Deceiving Eve

Genesis 3:1-6

As a child, my parents had a several milk cows. One of them would wait until someone was not paying attention and slip up behind them. She’d give a loud bellow that invariably caused the person to drop everything they were carrying, and if a stranger, usually ended with them climbing the fence in terror. She’d then walk casually away switching her tail gleefully as if to say “got ‘em.” She obviously thought it was funny, and it was, if you weren’t the victim. It wasn’t nearly so funny when you were.

Many times we think we are a great deal smarter than the animals, and in some ways we are, but they frequently, like the cow, astound us with their ability to think. Studies of various animals have shown that they nearly all have some ability to communicate, and some seem to have a fairly extensive language, either vocal or by various types of body language. Modern man has learned to use some of these languages to a degree, and some apes and birds have learned to use rudimentary human language as well.

A program about snakes on PBS stated they were the most efficient and effective hunters of any creature. While they have no highly developed intelligence in many areas, their hunting skill is finely tuned in our day. Satan had already begun to rebel against God, wanting to take over his position, and the serpent would allow Satan to utilize his body, unlike the pigs in Matthew 8, who preferred death to Satanic control. The same ability that makes them effective in hunting today, the ability to conceal themselves and their intent was highly developed then.

“Now the serpent was more subtle 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?” (Genesis 3:1)

Using the serpents body because he could not deceive Eve in his own, Satan questioned God’s statement. “Did God really say …?” Because he has found it so effective, he still uses it today, questioning whether a statement is really what God said, and whether it is actually what he meant. Satanically inspired False teachers thrive on redefining words and meanings to confuse people.

“And the woman said unto the serpent, 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.” (Genesis 3:2-3)

Both Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 describe God’s instructions about their food before the creation of the woman, so it is very possible, she did not hear the command directly from God, but second hand, from Adam. In any case, she did not accurately state God’s command as found in Genesis 2:16-17. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” She added one seemingly minor phrase, “neither shall ye touch it.” In addition she changed “thou shalt surely die” to “lest ye die,” implying that while it was a possibility, it was not a certainty.

The slight doubt as to exactly what God had said that the addition revealed gave Satan an opportunity to attack. Can’t you imagine Satan tossing her a piece of fruit knowing she will instinctively try to catch it, and that when she doesn’t die from touching it she’ll be open to further doubt? Even a seemingly insignificant change in meaning can open the door to false doctrine. II Timothy 2:16 commands. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Failure to do so makes us just as susceptible to deception as Eve was.

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)

Satan never directly contradicts what eve believes God has said, just making her question it. You might die but it is not a sure thing, and just touching it didn’t kill you. God just is trying to keep you from being like him. It is an outright lie, because God created man in his own image, but having accepted the idea that God was being deceptive, because touching it didn’t kill her, it was easy to believe eating it wouldn‘t either. If they can cause a person to doubt God’s word, it is relatively easy to convince people of lies. An accusation of discrimination, as in this case is easily believed.

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6)

Once that acceptance of God’s command is removed, it is easy to yield to what appeals to us. James 1:14 states, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” Satan suggested that knowing the difference between good and evil would make her more like God, something Eve desired. The natural flesh is attracted by three things that physical things appear to offer according to I John 2:16. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

The fruit appeared to offer all three. It appealed to the flesh, “the tree was good for food.” It was attractive and appealed to the eyes, “it was pleasant to the eyes.” It appealed to her pride, that she’d be as wise as God. It was, “a tree to be desired to make one wise.” The suggestion was enough. As James 1:15 states, “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Excited by what she’d done and what she expected she offered Adam some of the fruit and he ate it as well, knowing exactly what God had said. We see the same dynamic played out over and over where a kid is enticed to take drugs because it will make them more attractive or popular, and give them a greater understanding of the world. They then share the drugs with their friends, who know it is illegal and dangerous, but because their “friend” suggests it, they use it. This plan still works to get people involved in everything from sex and drugs to financial scams and false religion.