Genesis 3 is a very familiar passage in Scripture. It is the account of the serpent and the woman (a name had not yet been given to her see verse 20). The serpent is said to be more cunning than any beast of the field. Did the woman know this about the serpent? The passage does not say but she does seem to be a bit defensive when answering the serpent's question.
The serpent asked, "Has God indeed said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" His question was stated in a negative tone quite opposite of the actual command God gave. In Genesis 2:16-17 God said, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die." God gave them permission to eat of every tree except one.
The woman answered, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat of it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" The woman demonstrated a certain apprehension in answering the serpent's question. She added to the command which was given to Adam before the woman was created. God did not add the condition , nor shall you touch it." Adam may have told her that but God did not.
The serpent called God a liar (You will not surely die) and placed doubt in the mind of the woman concerning God's motives (God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God knowing good and evil). The serpent questioned God's veracity and motives. Suddenly the fruit of the tree looked better than it had previously. The text doesn't relate how many times the woman saw the tree and the fruit, but it is safe to speculate this was not the first time. The fruit looked so good, the woman placed her hand on the fruit, plucked it from the tree, and took a bite from it. Not only did it look good, it tasted good as well. She offered a bite to Adam who also took a bite from the fruit.
Nothing happened. They did not die. But they did notice they were naked and made provisions for themselves to hide their nakedness. They chose to believe the serpent over God. They chose to place their trust in the serpent's words over God's Word. They chose the serpent whose goal in life is to "prowl around the earth like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour" rather than the one who has a plan to prosper them.
What a dumb decision! Aren't you glad you don't make that same mistake? Unfortunately, we do. Every time we sin we choose to believe Satan over God. Adam and the woman trusted the word of serpent. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will never pass away" Isaiah writes "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8). God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Why would anyone trust in anything or anyone else?
Remember - If it is not the Word of God, it is the word of Satan.
The serpent asked, "Has God indeed said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" His question was stated in a negative tone quite opposite of the actual command God gave. In Genesis 2:16-17 God said, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die." God gave them permission to eat of every tree except one.
The woman answered, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat of it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" The woman demonstrated a certain apprehension in answering the serpent's question. She added to the command which was given to Adam before the woman was created. God did not add the condition , nor shall you touch it." Adam may have told her that but God did not.
The serpent called God a liar (You will not surely die) and placed doubt in the mind of the woman concerning God's motives (God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God knowing good and evil). The serpent questioned God's veracity and motives. Suddenly the fruit of the tree looked better than it had previously. The text doesn't relate how many times the woman saw the tree and the fruit, but it is safe to speculate this was not the first time. The fruit looked so good, the woman placed her hand on the fruit, plucked it from the tree, and took a bite from it. Not only did it look good, it tasted good as well. She offered a bite to Adam who also took a bite from the fruit.
Nothing happened. They did not die. But they did notice they were naked and made provisions for themselves to hide their nakedness. They chose to believe the serpent over God. They chose to place their trust in the serpent's words over God's Word. They chose the serpent whose goal in life is to "prowl around the earth like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour" rather than the one who has a plan to prosper them.
What a dumb decision! Aren't you glad you don't make that same mistake? Unfortunately, we do. Every time we sin we choose to believe Satan over God. Adam and the woman trusted the word of serpent. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will never pass away" Isaiah writes "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8). God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Why would anyone trust in anything or anyone else?
Remember - If it is not the Word of God, it is the word of Satan.
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