Simply the Bible Blog

“He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?’”

Genesis 3:1

Questions are essential. They can lead us into the truth and into a deeper knowledge of the world, others or ourselves. They can help us to change and to grow. Or questions can lead us away from the truth and into darkness, deception and even depression.

The serpent began with a question, “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” The truth was that God had told Adam that he could eat of every tree of the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The serpent wanted Eve to doubt the truth. This is where the devil always begins. If he can cause us to question the truth of God and His Word, then he will undermine our faith and lead us down a dark hole of confusion. But that is only his first attack.

“The serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’”

Genesis 3:4–5

Second, the serpent denied God’s Word. God had said that when they ate of the forbidden fruit they would surely die (Genesis 2:17). But the serpent said, “You will not surely die.” This was his first lie.

Third, the serpent assaulted God’s character, implying that He was withholding something good from them. God knew that if they ate then their eyes would be opened and they would be like God. They would have a deeper experience, knowing both good and evil. The only true thing that the serpent said was that their eyes would be opened (to know that they were naked). Everything else was a lie! They would not be like God but would be trading immortality for death. Rather than merely knowing evil, they would be enslaved by it. They would move from the joy of innocence to the shame of defilement. They would trigger a domino effect that would bring sin, sorrow, disease, pain, and death to the entire human race.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians saying that we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). He is still working the same old tricks that he used on Eve. He still shoots his fiery darts to assault God and His Word. He still tempts us by appealing to the lust of our flesh (satisfying our bodily appetites), the lust of our eyes (craving what we see but don’t have), and the pride of life (boasting in what we own or have accomplished). Buyer beware!

“Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

1 John 3:7–8

If you have fallen for the devil’s lies, then cry out to Jesus Christ for His mercy, forgiveness and truth. He came to save sinners like us!

Listen to the complete podcast