Listen to this story from Scripture:
In the cool of the day and in the midst of a vast, beautiful garden, a husband and wife made in God’s own image cowered in fear as they heard the voice of their Father, the Creator, calling out. They had previously eagerly anticipated His visits, but this time was very different.
Previously, the pair sometimes could be heard laughing, especially when they observed the curious antics of the animals their Father had created or as they paused to watch birds—large and small—perform in the sky high above with daring acrobatics and free falls.
The Father had given His created son charge over every living thing on the earth and instructed him to care for it. He even gave the son the privilege of naming each animal.
One day, the woman heard the sound of someone or something approaching. It was a beautiful serpent. Her husband had previously given this creature its name, but now something about it was ominously different.
The serpent quickly questioned the woman: “Did your Father tell you not to eat fruit from all of the trees?” The woman responded: “Well, we can eat from every tree but one. Our Father told my husband and me to leave it alone; if we even touch it, we will die.”
The serpent replied subtly: “You certainly will not die. Your Father must not want you to be as knowledgeable as He is.” With those beguiling words, the serpent directed her attention to the appealing fruit that hung from the forbidden tree. She saw how pleasant and desirable it looked . . .
Moments later, she plucked a piece of fruit from the tree and bit into it. The deceitful serpent now observed the man, who had been nearby, willfully accept the invitation from his wife to eat the forbidden fruit. Instantly, their eyes were opened to their nakedness and darkness descended upon their spiritually deadened spirits.
The devil-possessed serpent began to back away triumphantly, relishing each aspect of the couple’s pain and of his gain. The devil knew his deception not only had dealt a spiritual death blow to the Father’s children but also that their disobedience also would break the Father’s heart.
Suddenly the Father’s voice could be heard calling, “Where are you?” Clearly, though, the Father already knew where they were and was fully aware of all that had happened. He listened as both of His children offered excuses for their disobedience and rejection of His authority.
With a heart filled with sorrow and with stern resolve, the Father turned to the serpent and pronounced a curse upon him: “Thou art cursed . . . above every beast of the field . . . . And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
The Father then pronounced grievous consequences on both of His children. He sacrificed some of the fourlegged beasts within the garden and made coats from their skins to clothe His naked children, and then . . . He expelled them from the garden, lest they eat of the Tree of Life and consequently live eternally in the darkness of their sin. From that day forward, cherubim and a revolving, flaming sword guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden, preventing Adam and Eve from accessing the Tree of Life in their fallen condition.
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The very nature and character of God is seen all throughout His created universe. Job remarked, “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee” (Job 12:7-8).
Each section of Character Sketches, Volume IV begins with a captivating “read-aloud” nature story that introduces the character quality being taught. The printed volume continues with interesting facts on the featured species’ characteristics and physical features. This is followed by a story from Scripture that illustrates the character quality, along with background information on the individual or situation in the story, which is then summed up in a “character sketch.” Generously illustrated with stunning lifelike watercolor and pencil drawings, the oversized book (9 1/2″ by 12 3/4″) is available to order and will be treasured and enjoyed for generations.
The Character Sketches series is designed to be a tool that fathers can use to teach their children basic concepts of Scripture that are illustrated in the world of nature. Among our best-loved publications, hundreds of thousands have enjoyed the gripping stories and beautiful illustrations that the volumes contain.
