02/14/2022
From IBIBLE:
"Eve said, “Of that tree, we must never eat, for if we do, God said we shall surely die.” And the serpent responded: “Come now, you will not surely die. For God knows that if you eat from that tree, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
–iBIBLE Chapter 2
Scripture reference: Genesis 3:3–5
"...the serpent’s temptation began with questioning God’s Word. “Did God really say not to eat from any tree in the garden?” With this first temptation, the serpent succeeded in drawing Eve into his deception. This simple question planted seeds of doubt and made way for the second and more devious temptation.
Eve unravels the serpent's lie: if they eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would “surely die.” God had been clear. He told them they could eat of any tree in the whole garden except that one. The serpent then directly contradicts God’s clear words by saying, “You will not surely die.”
After lying about this fact, the serpent makes the case that Eve will be like God, knowing good and evil, if she disobeyed His command and ate.
"Like God."
With those words, Eve is no longer content with the perfect provision God had given her. She is now focused on the one thing she cannot have. God had given her everything she needed to fulfill the plans He had for her. But now, she did not feel certain...
Ultimately, Satan's promise was empty. Adam and Eve were already image-bearers of God; they were more like God than any other creature that walked on the earth.
Furthermore, can clay ever become like its potter, or a creation of God like God?
Our Response
We too are given everything we need to fulfill the plan that God has for us.
This deception of the serpent serves as a warning for us today. Have you heard this sneaky turn of phrase before? “The Bible doesn’t really say...” By invalidating God’s clear instructions, it is easy to convince people to make all kinds of decisions that go against the goodness God has in store for them.
This is why it is so important to keep God’s Word revealed to us in the Scriptures at the forefront of our minds and deep in our hearts as we live in the world today. We must “put on the armor of God” and learn what is true, place our faith in Christ, believe in the salvation He won for us, and trust in the power of the Spirit of God living in us (see Ephesians 6:10–19).
We must “put on the armor of God” and learn what is true, place our faith in Christ, believe in the salvation He won for us, and trust in the power of the Spirit of God living in us (see Ephesians 6:10–19).
While we live in a fallen world and are affected daily by our sinful nature because we know good and evil, we also have the Holy Spirit living within us, helping us discern between good and evil. In 2 Timothy, Paul writes:
Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. —2 Timothy 1:13–14 [ESV]
The serpent is crafty as ever, but his tactics remain the same as they were in the garden. Never stop seeking the Lord’s Words, and “pray at all times in the Spirit,” (Ephesians 6:18) in order to stand against the temptation of the evil one. God hears our prayers and wants to help us stand against temptation."
Amen?
