Question

[timothyu]

How hazardous would putting our will ahead of the will of God be, if we knew not the knowledge of good and evil?

 

[bling]

That might describe what Adam did, but it might also not be possible for us to imagine not having this knowledge.

 

[timothyu]

but it might also not be possible for us to imagine not having this knowledge.

True (unless we consider the famliy dog or cat or any other creature), considering it got us removed from access to the tree of life... but hypothetically

 

[bling]

I am thinking we would be in the same situation as Adam was. We need forgiveness.

 

[com7fy8]

Well, it could be like how animals just watch out for themselves, some just eating, while others are killing in order to get food. And they can fight quite a bit over mating and nesting territories.

 

[Blade]

Speculation.... for we do know good and evil.

 

[timothyu]

Well, it could be like how animals just watch out for themselves, some just eating, while others are killing in order to get food. And they can fight quite a bit over mating and nesting territories.

Yes but they are unaware of how personally advantageous it can be to take more then necessary

 

[JIMINZ]

How hazardous would putting our will ahead of the will of God be, if we knew not the knowledge of good and evil?

In order to answer the question as asked, you would have to return to the Garden before the FALL.
It was at the moment the forbidden fruit was eaten that the knowledge of good and evil was attained by man.
Therefore the will of God was always done.
It was not hazardous at all because it was not done.

 

[Soyeong]

How hazardous would putting our will ahead of the will of God be, if we knew not the knowledge of good and evil?

Our knowledge of good and evil is synonymous with putting our will ahead of God's will. There are a number of ways in which Eve's desire influenced her perception and when our desire enters the picture, it clouds our judgement so that we can't be sure if something is truly good or if we just think that it is good because we desire it, so then our knowledge becomes that of good and evil. This is why we need to trust in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not on our own understanding, but in al of our ways acknowledge Him and He will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

 

[timothyu]

Our knowledge of good and evil is synonymous with putting our will ahead of God's will. There are a number of ways in which Eve's desire influenced her perception and when our desire enters the picture, it clouds our judgement so that we can't be sure if something is truly good or if we just think that it is good because we desire it, so then our knowledge becomes that of good and evil. This is why we need to trust in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not on our own understanding, but in al of our ways acknowledge Him and He will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I agree but Eve committed the original sin of putting her will ahead of the will of God before she gained the knowledge. All through the Bible God reminds the people not to put our will ahead of His but little is said about the knowledge itself

 

[Soyeong]

I agree but Eve committed the original sin of putting her will ahead of the will of God before she gained the knowledge. All through the Bible God reminds the people not to put our will ahead of His but little is said about the knowledge itself

Eve put her will ahead of God's will at the same moment that she ate from the Tree and gained knowledge of good and evil. The Hebrew word "yada" refers to knowledge gained by experience, so that knowledge gained at the same moment that someone has the experience.

 

[timothyu]

Eve put her will ahead of God's will at the same moment that she ate from the Tree and gained knowledge of good and evil

Impossible. She decided ahead of time at the prompting of the serpent to taste the fruit. That is when she put her will first. The act was merely the fruition. It's like what Jesus said about if you think it you've already sinned.

 

[Saint Steven]

How hazardous would putting our will ahead of the will of God be, if we knew not the knowledge of good and evil?

Curious question. And a bit of a conundrum.
Assuming the knowledge of good and evil is the same as our God-given conscience,
what would putting our will ahead of God's will be? (thinking out loud here)

With no conscience to violate, it would be direct insubordination to God's will.
Then what would God's will be? And what would our will be?

Not everything done according to our will is a violation of God's will.
A violation only occurs when our will is in contrast to God's will.
Insubordination to a direct command.

Romans 12:2 tells us that only a renewed mind is able to test and approve what God’s will is.
This creates another level of complexity, if God's will is only known by testing and approval.
Typically no time for that when the situation presents itself. (if immediate action is required)

Where then would the hazard be?
In the case where God's will is intended to keep us from harm, violation would be hazardous.
Obviously.

But how would we know of such a danger?
With no knowledge of good and evil (a conscience), it would not be an innate sense.
Someone mentioned animals instinct. Or perhaps a learned reaction.

A loud bang nearby makes us take notice due to past experience with loud bangs.
We may flee the noise due to bad memories of what it might mean.

I suppose we would have to identify where the knowledge of good and evil come from.
Was I correct in relating it to our God-given conscience? Are there additional environmental contributions?
Parental, sibling, and other influences that form our knowledge of good and evil.
Literature and teaching on religion, morality, and ethics. All need to be removed from our lives.

Biblically speaking, we understand that the knowledge of good and evil was
introduced to our minds at the Fall in Genesis chapter three. Remove that as well.
Phew...

Sorry. I'm not sure where this leaves us. I'm probably overthinking it. - LOL