The Great Deception

Have you ever heard a sales pitch that makes junk look like diamonds? You order this item. You find yourself waiting by the door and staring out the window in anxious, anticipation of its arrival.

Let’s read about this in Genesis 3 today.

Genesis 3:1A (NASB) – “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God hath made.”

The Terminology App defines crafty as; “marked by skill and deception.”

Like a great salesman, the serpent was preparing to pitch the greatest deception of all time. Click To Tweet

Genesis 3:1B (ESV) – “He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?”

His first scheme was to cause the woman to question IF God said what He really said. Click To Tweet

Genesis 3:2-4 (ESV) – “And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.” But the serpant said to the woman, “You will not surely die.”

The woman confirms God said it. The serpent moves to the second scheme which is to challenge what God says. He is calling what is true, a lie. Click To Tweet

Genesis 3:5 (ESV) – “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The serpent sparks doubt in the woman's mind and heart. She begins to wonder if God is keeping something from her and Adam. Click To Tweet

Genesis 3:6 (ESV) – So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of it’s fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

As I read this passage of scripture, my understanding is that Adam and the woman received God instructions. They were eating from the trees that God gave them to eat and they stayed away from the ONE they were forbidden to have. I don’t see that they were feeling deprived at all until the serpent came into the picture. They had an abundance of provision and freedom in the garden. Somehow, the serpent was able to get the woman’s eyes on the ONE thing she was not allowed to have. Once she began looking at this tree she began to want it. Her desire to have it led to taking the fruit off the tree and eating it. She did not stop there though, she gave it to her husband and he ate it too.

The package we have been waiting for has come in the mail. We begin to rip open the box with great expectations.

Genesis 3:7 (ESV) – “Then the eyes of  both were opened, and they knew they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”

You take out the item you bought and it practically falls apart in your hands. There is no refund or sending it back. You realize this was not what you thought it was or would be. You realize you believed a lie. Adam and the woman realized they had made a mistake. There was no taking it back. They had believed the lie.

How often do we know the truth God has put in our hearts, yet we continually hear and believe the lie the enemy keeps whispering to us? Click To Tweet How often do we believe the lie that God is not giving us His best for us, in His best timing? If He tells us no or asks us to wait, do we trust His love and faithfulness? Click To Tweet

I know I am guilty of this. I have done my own thing and and gone my own way, only to realize how God’s love and faithfulness is greater than I will ever comprehend. He has purpose for witholding things from us. A good purpose and not one to harm us or keep us from His best.

I can imagine how Adam and the woman are feeling in that moment. I am sure there is regret and shame involved. I can feel the fear of having to face God about these things.

Are there areas in your life where you have believed the lie? Have you allowed the enemy to trick you into thinking, God is keeping His best from you? Click To Tweet

I pray you know God’s truth today! I pray you know God desires His best for your life. He has purpose in saying no and in the waiting time. If you are struggling with these things today, bring them to the feet of Jesus. Allow the Holy spirit to speak truth to your heart today. Ask God for forgivess, repent, and begin walking with Him again. He redeems and restores! We will continue to learn about that as we move forward in this study.