The Power of Fear: How "Being as gods" Led to Anxiety and Shame
Unpacking the consequences of deciding what is good and evil, as seen in Genesis 3:22
The first mention of fear in the Bible
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. Genesis 3:10.
Before eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve lived, trusting God completely. They believed God would take care of them and that God had everything under control.
After eating the fruit, they lost their innocence. They realized their nakedness and vulnerability. For the first time, they knew what it was to feel shame. They feared the consequences of their disobedience.
Being “as gods” separated them, putting distance between God and themselves.
What does it mean to be “as gods”
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:5.
To be like God puts you in control. You control your destiny, but now the pressure is on you, and that causes you to live in fear and anxiety. Though you want to be in control, you know you are not.
Being “as gods” meant taking on the responsibility to decide what was good and evil.
Being “as gods” meant having control, independence, and self-sufficiency.
Like all of us, Adam and Eve wanted to be the masters of their own destiny. It is about making something big of yourself.
Being “as gods” means rejecting the idea of dependence on God. They want to govern their own lives in their way.
What does it mean to know good and evil
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:5.
When Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they would become “as gods.” They would decide what was good and evil. Take a few minutes and study with me what those words mean. We will look at the Hebrew, the original language, and you can see it translated that way in a word study you conduct.
And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Genesis 3:22.
Good
The word good in this verse is much deeper than your cursory understanding. It carries the idea of being “merry with good spirits.” It meant that they would determine what was “pleasant and desirable.” They would evaluate what pleases or displeases them rather than God making that decision.
Good refers to something being in order, usable, and efficient. It is the word used to refer to a newborn child being pleasing or beautiful.
The word means determining what is friendly, kind, of value, and excellent character.
We think of it primarily as they would determine what is morally good, and that is indeed one meaning, but it is just one meaning.
Evil
The word evil means something that is poorly made or of little worth. It is what is poor or of no benefit. It means contemptible, evil disposition, wicked, morally depraved, and reprobate.
It refers to wicked, unacceptable behavior, being malicious, harmful, and bringing misfortune.
So Adam and Eve, “as gods,” would determine what was pleasant and desirable or contemptible and unacceptable.
What did this godlike status do for Adam and Eve and humanity?
This godlike status caused the first words they used “as gods” to be that they were afraid. It was the first time they had felt fear, but since that day, we all know what it feels like to live in fear.
They were “as gods” being in control, but quickly realized they were not in control.
They had had a loving relationship with God before, but now that was gone. They were afraid of God.
They were no longer innocent but lived in fear and shame, hiding themselves.
Now, “as gods,” it was their duty to make food and cause the earth to produce for themselves.
Not only were they distanced from God, but now they were going to die, a physical death. No one was supposed to die. Now, all would die.
God gave them dominion over the earth, the creation, but now they would have to fight to maintain their dominion.
Most of all, I want you to realize they now live in fear. Do you know that there was no fear when God was in control? There was no fear about what they were to eat, wear, do, or even be. They depended totally on God, but now they were on their own.
Application
Today, as believers, we want to return to that relationship with God. We are not to worry about all the things regular people worry about. We are not to be anxious. In order to overcome fear, we are to relinquish control and place our trust in God. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares. Think about the truth and not what others think about it. Live a life of faith, believing God for it all.