Category: The Road to Our Redeemer

The shock of Satan over God’s command that Adam and Eve not eat from a certain tree (Genesis 2:15–19, Genesis 3:1) [1] created a seed of doubt in her mind about the love of God.

 

This doubt led Eve to change the command of God (3:2–3) [2], and opened the door for a direct attack from Satan (Genesis 3:4–5) that resulted in direct disobedience (Genesis 3:6).

 

The attacks of Satan haven’t changed that much over the years. He still loves to come by when God tells us no and whisper “why won’t the Lord let you do that anyways?”

Thankfully with Scripture we can give a much better answer to this question…God says no because with absolute freedom we would make a mess of things.

 

Think with me for a moment about the Garden of Eden

1. There was no suffering or pain of any kind (no death)
2. There was no sin (rebellion against God)
3. There was no anger (all relationships were in harmony)
4. In other words it was perfect

 

And what about after Adam and Eve at the fruit in Genesis 3:6?

1. Shame and hiding from God instead of a close relationship with Him (Genesis 3:7–10)
2. Seflishness instead of harmony (Genesis 3:11–13) [3]
3. What should bring happiness brings pain (childbirth) (Genesis 3:16)
4. What was easy is now incredibly hard (growing and harvesting of food (Genesis 3:17–19)
5. All mankind is under the curse of death (Genesis 3:19)

 

The point is God knows with complete freedom we will make a mess of things just like children given freedom to eat whatever they want will have oreos for every meal.

 

So instead of being a vindictive deity who tells us no because He’s afraid of giving us power, God is the loving parent who says no in order to protect His child from failure

 

It’s true that sometimes the Lord allows us to make our own decisions and eat oreos for dinner spiritually. But we can be thankful that most of the time he protects us from our own wisdom, and when we do fail is quick to gather us up in His loving arms.

Gen. 3:1   Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (KJV)

 

The question of Satan towards Eve in Genesis 3:1 at first seems pretty harmless.  But this is definitely more than just a simple question, it’s a seed of doubt put into her mind.

 

Satan here is exhibiting shock or surprise over the fact that God didn’t allow them to eat from every tree (most translations say did God really say?)

 

In today’s culture Satan probably would have said something like “are you kidding me?  Did God actually say you can’t eat from every tree?”

 

This shock over God’s rules shouldn’t surprise us because Satan knows exactly how our culture defines justice. 

 

A Biblical definition of justice would look like this:  Whatever the Lord brings into our lives that helps us grow closer to Him.

 

Our view of justice is defined as “getting whatever I think is right.”

 

Few people would come out and say this publicly, but there is a growing belief in our culture that views placing restrictions on a person as wrong.  And of course deep down inside each of us want our own way (Scripture calls this a sin nature).

 

So when an “unfair situation” comes (we don’t get what we feel we deserve) Satan immediately shows up exhibiting shock over this injustice.  And begins whispering into our ear “this isn’ fair.”

 

Rebellion against God never just happens overnight, instead it begins with a simple thought in the mind of an individual that life is unfair.  Over time that frustration over injustice (somebody tells me what I can’t do) grow into anger, bitterness, and eventually rebellion.

 

The thing is we don’t realize how serious that little “this isn’t fair” thought can be.

1. It takes our eyes off of God and puts it on one thing we cannot do
2. It defines justice as freedom to choose whatever we want without consequences
3. It turns our anger eventually towards God
4. It keeps us from accepting responsibility for our actions

 

It’s easy to think we can remain faithful to the Lord in our own strength when frustration comes.  But the truth is before we know it Satan has slipped the idea of injustice into our minds…and the rebellion has already begun.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.

There are many good reasons for us to submit to God instead of trying to face challenges in our own strength.  But maybe the most important is apart from Christ we don’t have a chance against Satan.

The word “subtil” is important in this verse because it describes the serpent (or Satan) as someone who is very deceiving or tricky.  We see it in the way he shows shock over the fact that there are restrictions on what God allowed Adam and Eve to do (3:1), promises Eve there will  be no consequences for her actions (3:3), and tells her that God is keeping an incredible blessing from them (3:5).

But there is an often overlooked part of this deception that may just be the most dangerous.

Think for a moment with me about the moment Satan came to tempt Eve

• She was by herself (Adam wasn’t there)
• The presence of God wasn’t there to give her guidance (the Lord allowed Satan to tempt her)
• She was standing right beside the one tree she wasn’t supposed to eat from
• The mind of Eve was open to the deception of Satan since she accepted it almost right away (3:3)
• She may have even been thinking about the tree when he came to her!

In other words Satan came in a moment of weakness

In a moment when Eve couldn’t say no

Do you think that happened by accident?  Of course not!

The thing that truly scares me about this is Satan knows my weakest moments…and he is preparing his best attack for just that time

My weak moment is that time in the morning when your half-awake but not really ready to face the day yet.  Countless times have I heard the voice of Satan in those moments.

1. You failed God again yesterday
2. You know its probably best to just stop trying to serve the Lord
3. You need to make sure nobody finds out about the mistakes you made, nobody else makes them
4. You know it won’t work out, remember last time?

I wish I could tell you I jump out of bed and fight Satan courageously but the thing is I don’t…worse than that I can’t…worst of all he knows it.

But there’s good news

God will fight for me

The strange thing is in our weakest moment there is still part of us that believes we can win the battle in our own strength.  But the Lord uses our weakest moments (and failures in those moments) to show us just how broken and needy we are

Over time the scene of countless failures  can be used for God’s Glory as we run to Him for shelter from the temptation we have no hope fighting.