Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1, ESV)
This may seem an odd verse to choose for our memory project. But if we can remember this historical account we can also be mindful of the way that sin so often starts in our own lives.
Context is critical so remember the big picture that surrounds this verse. God had created his world and declared it good in every sense but one: it was not good for man to be alone. So God created woman to be with man and set them in the garden to rule over it as his representatives. Every thing there was for them to enjoy with one exception.
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”” (Genesis 2:15–17, ESV)
Enter the tempter.
Notice his strategy: “Did God actually say….” When Eve corrected his error, the evil one went on to say, “You will not die.” (Genesis 3:4) And so the deluded suggestion was made. God is a liar. He is “the man” keeping you down. He knows that you can become like him if you take of that fruit. He is holding out on you. He is not good, he is not for you; he is using you to keep his garden while keeping you in your place. With those suggestions ringing in her ears, Eve moved forward to consider the disobedience offered to her.
In a very real sense, this is the beginning of all our sin. Temptation casts doubt on God in one way or another. Did God really say that? Did he really mean that? Can you trust him? Is the bible really sufficient? Wasn’t it written so long ago that it is no longer really relevant?
Let’s memorize this text so we will remember that Satan is a liar (John 8:44). Remember that sin is deceitful and when we are tempted to embrace it, we are enticed by a delusion. Sin will never suggest to you, “Come, eat and suffer the consequences!” Sin never declares to you its real intention to steal from you, kill you, and destroy you.
Let’s memorize this text so we will remember that God has spoken truth to us. God is for us. He has spoken to us through his word. This word is sufficient that we might be complete, equipped for every good work. His word helps us to avoid sin and the suffering that sin brings. But it also tells us that when we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1)
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