text exactly what is intended. We know that there is increased pain during childbirth, which mirrors the labor her husband is to experience in bringing forth food from the earth. Despite the pain of childbirth, she will desire her husband sexually. She is to be “ruled” over by her husband. And here lies the “curse” upon women throughout history. Some have interpreted this to mean that women are to be subordinate to men. This verse has been used to justify male dominance over women. Women have been second-class citizens and prevented from living a full life because it “says so in the Bible.” Feminist and womanist scholars, however, argue that only this particular woman is sentenced to a subordinate role to this particular man because of their mutual transgression. God has not assigned such a role to all women for all time. The status of the woman here has changed, as has that of the man. She is not declared more sinful than he; in fact, the word “sin” is not used in the text at all. The text does not declare the woman responsible for the downfall of humanity, nor does it indicate that she tricked or seduced or tempted the man to eat the forbidden fruit. This story has been distorted to place the ills of the world on the woman.
In addition, the Hebrew word that is translated “rule” is the same that is used when adam is told to have dominion over creation. The point to remember is that the power to “rule,” masal, comes from God and God appoints those to rule or have dominion over. This power is to serve God’s higher purpose. The humans are to care for creation. The use of “dominion” implies service. In the changed world, however, dominion is connected to judgment; dominion is now a kind of punishment for the woman and the man. Her freedom is restricted; she is no longer the creative, active, independent woman. She is under the control of adam.
Adam now has the added responsibility of providing for the woman. His world has changed dramatically. Adam is not cursed but the ground from which he gets his food and livelihood is. He is to labor long and hard to bring forth the earth’s bounty. And now he has to wrestle with thorns and thistles in order to grow his food. Contrast his new reality to his passive eating of the fruit. Now he can eat only by the sweat of his brow. The dust from which he was created is now his enemy and may not yield its fruit. He lives in fear that he will not be able to survive if the earth withholds its bounty. This fear may even carry over in his relationship with the woman: he may not be able to “control” her. She may withhold herself so that no offspring are produced and Adam’s task of providing food becomes even more difficult.
The garden had been a place of comfort and ease, a place where shame, guilt, and fear were absent. God had pretty much left the man and woman alone to manage things. But things are different now. God does not and cannot trust them to do the right thing, and the possibility of things going from bad to worse is still present:
Then YHWH Elohim said, “See, [adam] has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—therefore YHWH Elohim sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. YHWH Elohim drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden YHWH Elohim placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life. (Gen. 3:22–24)
While God did indicate that the tree of life was off limits, God can no longer trust the humans to leave it alone. God evicts them from the garden after giving them suitable clothes to cover their nakedness. Even in the midst of the mess, God extends divine mercy and care. But the humans are exiled from the place of harmony and innocence. They can never return—this is, in a sense, a death sentence!
ADAM DOES NOT SPEAK either to argue with God or to nurture or console the woman. He plays a passive role again. Adam is elevated to the wise “first” man, but such designation is a stretch. While adam shows some creative and imaginative leanings in naming the animals and birds; and he shows tenderness and compassion in composing his love song to the woman, he is fairly passive. He does not communicate directly with the woman. He does not correct her understanding of the command given specifically to him by God. He does not enter the theological discussion with the serpent. He does not refuse to eat the fruit when offered.
When adam does speak, it is to whine to God about the woman he had been given as a partner. He has gone from a lovely love ballad in Genesis 2:23 to an unhealthy whine in Genesis 3:12. His gratitude has changed into scapegoating. Adam takes no responsibility for his silence or his decision to eat. He exhibits no care or defense for himself or for the woman. He passes his responsibility off to her and accuses her and God of making him disobey the commandment. And adam pays a heavy price for his transgression and silence.
Of course, we might wonder if adam has been set up to fail. In both creation stories, it is God who sets the agenda. If humans are truly created in the image and likeness of God, then they have the capacity to choose. In creating them, God has left open the possibility that they will choose against the divine will and purpose. That is, God must live with the freedom given to the humans. So God should not be surprised or dismayed when the humans exercise their freedom, and the humans should not be penalized for exercising this freedom.
Further, God placed the possibility of death in the midst of creation. In the place where humans live, breathe, and have their being, there is also the specter of death. God has given the humans both freedom and limits. It is not clear how the humans are to distinguish between the two; as creative, thinking, active beings, they will push boundaries to the limit. The judgment of God is quick and unequivocal—and may seem too harsh to our sensibilities about punishment fitting the crime. But remember that the shapers of the tradition have a larger theological message to convey; complete and total reliance on God results in good choices and a good life. Disobedience brings alienation, separation, disunity, and disharmony. Disobedience disrupts creation and all relationships. Instead of open, caring, and loving relationships, now we must deal with suspicion, distrust, anger, shame, and hostility.
God did not make it easy for adam. But adam did what he did and paid the price!
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1 What is your reaction to the fact that there are two creation stories? Which do you prefer? Why?
2 What kind of person is adam? What are his strengths? His weaknesses?
3 How is authority exercised in each of the two creation stories? Who exercises authority? In what ways?
4 How do you exercise authority? When? Where? Over whom? For what reasons and toward what ends?
5 What message do you think the shapers of these stories wanted to send to those who would hear them?
6 What advice do you offer adam about his life? About his leadership skills?
7 God created humans in the divine likeness and image. How, then, should we behave in our relationships at home? At work or school? In our communities?
8 Under what conditions are you self-assured and most self-confident? Explain.
9 Have you ever hesitated or failed to express your opinion when you disagreed with someone? What can you do to be more assertive?
10 How do you understand God from the two creation stories? What are God’s strengths? Weaknesses?
11 How do you handle fear? Embarrassment? Explain.
12 Have you ever been a scapegoat? How did you feel? What did you do?
13 Have you ever blamed someone else for something you did? What happened?
14 Is there someone you need to forgive? What prevents you from doing so? What support do you need in order to forgive someone?
15 Is your work a blessing or a burden? Explain.
