The Serpent’s Question

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'” (Genesis 3:1)

The story of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden is depicted in many ways, both within and outside the church. It captures the true essence of sin and reveals Satan’s true character. It all started with a lie, deception, and a moment of doubt, and just like that, sin entered the world. Genesis 3:2–4 goes on to say, "The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'”

This passage shows us that both Adam and Eve knew God’s command: they were not to eat from or even touch the tree in the middle of the garden, or they would die. But true to Satan's character as the prince of darkness, he is depicted as a serpent, another reason I have absolutely no love for snakes, but that is another story. Then Satan, with his lies, says in Genesis 4:5, “'You will not die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'”

The serpent was right: they would not die physically. The death that God warned of was sin. With one bite, sin and, subsequently, death were introduced into God’s Eden. Because sin was not God’s design, Adam and Eve were sent out into the world to suffer the consequences of sin; Satan failed to mention that small detail. Satan, whom God also created, longed for power and threw a giant tantrum before the creation of the world. In His infinite love, God let him throw his tantrum, and division began. It didn't take long for man to fall into the trap, and thousands of years later, we are still falling for the same pickup line: Did God really say you can not do...fill in the blank. Each day, we face a choice, and the serpent is lurking, coiled and ready to pounce, wrapping around us, squeezing, trapping us in lies, deceit, and compromise, and causing us to question God’s plan.

I challenge you today: when your heart feels uneasy, and you start to doubt, question, or compromise, open the Sword of the Spirit and ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart and shield you from the attack. Do not sit helplessly in a corner and become vulnerable prey to the Father of Lies.

Prayer: Father, we praise You for Your living and breathing Word and for Your unending grace that covers us. Father, we pray that You will open the eyes of our hearts so that we may be fully aware of the enemy and his schemes. Cover us, Father; protect us from deception and lies. Let us walk in full conviction of Your goodness and grace. In Jesus’