In Genesis 3:1 the serpent approaches Eve and seeks to ensnare her with a very loaded question — one she knew the answer to, but didn’t KNOW the answer to.
Yea, hath God said, ‘Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’ (Genesis 3:1b)
To Eve’s credit she came back at the serpent with, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” Now if their conversation had ended there, our story would’ve concluded with — and they lived happily ever after. But, sadly, we know it doesn’t. If you live long enough, you come to realize, the enemy of our souls is tireless in his pursuit of our destruction. He continued his barrage with, “Ye shall not surely die.” The more we allow the enemy to whisper lies, the less we give attention to God’s Word. The less we give attention to God’s Word, the more likely we are to fall. And fall she did — along with the whole of the world.
Eve was created after Adam — after God instructed him in regard to the tree. Hers is a cautionary tale on what happens when one knows the word of God second-hand. Someone else’s salvation or knowledge of scripture cannot save you. The Bible never tells us that God spoke with her directly regarding his commands. It can be assumed that Adam told her, since she knew what was instructed. But there is danger in not having first-hand knowledge of something. If you do not seek out God and His Word for your self, you will fail. Harsh? Yes. True? Also, yes. A person rooted and grounded in the word will not be moved. Psalm 1 tells us that, “A man who delights himself in the Law of the Lord will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.” The Psalmist goes on to say that, “The ungodly are like the chaff which the wind drives away.” True in the case of Eve, for it only took one more shove for her to topple.
As in all things, Jesus gave us an exceptional example of using God’s word to stand (and stand therefore.) In Luke 4:1-13 the Word details Jesus’ 40-day temptation in the wilderness. We learn two things of Jesus in this passage. First, verse 1 tells us he was “full of the Spirit” and “led by the Spirit.” Second, He, unlike Eve, knew the scripture, for in verses 4, 8, and 12 He counters the enemy’s bait with, “It is written.”
I know what you’re thinking. Eve didn’t have the written word of God. She didn’t have anything with which to go back and remind herself of what God had said. You’re right. She didn’t. She had God Himself, live and in-person. How easy would it have been for her just to cry out, “God! This serpent said, ‘blah, blah, blah.’ What was it You said again?” But she didn’t. She allowed herself to be led astray. The aftermath of her inability to overcome was made known in Genesis 3:24 when it is recorded that God, “drove out the man.” Nevermore to partake of that intimate fellowship. Talk about a consequence.
What does this tell us of God? How cruel! What about second chances? No, no, and no again. It, in fact, tells us how just and true to His word He is. Every man has a choice. To obey or not to obey. But we must first know WHAT to obey. It is absolutely imperative, especially in this day and time, to know the Word. To seek Him while he may be found. Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” It’s time, church, for us to be found in Him. So that when the enemy sidles up and whispers, “Hath God said..?” We can say, “YES, it is written!”
Things Pondered 