TEMPTATION AND SIN

God’s lavish goodness was unlimited, and His directions were simple and clear! “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:16-17).

However, when the serpent appeared in Paradise, he asked a question and planted a seed of deadly doubt. “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). Satan challenged Eve to question God’s goodness and the abundance of His provision. God was far from selfish or overly restrictive, but Satan suggested otherwise.

The woman responded: “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die” (Genesis 3:2–3). She added to God’s Word. God hadn’t said anything about touching the fruit. We mustn’t ever modify God’s Word! (Revelation 22:18-19).

Having successfully redirected her attention away from God’s great grace, Satan boldly and blatantly lied. “ ‘No! You will certainly not die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:4-6).

Here’s the important takeaways from this first-mention.

First, Satan is subtle and shrewd. He slinked into the Garden unannounced, and often “disguises himself” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Watch out! He’s sly and sneaky!

Second, Satan’s desire is to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). He’s like a “roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour” (1 Peter 5:8). “He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

Lastly, sin destroys and divides. When Adam and Eve sinned, they ran away and “hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2).

Let’s learn from their mistakes!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).