"You shall not surely die" said the serpent = the biggest lie ever told.
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said to the woman, Is it so that God has said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? - The serpent caused Eve to question what God said when he said "Is it so that God has said".
Eve did not simply say "Yes" to the question because it was not exactly as God had spoken it, so she quoted the exact words God used - she quoted scripture.
Gen 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.
Eve responded to the devil by quoting the word of God correctly and in context. However, why was this was not enough to keep her from being deceived? Why did the serpent not flee? Why was the devil not cast-out?
Jas 4:7 Subject yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. *Gods word goes forth in power*
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die,
The serpent quoted Gods word out of context and used the truth to deceive (making the truth become a lie). We know that God did say "you shall surely die."
Gen 2:17 but you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
The scriptures do not tell us if God elaborated to Adam and Eve that their bodies would grow old before dying, or whether Adam and Eve were left to their own imagination of instantly dropping dead if they looked at the tree in the middle of the garden, who knows? Maybe it was not relevant to have that understanding before The Fall.
"you shall not surely die," - in other words, you will not drop-dead straight away. Suggesting God was the deceiver
The serpent made the truth become a lie by suggesting to Eve that Gods word meant something else. This was the first legalistic use of the word of God - creating religious law.
Gen 3:5 for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
The serpent continues to speak to Eve, "you shall not certainly die, God knows, that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened," reinforcing the suggestion of God being deceptive by withholding the truth from Adam and Eve
The serpent goes on to say "and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil", building upon the previous suggestion to Eve that she will not drop-dead instantly, plus gain knowledge and be like God............................... Now there's a thought!
What has taken place in this short conversation?
• The serpent SUGGESTS God is the deceiver by contradicting his word - you shall not surely die.
• The serpent SUGGESTS God withheld the truth by saying - in the day ye eat of it, your eyes will be open.
• The serpent SUGGESTS Eve can be like God by saying - you shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
It was after toying (to play, flirt-enjoy) with these suggestions Eve became fully deceived and gave into temptation.
• Eve LOOKED at the tree
• Eve SAW the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes and desired for wisdom
• Eve TOUCHED, handled, and ate.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make wise, she took of its fruit, and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
It was what the serpent suggested to Eve that caused her to eat, not his actual words. The words of the serpent have no power in themselves.
John 8:44 When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. *lies can only deceive, they are not power*
SUGGESTIONS = THOUGHTS
Our minds are open to suggestion all the time. You have heard the saying - the power of suggestion. Hypnosis is an example of how suggestion can effect people.
What we believe and what we think molds our perception toward life. Everything we touch, hear, see and smell is suggesting things to us. How we interpret these suggestions (thoughts) depends on our life experience and our inner-heart condition.
Mat 5:8 Blessed the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Unless our minds are filtering the serpents constant suggestions through the word of God, they will deceive us.
If we are not on our guard (watchful, aware of, being wise) a suggestion can be perceived as truth. One suggestion can expose us to believe another suggestion and so on. Just like Eve was led through her temptation by the serpent, so he will led us, from one temptation to the next until we are properly deceived.
1Pe 5:8 Be vigilant, watch. Your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour.
If we are not letting the word of God bring us into all truth then we are constantly exposing ourselves to the subtle lies of the serpent. Only the word of God can expose his lies.
How much deception are we effected by? Are we standing by the forbidden tree having a conversation with the serpent, while we toy with his suggestions in our mind?
THE FORBITTEN TREE = THE LUSTS OF THIS WORLD
1John 2:16 because 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.
Quoting the word of God is not enough to deter the serpent from making further suggestions to us.
This is where we need the power of God-His Holy Spirit, who has promised to lead and guide us.
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come.
1Jn 2:14 I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
When we receive the word of God into our hearts, (believe God, turn from sin, except Jesus into our heart etc) and walk according to the spirit and not the flesh. Then the serpent, the devil, Satan, cannot come near us. Therefore he cannot speak to us. We will not hear him.
Proverbs 3 v6 - acknowledge Him
Psalms 119 v 105 - He lights the way
2Cointhians 10:5 - captivate thoughts
John 8:32 - truth
Psalms 51:10 - clean heart
Jayne
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