A Biblical Record of Major Crimes: High Treason

A Biblical Record of Major Crimes: High Treason.

“Tell all the truth, but tell it slant. Truth in indirection lies.” (Emily Dickenson).

A Different Look to a True Story. Emily Dickson’s advice was to come at the truth from different angles; reveal the truth while approaching it sideways. There are times when only an indirect story will effectively grab a reader’s attention and will inspire a fresh perspective on an ancient truth. There are occasions when coming at a truth from the side through a story will go further than a didactic, systematic study using logic and reason. We seem to be created in a way in which truth can often be better understood from the side instead of head-on through a blunt statement of raw truth. This fictional story below is intended to reveal the truth of a biblical crime story in a way that brings a fresh perspective, an unexpected layer of meaning, to a familiar story. Perhaps we can learn something new in this indirect approach to the true story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 1-3).

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Once there was a beautiful luxury liner that was designed by a genius shipbuilder. He decided to keep his ownership of the ship and guide it for as long as it lasted. His vision for the ship was that it was to be enjoyed by those who could least afford it. The owner decided to name it Paradise, because his ship had everything anyone could ever dream of… overwhelming beauty, delicious food, exciting amusements like fountains and swimming pools and light-hearted games, and the best mattresses money could buy for restful sleep at the end of a completely satisfying day. The owner designed the ship to enable the tourists to build friendships and enjoy everything that life had to offer while staying on the cruise.

The owner hired two captains to manage the luxury liner, to maintain the boat, to make the trip an experience of a lifetime for all those travelers. These co-captains were a married couple that were grateful for the opportunity to be the stewards of such an unusually magnificent ship. They made double-sure that everything was polished, repaired, and functioning the way it was designed by the owner. These two captains were excellent at making everything shipshape.

The gracious owner wanted more than a professional relationship with the captains, though. He wanted to develop a close friendship with each of them. So he would have a private time reserved for the three of them every day at twilight, when the sun was less glaring and not as uncomfortably hot, when the sea breeze would start wafting in off the sea. And the three of them would take their daily strolls on the outer decks, engaging in their conversations, soaking in the views, and simply enjoying each other’s company when the day’s hard work was done.

During one of their friendly conversations, though, the owner became very serious as he warned the captains about a kitchen that was situated right in the middle of the ship. That kitchen served food that was not meant for them, or anyone else. The food it offered was intended for another voyage altogether, and so the owner had made it poisonous for whoever made the drastic mistake of eating it. “Remember that whatever is served in this one particular kitchen, no matter how mouth-watering or fragrant or tempting, it was not made for you at this time, so don’t eat it. In fact, the food is so poisonous right now that you will without a doubt die from it. So trust me, dear captains, don’t have a weak moment and be so curious about this food that you sample it. Please don’t. You’ll regret it for the rest of your short life. For your own sakes, just trust me on this.” The owner knew that even if they were innocent at this time, they certainly were not perfect.

Everything went smoothly as the co-captains prepared the luxury liner for its passengers. They made sure the food and drink were ready for splendid all-day meals, that the aquarium was stocked with happy water creatures of all kinds, and the lounging areas were good to go. They checked each stateroom to confirm that they were supremely comfortable, with the beds made and bathrooms clean. All the special amusements were ready for action, too, what with the swimming pools and water slides and tennis courts. But after a while, the owner’s greatest fear came to pass… the two captains were simply too curious about this kitchen they were told to avoid at all costs. Up to this time on the luxury liner, life was one huge blessing. Their life on Paradise ws a comedy, but it would soon turn into a curse. They snuck through the front door of the kitchen one day, and immediately were amazed at the sight of a huge tower of every variety of fruit that could be imagined. This fruit display was truly beautiful to behold, their fragrance filled the whole room, and they knew that every piece of fruit was going to be delicious.

The co-captains, though, were completely unprepared for a mutinous, clever chef that had snuck onto the ship and hid behind the counter of this forbidden little kitchen. The deceptive chef saw he had these two unsuspecting captains in the middle of a weak moment, and he began to start whispering to them both… “Oh, come on in! The owner can’t be trusted, so don’t worry about him. Think for yourselves for once, and don’t listen to him. You can trust me instead of him on this. You will not find this select choice of fruit to be poisonous, not in the least. The owner said they were fatal, but they are not! You won’t die, I guarantee it. Here you go, enjoy them to your heart’s content. You’ll never regret it!” 

And yes, both co-captains selected a piece of luscious fruit, reached out, and took a huge bite. Immediately, they noticed a bitter aftertaste and realized that their shortened lives would never be the same. They were ashamed of their blatant rebellion against the kindly owner. They were full of guilt for what they had done. In their remorse, they asked themselves… What were we thinking? The owner had already proven he is totally trustworthy! Why did we doubt him? Why didn’t we take him at his word?

So unable to face him, they foolishly went into hiding. Of course, the owner knew every little corner of the ship, every potential hiding place, since he had designed it in the first place. So it didn’t take the owner long to find them cowering in a storage closet, and he asked them why they weren’t meeting with him on their daily stroll deck side. The captains soon confessed, and the owner had no choice but to fire them from their privileged positions, kick them off of Paradise, and send them into exile in a little dinghy. “You have betrayed me and so are found guilty of high treason. Your outright rebellion has even showed signs of a future mutiny on my ship. So you are no longer qualified to manage my beautiful boat, and you need to find another place to live and work,” the owner sadly told them. So, knowing their death penalty will come soon enough for both of them, he mercifully expelled them from Paradise and sent them into exile in a little dinghy.

But that’s not the end of the story! After the captains had slowly floated away, they looked back behind them and were shocked at what they saw! Here was the owner in his own little dingy following them from a distance! After expelling them from his luxury liner, the owner loved those two captains too much to leave them to face their new life alone. The compassionate owner first punished them by expelling them from his boat, and then he followed them into exile! The owner exiled himself! Wherever they would end up, the owner was right there with them. This story ends with the owner shouting through his megaphone to the distant captains: “Don’t worry! I won’t desert you when you need me most! I’ll never let you out of my sight!” And he never did.