The Voice of God
In prideful defiance Adam and Eve rebelled and sinned by disobeying and dishonoring their Father. From that one act of breaking covenant with the Almighty, by partaking of the “forbidden fruit”, sin overtook them and they now bore the likeness of Satan and spiritually died (Genesis 3:6). What a master liar and deceiver Satan is, who said to Eve, “you shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). Eternal life became immediate spiritual death, because “the wages of sin is death” and slavery to the “the devil who has been sinning from the beginning” (Romans 6:23, 1 John 3:8). After eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve were overcome with excuses. They were naked apart from Yahveh’s presence and covered with shame instead of covered with His loving mercy and righteousness. Eve blamed “the serpent” for deceiving her and Adam blamed Eve (Genesis 3:13). There was no indication of “godly sorrow [which] brings repentance” only blame, shame, and fearful nakedness of soul (2 Corinthians 7:10, Genesis 3:10). Before Adam and Eve sinned and rebelled, they walked in unity with bonds of peace and love in the heavenly grace of their Father’s glorious presence. After they sinned they cowered in darkness, feeling shamefully naked, and fearfully hiding from their holy Creator (Genesis 3:10).
“The Heavenly Father specifically spoke to Adam, saying, “… you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying,’ You shall not eat from it”
Satan’s tempting deception began with Eve, however, we read that the voice of the Almighty Creator spoke directly to Adam “commanding the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Satan’s schemes undermine the love and the fear of God, which obliterates wisdom and obedience. Although Adam was right there with Eve, he did nothing to stop her from disobeying the Father’s commandment and reaping its deadly consequences. The Heavenly Father specifically spoke to Adam, saying, “… you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying,’ You shall not eat from it …’” (Genesis 3:17).
“Adam and Eve lost their Creator’s holy “identity”, no longer were they to be the “rulers over the earth”, it was forfeited to Satan who would rule all forthcoming humanity who bore his inherited fallen sin nature”
“Then Yahveh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever … So He drove [Adam and Eve] out” (Genesis 3:24). As Adam and Eve were cast out into the world, Satan’s seed of rebellion was past to their children, but with it remained the blessing of a free will. Humanity’s first parents were no longer pure and holy because they disobeyed and sinned. From that point on they knew not only good but evil, and could not live eternally. Adam and Eve lost their Creator’s holy “identity”, they lost the utmost blessing of living in His holy presence and kingdom. No longer were they to be the “rulers over the earth”, it was forfeited to Satan who would rule all forthcoming humanity who bore his inherited fallen sin nature (Genesis 1:27-28). Adam and Eve were mutated, they no longer bore the “likeness” of their holy God and Father because of their sin. Holiness was replaced with the likeness and DNA of Satan’s fallen sin nature. This is why our Savior said, "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father” (John 8:44). Consequently, due to Satan’s deception and temptation and Adam and Eve’s rebellion, sin robbed our first parents and all forthcoming humanity of the eternal blessings that the Almighty had originally intended for His children. Most grievously, instead of populating the earth with righteous children for their Father’s glory, Adam and Eve would populate the earth with offspring who bore Satan’s sinful nature, unknowingly giving the Devil the glory he had wickedly desired in heaven. Tragically sin, death, the “sting of death”, and darkness perpetuated on earth throughout human history. (*See Footnote Below)
“If the sorrow that we cause our Holy God and Savior continues and we do not repent and turn, then that sorrow will turn into everlasting torment. “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish””
Disobedience and rebellion is sin, which breaks covenant with our Holy God, defaming Him rather than bringing Him the honor and glory that is due to Him alone. Let us take to heart our Heavenly Father’s voice Who said, “like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; … they have dealt treacherously against Me” (Hosea 6:7). Sorrow! Sorrow! Leading to more sorrow! If the sorrow that we cause our Holy God and Savior continues and we do not repent and turn, then that sorrow will turn into everlasting torment. Listen to our loving Savior’s voice speaking a stern warning, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5). It is written, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” … “If, because of one man's trespass [Adam], death reigned through that one man, much more will those [the obedient remnant] who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Yahshua Messiah [Jesus Christ] … For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many [who obey His commandments] will be made righteous” (Romans 5:12, 17-19).
“The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:47). The first man is our fleshy nature, Adam’s nature. The second, our born again nature is like Yahshua (Jesus). Unless we are “born again” through repentance and obedient faith, we will stay in Adam’s nature and only have a superficial confession of faith without living as a “born again” “new creation” bearing the likeness of the second Adam, Yahshua (Jesus) (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17). No sin or sinner can live eternally in the presence and kingdom of the Holy God and Creator apart from saving faith in our Savior’s sacrificial blood covering our repentant rejected sins. It is written, “Without holiness [separation from our self nature and the world] no one will see the Lord” because “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Hebrews 12:14, Isaiah 59:2).
From the beginning in the Garden and throughout human history, Satan has cunningly mixed the poison of lies with the purity and power of truth. Just as his grotesque diabolical identity is hidden under disguise as “an angel of light”, so too, his poisonous mixture of truth and deception is undetectable to the unaware masses (2 Corinthians 11:14). The Almighty says, “My people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Sadly, so many professing believers (God’s people) do not know the Father’s voice through His Word and cannot recognize the counterfeit. They accept, swallow, and are consequently destroyed by Satan’s deadly mixtures of lies with truth. This is why Messiah said of him, “He was a murderer from the beginning … he is a liar and the father of lies”. It is written, “a lying tongue hates its victims”. Yahshua (Jesus) warned, “Be careful that no one deceives you”, and take note, “no lie comes from the truth” (John 8:44, Proverbs 26:28, Matthew 24:4, 1John 2:21).
“I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Messiah [Christ]”
Adam listened to the voice of Eve rather than obeying the voice of his Creator and Father, when he rebelliously ate the “forbidden fruit”. Apostle Paul with great concern cautions us, “… I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Messiah [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Take note of this additional example and warning to us, that is reiterated throughout Scripture, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Who are you going to seek to please, your God and Savior or your self and other people? It is written, “Stop regarding man … for of what account is he (or she)?” (Isaiah 2:22) Even with best intentions, the inbred sinful nature in our self or other people can easily lead us away from seeking the voice and will of our God, inevitably ensnaring us in deception and sin! It is vital that we diligently seek the voice of our God and Savior by studying His Word and prayerfully receiving the Holy Spirit’s help as we seek to always lovingly obey Him. Our Savior only listened to His Father’s voice and spoke His very words. He continually said to His followers, “He who has an ear let Him hear what the Spirit is saying” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 29). If the voice of our self or anyone else does not line up to the biblically expressed voice of our God and Savior we are to say absolutely, “NO!” to every other voice, regardless of the cost of being obedient!!!
“Yahshua (Jesus) says, “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me … My sheep hear My voice … and they follow Me””
Throughout biblical history, the Holy One consistently warns His people saying, ‘Listen to My voice, and do according to all which I command you … Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked, each one, in the stubbornness of his evil heart; and went backward and not forward.” “Lies and not truth prevail in the land … Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” … “Because they have forsaken My law [My commandments] … and have not obeyed My voice nor walked according to it” (Jeremiah 11:4, 7:24, 9:3,6,13). The Almighty’s prophetic voice in essence proclaimed, “I spoke and you would not listen, I spoke and you deafened your ears, stiffened your neck, and defied My voice, now what awaits you is My righteous indignation and poured out judgments. I will not listen to your voice; you would not listen to Mine” (see Jeremiah 26:4-6, Isaiah 59:1-2). Just wait, judgment it is coming, “but what will you do in the end?” (Jeremiah 5:31) However, the voice of our Righteous King proclaims, tell the righteous “that it will be well with them” (Isaiah 3:10). Our Savior made it clear, He has a “little flock”, “the called chosen and faithful”; the “few who will be saved” (see Luke 13:32,23, Revelation 17:14). Yahshua (Jesus) says, "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me … My sheep hear My voice … and they follow Me” (John 10:14,27).
Prayer
Yahshua (Jesus), I repent for the many times that I never consider that Your voice is the only voice I must seek to hear and obey. I ask for Your Holy Spirit to help me cultivate an intimate prayerful relationship and ongoing communication with You, my Heavenly Father and Savior. I humbly ask You that I will have ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying. Please help me to learn to be still and quiet as I wait upon You in prayer seeking affirmation of Your perfect will, above all else. Forgive me for continually listening to the voice of myself and other people, being led by my flesh and not by the Holy Spirit. Please give me the steadfast courage and wisdom not to waiver between man’s voice and Yours. Thank you for hearing my prayer and forgiving me for leaning on my own understanding rather than seeking Your voice expressed in Your written Word. I know that I have sinned by being prideful, thinking that I have the right to my own opinion. You have mercifully set me straight knowing that I am out of Your will unless I walk according to Your voice that says, “this is the way walk in it.” Thank you for loving me so much that you are opening up my ears to seek and to hear Your voice proclaim Your perfect will in every aspect of my life. May I be like a little child that says, “Speak Father, your child is listening.”
Footnote
* Before the coming of our Savior, regardless of the Devil’s deceptive influence and wicked agenda, the Holy One has always had a faithful righteous remnant who hear and obey His voice. Throughout biblical history there are examples of the faithful righteous such as Abel, Enoch, Job, Noah, Abraham, Daniel, the biblical Prophets and untold others who lived holy lives because of their innate knowledge and loving reverence for their Almighty Creator. They had been divinely chosen before the foundations of the earth to live in holy awe and recognition that there is a Most High God who makes His voice known to those who love, obey, worship, and glorify Him. In Job’s words, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. “Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold” (Job 19:25-27).
