Adam and the Serpent

(This is a fictitious rendition of what may have transpired at the Garden of Eden on the day Adam fell. I have taken liberal license)

It was just another day in the garden. Adam and Eve had had a very wonderful night and started their day as usual, selecting some very delicious fruits for breakfast. Since the weather was always just wonderful, they just lazed around, walking and just having very great fellowship.

They interacted very well with the animals since Adam had made good connections with each of them as he chose and gave each of them its name. Of course not all the animals were in the garden, though the garden was extremely large. But each family of animals was represented. You see they were not only created before Adam, they had been created in numbers so that they could fill the earth before he was created.

The animals liked talking with Adam a lot, giving him their own version of this or the other fruit as he chose them for his wife. Most times Eve would wonder aloud what it was that made Adam connect so well with the animals. Adam of course did not want to offend her by commenting on her impatience with the animal’s ‘foolish’ questions. And this was because she was not there as he spent time with each before he gave an appropriate name. He knew that that could easily destroy their most intimate moments. Sometimes Eve would wander away for some time to cool off as well as not offend the animals as they asked Adam very ‘foolish’ questions or gave him very ‘crazy’ advice. Adam would notice that quickly and set off looking for her, relying on the animals for directions as the garden was very, very large.

But this day was different. She had asked to be given some time alone since she realized that there were some animals that needed some treatment from some injuries, a thing her whole system cringed from. Pain was something she really hated to be associated with. Blood was even worse. And that day both were present in a big way. Let Adam deal with that. In any case he was there before her!

The serpent had of late been acting very strangely. He had been pestering them about the tree God had told Adam not to eat from.

‘Did God really say that?’ he would ask Adam, looking at Eve very sheepishly so that she started having second thoughts about the validity of the commandment.

‘We are not to eat it. We should not even touch it as it could easily start the long journey of disobedience’, Adam had told Eve when they were alone.

‘What will happen if I did so?’ Eve countered.

‘Sudden death’ Adam replied, aiming at totally dissuading her from entertaining doubt about the word God had given.

As Adam continued treating the animals the serpent came around. This time he was groomed to kill, to use the terminology of generation so far as to be imagined.

‘Where are you going today? Have you finally found the ‘girl’ of your dreams?’ Adam asked.

‘You are fortunate that you are only two and have no struggle to find a mate. When you become as many as we are you may realize why some have to die for others to mate. By the way why are you still two? Are you saying that you have not yet mm…?’

‘It is different with us. We do not -’

‘Mate only to procreate la la la… The intimacy part escapes me. I simply do not understand why that should be. Look at the animals you are treating. What would happen if there were ten, or even twenty of you doing the same thing? You could now be having intimacy with you wife. By the way where is Eve?’

‘You know this makes her uncomfortable. And we were commanded to -’

‘Multiply and fill the earth? How? By continuing to have fruitless intimacy? Look at us and our lack of that intimacy you are boasting about. Some give their life for that moment of fruitfulness. Who could do that if he was after intimacy? And about intimacy being good for a good night’s sleep also eludes me. If some of us slept after mating then life would end. Some would be trampled on; others feasted upon and so on. You are fortunate any animal can feel your presence even when you are asleep. I wonder why you were created after all of us instead of before.’

Then the serpent looked at the forbidden tree longingly.

‘Did God say…? Well forget it’

He knew that he had engaged Adam very intensely as to almost make him forget the job he was doing treating the animals.

He slowly sauntered off, proudly displaying his very careful grooming.

He was very handsome, and intelligent. He was one animal that related to Adam at an almost equal intellectual level. And of late he had been at his best. And today he had exceeded even that.

His front legs could be mistaken for hands, a fact he did not ever want to hide his superiority. He had a most regal bearing. But it was his intelligence that set him apart from the rest. You almost thought that he had been created long before the other animals. You could be mistaken if you thought he was part of the creating team. Most of the other animals evaded having an argument, even a discussion with him of late. Though he had always been more intelligent than most in the past, he had recently become worlds apart from the other animals. At times even Adam was at a loss when they had discussions. Everybody was wondering where he had got all that information all of a sudden.

But he was also very shrewd. He displayed his superiority without giving away its source. He may have feared another animal getting in contact with that source. And of course that mystery elevated his status even more.

As soon as he was out of sight he rushed excitedly to where Eve was, since he had first seen her before going to Adam. He behaved as if he was shocked to see her alone.

‘Adam always amazes me’, he told her

‘Why?’ she countered.

‘How does he let you wander alone in this big garden as he attends to self-inflicted injuries of some foolish animals? Can’t he see that they are after having him all to themselves especially since they know you are too sensitive to pain?’

‘He was created before me and is the one that can do such things. I just give him the time to deal with that’

‘But what about your space? Doesn’t he know that you are the one specifically created for him? I can remember him looking very lonely even as he was naming us, looking for someone he could relate with with the intimacy he is always talking about. Why does he now neglect you to spend all his time with the animals that could not give him that?’

‘That is his responsibility before God. Mine is to help him perform it well’.

‘By running all over the garden to escape exposure to pain?’

‘I will allow God deal with that’

‘Still dwelling on God, why has your intimacy not given you any of your kind? Has He refused to give you your own? Or is it as I suspect that Adam is just bidding his time to give his seed to someone who understands him better, one who does not run from his concern for his animals? I suspect he is secretly pleading with God to give him a more compatible companion who does not run away from him when he is busy at work’

‘Now that is stretching it too far. Adam loves me intensely and understands that I was taken from his side and so a part of who he is. You are not the same with the female serpent you have groomed yourself to impress today. Or you think I had not noticed?’

‘Just wait until he is given another helper. That is when you will realize that he has denied you his seed for a purpose. Mating without procreation, what he calls intimacy, is a creation of his mind to hide the fact that he is not comfortable with the kind of helper he was given’

‘I did not know you could be so evil. You can create anything out of nothing’

‘Are you saying that I do not have a point?’

‘Precisely’

‘Let me ask you another question since you think I do not know what I am talking about. That fruit tree Adam forbids you to eat, are you sure he has not eaten it?’

‘Of course not’

‘And you say God said not to eat any fruit unless Adam gets it from you?’

‘The only reason he gets them from me is because he knows the really good ones. He has been around longer, you know’

‘And you can eat any fruit you want, any?’

‘Except that one’, she said, pointing to the forbidden tree. ‘We are not even to touch it’

‘Why?’

‘We will die’

‘And you say who said that?’

‘God’

‘You heard Him say that?’

‘That is what Adam told me. I was not yet there when he was told’.

‘You say God will kill you if you touch a tree He has created, yet He has made you rulers of everything He has created? I don’t buy that. God cannot be that petty to kill someone just for touching a tree he expects you to manage’.

‘I think Adam forbid me to touch so that I am not tempted to eat it. Or something like that’

‘What else did He say that wasn’t told? Like I told you I suspect he, or God, wants to keep you from what you need very urgently. Why haven’t you produced any offspring? Why must Adam tell you what he is told? Why can’t God tell you Himself? In any case how sure are you that Adam was told anything at all? What I know is that Adam wants to keep you down. He wants to be able to control you. He fears you being able to think independent of him. I was around for longer than Adam and know what that fruit can do. Just look at it. Does it look like something a loving God can withhold from the pick of His creation? Does it look like poison that could kill you on your touching it? Does it…’

‘Slow down. Won’t it be better if you brought this argument with Adam who was given the commandment?’

‘That is the reason I want to reason with you. Adam has hidden the truth from you. He gives only what will make you continue feeling inferior, and then he can control you. You should think and make decisions for yourself. That tree is the only thing that will free you from his control and domination. That tree will make you accountable for your decisions. That tree will make you wise. And that is what Adam is hiding from you. I heard it when God was speaking to him. Wisdom is the thing that the tree gives. And that is why it is placed at the middle of the garden so that as you take it you are able to manage better the rest of the garden. That is why Adam doesn’t want you to eat it’

‘I wish Adam was here to respond to that. I am getting confused …’

‘So that he continues dominating you with half truths? Come and see’. He said, leading her to the forbidden tree. But he was careful that Adam does not see them.

He touched the fruit hanging closest to the ground.

‘Instant death. eehh? Am I dead already?’

Of course not. But you are not…’

‘Adam? Poison is poison. Tell me you enjoy being overrun all over by Adam and I will leave you alone. Look at it. Touch. Does it taste like poison?’

By that time Eve was mesmerized by the tree. She had stopped thinking straight. She had started judging Adam harshly by thinking that he was the one shielding her from wisdom, from being in control.

She dreamily stretched out her hand and touched the fruit. She did not die. This released all the pent up emotions the serpent had been trying to arouse in the course of their conversation.

‘Adam is a traitor’, she said aloud to herself. The serpent smiled.

About that time Adam saw Eve at the tree and was alarmed.

‘Eve, what are you doing? Get from that tree at once’. He shouted, running towards his wife. He was truly alarmed to see her standing next to the tree.

‘See what I told you. He fears you being in charge of your life’, said the serpent

By this time Eve was past reversal. She had breached a barrier and there was no way anyone, even God, could have persuaded her otherwise. She had made up her mind.

As Adam was rushing toward her, she plucked a fruit from the tree. This time she did not mind Adam seeing her. Adam almost fainted.

‘Eve, what are you doing?’ he shouted even harder, increasing the speed he was running.

By the time Adam had reached to where she was, she was already putting it into her mouth. Adam could say nothing, fearing the worst. He just stood there, mouth agape and completely lost for words.

‘Am I dead, Adam?’ she asked

‘You have broken God’s commandment’, was all Adam could say.

‘And you have misrepresented God. Why am I not dead? I have touched and even eaten the fruit. I am still alive. In fact I feel even more alive than I was before. I feel liberated. I can see even better. Want to try?’

‘But God said …’

‘You shall not touch it. I have touched and eaten and I am still alive. You did not hear God clearly. Probably you just imagined it. Maybe you feared eating the fruit because it is more delicious than the rest. Probably you did not want me to eat it so that you can eat it secretly. God couldn’t have told you that. You just imagined it so that you can continue dominating me’.

‘What are you saying? God said …’

‘God said nothing of the sort. Just look at this fruit. Does it look like poison? Stop imagining things. Remember what you think God said and look at me. Are you so afraid of wisdom that you are creating myths out of the only tree that has the capacity to give it? Taste, it is more delicious than anything else I have tasted. Why are you so scared?’

‘God told me…’

‘God told you nothing. You are just imagining things. Just look at me. Do you love me? Do I love you? Does my love mean anything to you? Why is it that you expect me to eat anything you bring me yet cringe the only time I have used my initiative to get you something. Am I so despised in your eyes that you cannot eat out of my hands? Are you implying that I intend to poison you with something I have eaten myself?’

By this time the story had moved from God’s command to Adam’s love for his wife, a most uncomfortable diversion. Though it had not been easy arguing about what God had commanded, it was nigh impossible to get any words to defend his love for Eve. And she was so relentless. She must have been talking with the reloaded serpent. But where was he? He had disappeared.

‘Have you been talking to the serpent?’ Adam asked

‘Is he the one who teaches you to express love to your wife? Take charge of your life. Stop hiding behind the animals you are supposed to rule over. They might stop respecting you.

By this time they were surrounded by the animals who were wondering what was happening. Adam was starting to get embarrassed by all the attacks Eve was directing to him. He sought to make a compromise. He felt that he could not bear that pressure any longer. Though he was sure the turn of events were orchestrated by the serpent, the serpent was nowhere to respond to his concerns. And Eve had become a real thorn in his flesh. The argument was tearing his heart apart.

Should he choose what God had said over the pain his wife was inflicting on him? It appeared pointless to argue with Eve as she did not give him time to complete his side of the argument. It was completely pointless to talk with Eve. But then what should he do? Taking God’s side was appearing senseless by the minute as His word that death would be the result of eating the fruit had been proven ineffective. In fact that was the point Eve was sticking to his heart again and again.

‘I would rather die that continue in this tension’, reasoned Adam. I pray that God will kill me as soon as I take the fruit. I would rather lose my life than continue looking foolish to all these animals that had been unquestionably obedient to everything I say’.

‘Let me disobey God and die. Bring me the fruit’, he said to Eve

The rest, as they say, is history