Genesis 3:1–4 ‘He [the serpent] said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”’ (v1b)
The very start of the fall of humanity came with a question. The narrator tells us of the craftiness of the serpent (3:1), as if to suggest that the succeeding narrative may not be all that it seems, and so begins the journey for Eve and Adam to eat the prohibited fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The woman is quickly embroiled in the deceptive plan when she replies that they must ‘not even touch it’, which wasn’t part of God’s command.
The Hebrew word for God used by the serpent and the woman is not ‘YAHWEH’ but the less personal ‘ELOHIM’. The lovely relationship between humanity and their God is about to be shattered.
Later scripture identifies the serpent as Satan, and the approach of querying God’s Word as a temptation to sin is as real today as it ever was.
God’s Word provides a framework for reality, who He is and who we are and how we relate. Our believing God’s Word is a central element of our life with God, and His Son.
Didn’t Jesus say: ‘If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love’ (John 15:10)?
Some of the commands will be tough to hear, or puzzling to understand. But stick with it, talk with Him about it and ask friends for advice. But the danger comes when you opt to ignore them or disbelieve them. Therein lies the path to ruin. Don’t go there.
A Prayer To Make:
God, I want to be a believer in Your Word all the time. Help me to stay obedient. Amen.
An Action To Take:
When you read the Bible, pay particular attention to times when you are tempted to doubt what you read. Talk to God or chat with someone who knows their Bible well.
Scripture To Consider:
Gen. 4:1–16; Josh. 1:7–9; Matt. 4:1–11; Rev. 12:7–12
