“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” (Genesis 3:1(a)). And the serpent said to the woman, “you surely shall not die.” Genesis 3:4.

Did you ever stop and think why people are enticed to do what can harm them? We want to hang around with things and places that God restricts. Why do we do it? Let us talk about it.  Basically, it is the result of the thought that although we like God, we also suspect God keeps something good or joyful things from us. Yet Bible says, “For God is our Light and our Protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk along his paths.” (Psalm 84:11)

Yesterday we talked about the ‘origins’ faithfully recorded in the first book of the Bible called Genesis. Today we will discover what went wrong with our first parents. 

You see, Genesis chapter 3 begins with a statement that the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. This informs the serpent was a real animal.

However, the Bible says in Revelation 20:2 “he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of the old, who is the devil and Satan..” Revelation 12:9 says, “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world”. Therefore the serpent in chapter 3 was more than just an animal. With no doubt, the animal was under the control of Satan when it came to our first parents. 

Jesus said about this old deception of the devil. He said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.” John 8:44(b). 2nd Corinthians 11:3 Paul says, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted…”

Genesis 3 gives the pattern of Satan of the devil’s deception. You see, he still has the same pattern for deception.

First, he questioned God’s word. He asked, “Indeed, has God said, “you shall not eat from any tree of the garden.” This was a cunning question to figure out how much Eve knows about God’s command. The problem was Eve had only second-hand knowledge about God’s command due to the fact that God gave the command directly to Adam and said, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat from it you shall surely die.”(2:15-17). 

God gave lavish freedom to eat from all the trees except the one. However, the serpent rephrased it to bring to spotlight the restriction of God. Do you see how important to know the word of God accurately to stand against the evil schemes of Satan? Now when Eve quoted the command of God, she added more restrictions than God originally said. She added, “you shall not eat from it or touch it.” God did not say ‘do not touch it.” May be Adam admonished her do not touch it to restrict her from the forbidden tree. 

Second, Satan contradicts the word of God with a flat lie. The serpent said to her, “you surely shall not die.” (3:4) It was a clear contradiction to God’s word and a lie. 

Thirdly, the serpent also questioned the good intention of the LORD (3:5). God restricted to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for the benefit of them like a human parent would do. Being the loving creator, he knew what was good and beneficial for them. The true source of the knowledge of good and evil is the creator of Lord God Himself. They did not need another source for wisdom and knowledge. Now after a straight lie and questioning the good and loving intention of the LORD, Eve was tempted to disobey the command. The reasons were three- woman saw the tree was good for food, it was a delight to the eyes, desirable to make one wise. (3:6). Here are the three basic lusts-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. (1st John 2:16). The forbidden tree appealed to the lust of her flesh, the lust of her eyes, and the imagination than she can become wise like God. (a matter of pride). These three still entice us to disobey God.

You see, God’s word was questioned. God’s word was contradicted and challenged by a lie. God’s good, paternal and loving restriction was misinterpreted by the serpent and misjudged by them. God’s word and His character were under attack and succumbing to the craftiness and deception, our first parents fell to sin and disobeyed God. Remember Jesus said Satan is the liar and father of liars. (John 8:44(d). 

Next time when you are tempted to disobey God’s loving restrictions as your creator and perfect parent, stop and remember what went wrong with our first parents that resulted in lasting consequences for their posterity –you and I. Stop and study chapter 3 of the book of Genesis and understand how evil entered into humanity. There God faithfully recorded what we all should know about us. 

Even though spiritual and physical death entered into human beings by their folly act of disobedience to God’s command, the loving LORD came with an excellent solution. We will discuss this later in another insight.

“Father in heaven, help me to study the Bible you gave to me for my wellbeing and benefits. I know there are deceptions around me. I need wisdom and knowledge. The true source of wisdom and knowledge is you. The honor of the LORD God is the beginning of all wisdom. Help me to honor you and your word. May I spent my life in reading and understanding the Bible, which is the sword of the spirit to guard me against the wiles of the devil. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”