whose purpose is destruction. The so-called authorities may be unaware of their manipulation by Satan. However, a thorough analysis reveals a tendency towards pride in their actions, a trait originating from Satan. Pride is the most appealing trait to the average person. Information is judged based on the remnants of vanity within the individual. The root of pride is not God, but Satan, who deceives the individual into feeling secure when in fact they are not.
This suggests that Satan cannot be solely held responsible for human behaviour. The cited scripture indicates that an individual’s inclination towards Satan’s influence is a conscious choice. Jesus’ teaching that the sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice implies that they can distinguish truth from falsehood. Therefore, it is not always prudent to condemn church authorities outright. Instead, teachings from church leaders or any other source should be assessed based on their alignment with the teachings of Jesus.
Satan, as a figure already rejected, anticipates the final judgment that awaits him on Judgment Day. Similarly, Church authorities, whether consciously or not, will face their respective judgments on that day. No one can hide behind excuses like those made by Eve for defying the Creator. Each individual will stand alone to be judged, based on which voice they heeded during their life. It is unwise to be swayed by others instead of focusing on the Creator, the Source of all. The messenger who spreads the teachings of Jesus cannot bear responsibility for anyone’s personal decisions regarding Christianity.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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