The letter written to the family, part two: It first confused me; if Eve was the one who sinned first, why was Adam held accountable?

Introduction

To address this question, let’s first review the events leading up to this point. The answer to this question isn’t meant to be a mere curiosity but a way to understand what God wants to communicate with us.

As children, and even now in some minds, Satan is often perceived as a frightening figure with large horns, sharp teeth, and long claws, with red eyes and a terrifying voice. However, Satan isn’t as fearsome as some might imagine. If he were, no one would be deceived by him because we would immediately recognize and flee from him. Satan has the ability to transform himself into something attractive due to its beauty. This is confirmed by the scriptures, which state that he can even appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Moreover, I have learned from the Lord God that when Satan sees that he cannot easily cause you to stumble, he first builds a relationship with you.

For example, he might make you fond of immoral people, convincing you that you can change them, but his goal is to make you abandon your principles so that their habits become your bondage, thus diminishing your relationship with God. Paul affirmed this when he said, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character'” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

This is what happened to Eve. If she had recognized Satan as a terrifying creature, she would have fled. I imagine that when Satan approached her in the form of a serpent (Genesis 3:1), he spoke to her in a gentle and pleasant voice, using convincing language, and she was drawn in by it. Let me conclude this point by saying that Satan still uses this deception even today to lead many astray (Readers, take heed).

Mother Cain (Eve) Sinned, but God Held Father Cain (Adam) Accountable

Before Eve was created, God gave Adam the commandments that were to govern them in Eden (Genesis 2:15-17). This is evidence that the man was responsible for being the teacher to his wife. Some reasons supporting this are:

• Adam was responsible for the family (the spokesperson), so it was appropriate for God to ask him about what happened.
• Adam was supposed to teach and continue teaching Eve the commandments God had given them for living in Eden, so he was accountable for the outcome of his teaching.
• Among the things God commanded Adam to do was to protect what was in Eden, including Eve, so Adam was responsible for guarding her and was thus held accountable.

The above points help us understand why God questioned Adam about what Eve did. It’s not just that; even Eli was questioned about his sons because he was the man of the house. Although it seems we have answered this question, we are left with a challenge that states:

If Adam was questioned about what Eve did, then would he also be held accountable for his own sins?

I think this is a question many would consider, but let’s use what God wrote to help us understand.

I affirm that the reason God questioned Adam about Eve’s sin was to demonstrate that men have the responsibility to protect and care for their wives, just as Christ protects the Church with His Holy Spirit, so that Satan does not lead it into the same kind of temptation that Eve fell into (Ephesians 5:27). However, even though men are responsible for teaching and protecting their wives, they do not have the right to make decisions for them. Even if they show them the right path, the wives still have the freedom to choose, and Adam was questioned about his responsibilities, while Eve was questioned about her choices. We are assured of this because Adam did not suffer the consequences alone; each one faced consequences individually (Genesis 3:8-19).

Conclusion

Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers (1 Peter 3:7).

Points to Remember:

• The husband is responsible for teaching his wife the laws of God.
• The wife is the helper in those responsibilities so that they can fulfill God’s purpose on earth.
• The husband will be held accountable for his responsibilities in the household, and the wife will be held accountable for hers, but no one will be punished for the choices of another as long as each fulfills their responsibilities.
• Satan is not the terrifying creature some imagine; rather, he has the ability to transform into what people desire to lead many astray.