Have you ever felt confused about what God is telling you? Have you ever misinterpreted God’s words or intentions? You are not alone. The story of Adam and Eve in the Bible reminds us that sometimes we can bend God and suffer the consequences of our actions, as seen in their disobedience to God’s command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
In the Garden of Eden, God explicitly commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He warned them that if they did, they would surely die.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. ~ Genesis 2:16-17 (KJV)
However, when the serpent tempted Eve to eat the fruit, she misinterpreted God’s words and added to them by saying that they were not even allowed to touch the fruit. This misinterpretation might have allowed the serpent to deceive Eve and convince her to disobey God.
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. ~ Genesis 3:1-3 (KJV)
We, too, can sometimes misinterpret God’s words and intentions. This can happen for various reasons, including our biases, cultural influences, and personal desires. We may hear what we want rather than what God is saying to us.
For example, we may pray for a particular outcome and then interpret any sign or coincidence as a confirmation of our desire. Or we may read the Bible selectively, choosing only the verses that support our beliefs and ignoring the ones that challenge us.
When we misinterpret God, we can make wrong decisions that lead us away from God’s plan. We may end up in situations that we never intended or face consequences that we never expected.
The good news is that we can avoid misinterpreting God by seeking to know Him better. We can study the Bible, pray, and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We can also seek wise counsel from other believers who help us discern God’s will.
Seek God’s will
One of the key ways to avoid misinterpreting God is to seek His will wholeheartedly. This means being open to His guidance and surrendering our desires and plans to Him.
In the Bible, we see that God values obedience and faithfulness. He wants us to trust in His plan for our lives and follow His commands, even when it may not make sense.
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. ~ 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)
This verse reminds us that God sees through our outward actions and hearts. He knows whether we are seeking Him wholeheartedly or following our desires.
When we seek God’s will with our hearts, we are more likely to discern His voice and understand His plan for our lives. This requires us to lay aside our ambitions and trust in His plan, even if it may not align with our desires.
Align with God, and He’ll grant your heart’s desires
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. ~ Psalm 37:4-5 (KJV)
This verse reminds us that when we delight in the Lord and commit our ways to Him, He will align our desires with His will. This means that when we seek God’s will with a pure heart, He will give us the desires that align with His plan.
Seeking God’s will wholeheartedly is critical to avoiding misinterpreting God. By surrendering our desires and trusting in His plan for our lives, we can discern His voice and understand His plan. Let us seek God’s will with our hearts, knowing He sees through our outward actions and compassion.
Ask God’s forgiveness
Furthermore, when we misinterpret God, we can ask for forgiveness and seek to make things right. We can trust that God is gracious and merciful and will guide us back onto the right path.
Conclusion
The story of Adam and Eve reminds us that sometimes we can misinterpret God, which leads to disastrous consequences. However, by seeking to know God better and relying on His guidance, we can avoid this trap and live according to His will. Let us remember the lessons of the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil and trust in God’s plan for us.