DID ADAM DIALOGUE WITH THE ANIMALS?
The Bible tells
us that during the time of creation, God made the vegetation first, then the
animals, and finally crowned his work with the masterpiece of human creation. God
placed Adam, the first human, in charge of the whole planet, its fruits and
forms of life (Genesis 1:26, 28).
The Scriptures
also gives us the reason for this order of creation. God created the vegetation
and its fruit as sustenance for all future living creatures, animals and humans
alike (Genesis 1:29-30).
The animals were
created to adorn the planet, dressed and gifted with beautiful appearance and abilities;
and also, to help and accompany humans (Genesis 2:18-20).
Two things are
important to notice whether we acknowledge the literalism of the biblical texts
or not. Firstly, the idea that an animal could be considered to be a ‘help’ for
Adam to the same level Eve became. And secondly, the fact that Eve was not
surprised when she spoke to the serpent (Genesis 3:1-6).
AS A ‘HELP’,
animals were not considered adequate to be Adam’s ‘helpers’ even though they
have always been used as carriers of weight, vehicle of transportation, and
workforce. The fact that they were replaced by Eve, let us know that the expectations
of the term עֵזֶר (Ezer-Help),
were far different from being just physical force. It implied intimacy and
convivence.
AS THE SERPENT speaking to Eve, the fact Eve did not
react surprised to be spoken by an animal, denotes that she saw it as something
natural.
In these two cases, one thing seems to have been
present. The ability to communicate between humans and animals.
To be considered even as a candidate to be Adam’s
help, position which seems to include physical and emotional closeness, the
candidate must have the ability to communicate with Adam. Without this, even to
consider the thought would be pointless.
The case of Eve and the serpent is similar.
The narrative of the serpent speaking to Eve, denotes
an ability to communicate between animals and humans; and this certainly would
be a faculty necessary to become ‘help’ or ‘companion’ of any of them.
If we believe this narrative is a simple legend, or a
symbolic tale, we do not need to consider any such possibility. BUT if we
consider Genesis to be a historical event, then this is an important aspect of
it from which much Theology can be done.
Communication between all animals and humans seems to
have been possible during the pre-fall world, and well as other faculties, lost
since Adam was casted out of Eden. This specially would make sense if we
consider the term רָדָה (Radah), which
implies ‘dominion’. For Adam to dominate animals in the sea and air, would include
faculties that would make it possible, more even to what we have now. Today we
do not dominate all animals in the sea for example.
This ability to communicate, would have been the reason
why Satan took over the identity of the four-Legged reptile that spoke to Eve, and
being so eloquent as to convince her to disobey the Creator, without Eve even becoming
suspicious of a speaking serpent.
Omar Flores.
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