Grasping wisdom, grasping equality

Knowing good and evil is a normal part of human development, as per the biblical use of the term.  Such knowledge was surely necessary for Adam and Eve to image God in the world, to be His co-workers in caring for Eden – maybe even in extending it (?).  The question was not whether the knowledge was needed, but rather the mechanism and timing for acquiring the knowledge.Eve, in contemplating the fruit saw it was good – just as God had evaluated the elements of creation as good in Genesis 1.  However in the fruit she also saw the opportunity to know good and evil, to be like God.  But God already intended for humanity to be like Him.  Imaging God was the mission.

Knowing and discerning good and evil is wisdom, and can be a blessing from God.  Shortly after taking the throne, Solomon was offered anything by God in a dream (1 Kings 3:5).  He confesses that he is inexperienced and young (although his firstborn son was already a year old – see 1 Kings 11:42-43 – so Solomon was not a kid).  Solomon asks God for wisdom so he can know (discern) good and evil.  This requested pleased God and Solomon was showered with not only wisdom but also life, fame, peace etc.  The wisdom and discernment given to Solomon would be required at some point for Adam and Eve, but in God’s good time.  Eve was unwilling to wait, she decided to get this wisdom on her terms.

The contrast to the Lord is obvious and deliberate.  Jesus “did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped” Phil 2:7  he waited for God’s timing and plan, knowing it would result in his elevation to being the Lord in due course as Phil 2 goes on to say.  Jesus obtained wisdom by opening his ear and listening to God each morning Isa 50:4, as a child he grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52) and learning obedience through a life of suffering Heb 5:8.

True wisdom is rooted in a fear of the Lord (Prov 1:7).  Sadly Adam and Eve sought wisdom on their terms not God’s.  Instead of making decisions based on reverence/fear they experienced the fear of judgement instead for their sin.