Our Text for today is
Genesis 3:1-6
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
3 “but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
5 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
From this great text, I would call your attention to the three great challenges of the serpent. He basically had three great questions for Eve.
1. First, he asked, “Do you know what God said?”
2. Then he asked, “Do you believe what God said?”
3. Finally, he challenged, “Wouldn’t you rather be your own God?”
Unless you read between the lines, you will not see these questions. Look closer.
In verses 1-2, he asked, “Has God indeed said?” His first question was about whether she knew God’s word.
In verse 4, the serpent says that God is lying. “You shall not surely die.”
In verse 5, the serpents tells Eve, “You will be like God.” He is really saying, “Eve, you don’t have to obey God. Ignore God’s teaching and decide for yourself.”
Satan’s strategy hasn’t really changed. He still challenges people. Do you know what God said? Do you believe what God said? Wouldn’t you rather just do whatever you want to do?
Unless you can answer these questions correctly, then you are in the same place as Eve. The devil tricked her. Don’t let him trick you.
Lonnie Davis