Who Told You That You Were Naked? A Refreshing Reexamination of the Garden of Eden By William E. Combs, Review By Nwoko Solomon Ikechukwu

William. E. Combs

Nwoko Solomon Ikechukwu

Publisher: Carpenter's Son Publishing
Genre: Nonfiction

Summary
This book is a scholastic Biblical exposition of the whole issues of God and man, His plan and purpose for man in time past, present, and future, presented in a concise and simple manner for easy reading and understanding. The writer attempted to marry Old Testament with New Testament, focusing on the issues of the fall of man and God's act of salvation to restore, reconcile and redeem man unto Himself through the person of Christ Jesus. He attempted to reveal the truth in the Old Testament with the light of the New Testament. The author began the book creatively and constructively. The introduction of the book is very captivating and creates visual imagery in the minds of his readers. He used his grandfather's house building arrangement or design and his childhood experience to explain the relationship between the Old and New Testament. Disclosing New Testament as the truth of the Old Testament; in other words, New Testament reveals the light and the truth that the Old Testament carries which people in those days did not really or fully understand. We, by the virtue of God's light in the New Testament, stand a better chance to know, understand and walk with God perfectly through Christ Jesus our Lord, Master, and Saviour.

The book took me back and I reflected how it was, the beauty of God's creation and His wonderful relationship and fellowship with man. The beauty of the garden and the peace, joy, and harmony that ravages it which was seen between man and other creation and above all, between God and man. I was as well shocked as I saw through this book how man fell prey to the temptation of Satan through the agency of the serpent and shattered all these wonderful divine provisions for him. This shock, however, turned to joy, peace, happiness, and hope as I saw through the book God's wonderful, merciful and gracious plan to bring man back to all he has lost through Christ Jesus. The book made me reflect on my relationship with God, and also asked for His grace and mercy to walk in His way having redeemed me from the bondage of sin.

Chapter by Chapter Review
Who Told You That You Were Naked? A Refreshing Reexamination of the Garden of Eden is a ten chapter book with coordinated rich information on the fall of man and the love of God to restore man.

In chapter one, the author explored the account of creation in the first and second chapters of the first book of the Bible. He focused his narrative on the relationship between God and Adam, Adam and other creations (like animals) and the making of Eve (the woman, Adam's wife) by God with a rib from Adam's body. He, however, employed more of his personal perception than the Biblical account. In doing so, he tried to bring the message home with the use of storytelling, dialogue between God and man (composed by him) the way it should have been if we had been there to hear and witnessed the conversation between God and man. He employed a literary way of writing to explain the story of God, man, the social activities between God, man, and other creations as recorded in Genesis. He also pointed out the responsibilities God assigned to man and the instruction not to eat of the tree of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. He did not leave out God's authority delegated to man to have dominion over the earth and to subdue it.

Chapter two deals with the nakedness of man in the garden. Here he narrated the conversion between the serpent and the woman (Eve) regarding the issue of God's instruction not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of God and evil. After the conversion, Eve saw the fruit as "... exceptionally attractive...." This made her pluck one of the fruits and ate and also took some to her husband. He disclosed that Eve did not notice any changes till Adam her husband ate the fruit with her. It was then that they realized they were naked and they became ashamed. He defined nakedness as, "The state of being unclothed". He equally employed literary skills in storytelling to illustrate Adam and Eve's reactions when they found out their nakedness. In this chapter, he also discussed God's visitation to the Garden of Eden which made Adam and Eve hide. He illustrated the question God asked, first to Adam- "Where are you?" Which made Adam disclosed that he was capable of fear and shame because he was naked. God asked why the nakedness and also asked if Adam has eaten the fruit He instructed him not to eat. After God's interrogation, He passed His punishment on the serpent and His verdict on Eve and finally on Adam (pages 31-32).

He discussed "Sin: Crouching at the Door" in chapter three. Here the writer employed logical argument and literary skills to illustrate the issues of Cain and his brother Abel. He pointed out that there may have been a conflicting and catastrophic meltdown in the relationship between the two brothers which led to the murder of Abel by Cain (pages 43-47). This was the first time the word "Sin" was mentioned in the Bible. He viewed sin as an Adversary, employing the teachings of Paul in the book of Romans 7:14-25 to support his point. Finally in this chapter, he discussed the Fountainhead of Our Transgression. Here the author discouraged his readers from the habit of reducing sin to a mere list of offenses, convincing oneself of becoming a better person because he/she commits fewer sins than he/she did in the past. He pointed out that this is dangerous since it shifts our focus away from the devastating consequences of sin. The remedy of this, however, is the ability to hear from the Lord asking us, "Who told you that you need all the good things of this life to devote to the things you want to be;" that is, to become a better person or who God wants you to be.

In chapter four, the writer discussed why he resolved to do a refreshing reexamination of the Garden of Eden. To this, he disclosed that Adam may have added the phrase, "Don't touch" which Eve told the serpent about God's instruction not to eat of the tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden. This, however, was an attempt to protect his wife. He also employed the story of the experience of his wife during her school days before their marriage to explain how Adam and Eve must have enjoyed a good relationship with God before their fall. This chapter indeed was a good and effective reexamination of the Garden of Eden.

In chapter five which is captioned "The Relationship of Faith", the author dived into the New Testament. Here he discussed the issues of Faith, making reference to Jesus teaching about faith. He discussed faith as the quantitative spiritual asset, that is, the more faith we have, the more likely we will experience God working in our lives. He also made a logical and illustrative exposition on what Christ Jesus meant by "Little Faith". Pointing out that it is not faith in one's own abilities that is the issue (faith in God's abilities is the issue). To differentiate little faith from real faith, the writer also discussed here what real faith is. The ability to believe the faithfulness of God in keeping to His promises. To support this, he cited the healing miracles Jesus carried out on the leper and on the Centurion servant because of their faith in Him (pages 83-85).

In chapter six, the writer discussed, "Freedom Indeed". He disclosed that salvation is not about "Sinners" or "Good people". Salvation is more than being a good person, but being free from sin, just like Jesus, though came with flesh yet He did not sin (pages 92-94). Without Jesus in our lives, we are slaves to sin, and for us to be liberated from the law of sin, we need the righteous requirement of law which only Christ Jesus met. Hence, Christ took our place of sin and met the requirement of law, so that, by faith in Him we are made righteous (pages 95-103). Having been made righteous before God through our faith in Christ Jesus, we are then expected to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This we do by not conforming to this world. He also discussed how to renew our minds (pages 108-114).

Chapter seven deals on, "Walking in the Way". Here the author listed and explained in detail the three major ways God assists us in our walk with Him. He pointed Jesus as our ultimate example on how to walk in the way (of God), employing Philippians 2:5-15 to further explain his point (pages 142-143). Chapter eight discussed, "We do not Wrestle against Flesh and Blood". Here the writer disclosed that Satan is behind much of the oppression we face as believers in Christ. He further called on his readers not to only focus on the individuals resisting them, rather, they should focus more on the spirit (Satanic) at work inspiring the individuals (against them] page 149). He also employed 1 Peter 5:8, 9 to counsel his readers on how to deal with this adversary (Satan] pages 149-150). He finally in this chapter used the story of his life encounter to explain more on how to combat darkness (Satan). "To cast out the Darkness, turn on the Light".

In chapter nine he discussed, "Living in God's Rest". I love all the chapters of this book, but chapters nine and ten are my favorite chapters. In chapter nine, the writer went back to the Old Testament right from the account of how God rested, blessed and made holy the seventh day. God also promised Moses rest, however, this rest is not a day off and/or void of work, but the ability and the provisions he needs to fulfill the mandate of God in him (pages 155-157). He also pointed out that the people of Israel lack the rest of God because of their unbelief. They saw God unable to carry out His promise of taking them to the promised land, this was because they trusted their understanding instead of trusting the Lord's ability to fulfill His promise. Hence, the Lord's rest comes when we trust and believe His ability to bring His promises to fulfillment (pages 158-162). We enter into the rest of God when we believe in the good news of the gospel of Christ Jesus. Therefore, faith in Christ Jesus is the key or requirement to enter into the rest of God. He concludes the chapter by pointing out that Jesus is our rest (pages 163-171).

Chapter ten which is the last chapter of this book discussed, "Follow Me". The writer started this chapter by stressing the need to interpret the Bible well. He explained ways of doing this properly, encouraging Exegesis in interpreting the Bible instead of Eisegesis (pages 175-177). He also deals with the interpretation of the fall in this chapter. He cited John Calvin's interpretation of the fall of man in the book of Romans and also used Romans 5:12-19 to disprove some of John Calvin's interpretation of the fall. In doing so, he listed four keywords used by Paul to describe Adam's action. He gave his explanation of these four keywords as related to the interpretation of the fall of man (pages 177-197).

The Strength of the Book
This book feeds and entertains the soul, spirit, and intellect of man. The author employed creative and constructive illustrations capable of creating visual imagery in the minds of readers. Which enabled him to bring home the message of the book for proper comprehension. There are so many capturing and captivating words, phrases and sentences (quotations) with a high level of wisdom, such pages as iv-v, 36, to mention but very few.

Also, he made use of well constructive grammar and sentences in communicating his readers. The advanced words of both English, Hebrew or Greek were well explained at the later part of the book for proper comprehension or understanding.

The book is very rich in the information of the matter treated. It is arranged in chronological order and in a concise approach.

The book contains the three major "MIE" of book writing. The "M" stands for Morals. This book contains information that aimed at not just making one a better person, but a saved Soul with the grace to live holy and righteous life unto God and man. Detesting and overcoming old lifestyle, slavery to sin and any form of immorality. The "I" stands for Intellect. There is so much information in this book that can add to, or build the intellect of readers. The creative stories and explanations employed by the writer to illustrate his information show the great skill of writing. This can impact readers with wisdom and creative abilities. The advanced words of English, Hebrew, and Greek which were fully explained can add positively to the knowledge of readers. While the "E" stands for Entertainment. Though the book is moral and intellectual, it also contains the element of entertainment which will make readers continue reading without getting bored. This will drive their hunger and quest to read until the end of the book. I strongly recommend that everyone should read this book both young people and adults for its rich content and ability to add positive values to all expectations of life. For the strength of the book, I, therefore, rate the book  3 out of 4 stars rating.

The Weakness of the Book.
Irrespective of the richness of the book, I also found some little weaknesses.
1. The book omitted "Dedication" and "Acknowledgement". Even though the author dedicated his book to some people and acknowledged some people, readers may find it difficult to know they are reading dedication and acknowledgment because the two were not identified and specified.
2. The writer interpreted "the cool of the day" when God comes down to visit the man in the Garden of Eden as "Afternoon" (page 36). I disagree with that because the cool of the day is when the sun has gone down or is not very active. Hence, it should be "Evening" instead of the afternoon.

3. The early chapters of the book, especially chapter one is more of fiction than Biblical. One of the examples is page 4 where he wrote, "I won't harm you...." This shows the sense of fear, however, fear of harm or being harmed was not in existence in man or other creatures before the fall of man. It was after the fall of man that fear and the sense of harm existed. To me, the statement was wrongly used or inappropriate, that is, it was used before its time. Also, some of the illustrative stories employed by the writer in some chapters of this book are too lengthy and may bore readers. These few weaknesses are the reasons I did not score the book with 4 stars. However, apart from these few weaknesses, this book is very good.

Finally, it is my pleasure to read and review this book which possibly could be a bestseller of all times. I sincerely wish that others will enjoy this book as much as I did. More grace to William E. Combs for a job well done.