Now, the serpent was craftier 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?’” 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.” “You will not surely 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.”
My intention is not to beat Eve up, or anyone else for that matter. However, there are still some concerns that I think we need to reflect on, and questions we need to ask ourselves as we create our future life-stories. So, with very little introduction, here we go.
Our adversary, the devil, is certainly crafty 1 Peter 5:8). He watches us closely; reads our body language well. We really don’t have to say what’s on our minds (remember he can’t read minds!), he just seems to know. I believe he saw that longing for the fruit in Eve’s eye and so that’s what he targeted. He shoots those fiery darts of temptation right at our greatest area of weakness.
Then – without totally being anti-God, he twists the truth of God’s words, and gift wraps his lies in pretty packages. It’s hard not to take the bite! It all seems so reasonable and so delectable! After all, it looked, smelled, and certainly would taste great…and, as an added benefit, she could be like God. Undoubtedly, Eve was asking herself, “Why not?” What she didn’t realize was that her belief system was on trial. What did she really believe about her God? About his word? About her place in his world?
So, Eve bit into Satan’s lies – hook, line and sinker; and, she was sunk. While she knew the good of the garden, up to that point Eve knew not the evil. Immediately, her open mouth was filled with wormy words she’d never experienced: guilt, shame, separation, fear, confusion, pain… Her eyes were opened, too, as were Adam’s. They knew nakedness. Not just a nakedness of body, but a nakedness that revealed the ugliness of their souls. Fear bred panic when they heard God in the garden…and so they hid.
Lest we think God didn’t really know what was going on, remember, he is omniscient. He knew. The questions he asked were pointed and designed to illicit a truthful confession. That confession was not meant to be one of blame, or excuse-making, or justification. It was meant so that they could take ownership, cleanse their hearts, and come out of hiding. First, Adam and Eve felt the need to try everything but confession; but, ultimately, the truth came forth, along with serious consequences. No, they did not die, thanks to the Lord God, who took one of his creation, spilled its blood, and covered the nakedness of their souls. However, they were forced to leave paradise. Never again would they walk with God in the cool of the day; but when they did walk away, they did so as the “apple of God’s eye.” They added new words to their vocabulary: redeemed, restored, forgiven, and free.
What can we learn from Eve (and Adam)?
1. Satan will always attack our weakness.
2. He will always use lies, twisted truth, in order to so.
3. Believing those lies will ultimately change our behavior…and not for the better.
4. Our response (or, behavior) will always lead to hidden-ness, and we will find ourselves trapped.
5. The only way out is completely opposite of the way we got in: truthful confession. First we take ownership for our “stuff” (sin). Next, we surrender ourselves back on the altar as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). Finally, we study His words, carefully, to correct our thinking and renew our minds (Romans 12:2). Then, we will know the will of God – the good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Hard stuff? Yep! The good news is – this is the most life transforming truth you and I will ever receive!