Adam's Heart - Fool v. Wise Man (2)

What is the difference between a scoffer and a wise man and how does this distinction measure Adam's heart? Proverbs 1 and Hebrews 12:11 both make a clear distinction between a fool and a wise man. The wise man is given the peaceful fruit (upraised countenance) of righteousness because he learns from unpleasant reproof. Then, he speaks words that agree with God's words.

The Apostle Paul partly defines unity with God as saying the same thing as God, 1 Corinthians 1:10. This agreement with God's words starts with first hearing God's words, Romans 10:17. After the hearing, every human chooses to either harden his heart, Hebrews 4:7 or we choose to agree with  God's words. For example: Jesus proclaimed the Centurion's faith to be far greater than all the faith Jesus found in Israel, Matthew 8:10. The Centurion testified that Jesus' words were all that was needed for the Centurion's servant to be healed. Thus, the Centurion demonstrated agreement with God's words. The Centurion lined himself up with God's words instead of making God out to be the liar via experiential knowledge. The Centurion simply chose to settle it in his heart that Jesus was God enough to rule everything in the world including sickness. Thus, the Centurion demonstrated what Jesus called great faith.

This same kind of unity is required for understanding Adam's heart. This is because God is the one that dictated His own testimony about Adam to a witness (likely Moses) who then  transcribed God's testimony into the book of Genesis. God does not lie so He did not lie to that witness by making things up.

If it is hard for you to accept the idea that Genesis is God's testimony of events, then know that Adam's words in Genesis 3:12 can easily be verified as true by the events recorded in Genesis 2:21-25 and Genesis 3:6. Now since, Jesus said, "out of the heart the mouth speaks," Matthew 12:34, we know that truth was in Adam's heart because Adam spoke in agreement with God's testimony found in Genesis 2:21-25, 3:6. Circular reasoning? NO. The events first took place, then God testified to Moses about them. Because of God's truthful character, His words will always agree forwards in time, backwards and around in a circle.

Adam's Tone of Voice 

The tone of voice used in speech often twists the meaning of the spoken word. So, let's consider Adam's tone of voice. Unfortunately, God did not testify to any tone of voice in Genesis 3:12 or elsewhere in the Bible. So, it would be an addition to scripture to assume that Adam's tone of voice evidenced any blame towards God. This is especially true since there is another completely plausible interpretation that ascribes a humble heart to Adam. Either way, both interpretations of Adam's motives based upon tone of voice alone would be in direct violation of Deuteronomy 4:2.

However and since we already know that Adam spoke truth in Genesis 3:12, if we look closely at what Adam actually said, we see Adam listed events with the confession that he ate the forbidden fruit. God forbid that fruit in Genesis 2:17. Thus, Adam did not conceal his guilt from God once God spoke to him. In other words, BEFORE God's confrontation, Adam hid his sin. AFTER God's confrontation, Adam confessed his sin. Even Eve's confession in Genesis 3:13 was similar to Adam's in that she also listed events and then confessed that she ate. Hence, we have the very FIRST TWO models of sin, confrontation, and repentance.

In fact, many of the Old Testament prophets actually listed events and then pronounced those events to be either sin or righteousness. The most dramatic one is Stephan's testimony in Acts 7-8. The result of that list (no theology, just a list) convicted the high priest and others of sin and judgment which, in turn, cut them to the quick. This is why the apostle James told us to confess our sins one to another. James was doing the same thing that he saw the prophets do, James 5:16. The same idea of listing events combined with a statement of agreement with God's definition of sin is an integral part of even the command found in Leviticus 5:5.

Both Adam and Eve spoke the truth by listing actual events followed by a confession of sin. That list is the FACT and therefore the proof that not only did they both agree with God but they also both did the same thing other prophets did in the course of what God considers to be righteousness.

Now look at what King David said on the matter of the heart and its connection to what is spoken from the heart. See if you can find the list and the confession.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. Psalms 51:5-13

King David identified God's desire for truth in our "innermost being." Then David lists a bunch of things that causes truth to reside in our innermost being. David concludes with the result that truth in our innermost being actually comes out of our mouth as teaching or an example for others to follow. Jesus agrees with King David in summary here. 

But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. Matthew 15:18

and also here:

The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. Luke 6:45

Both King David and Jesus make a very clear distinction that the condition of a person's heart is demonstrated by the words that come out of the mouth.

So, why does the prophet say, "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it," Jeremiah 17:9? The answer is found in the very next verse which reads: "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind...," Jeremiah 17:10. God is the only one who can search the "innermost being" of the heart. Man, on the other hand, is only capable of hearing the words that come out of the heart. Such words can be either true or false as Luke 6:45 demonstrates.

God may know the truth but man must learn to test the spirits in order to find the truth in what is spoken. This is because anyone can speak a lie and make it appear to be true and visa-versa simply through the use of a particular tone of voice. Just look to Hollywood films for proof of this. But, if we compare Adam and Eve's words with Cain's words, who's words would indicate the words of a wise man or the words of a fool?

Copyright © 2010 by Diane Pebley
(All rights reserved, no use granted without the express written permission of the author, Diane Pebley)