Tempted

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’?” 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 serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. (Genesis 3:1-7 ESV).

I like the little story told by another writer where a woman had been shopping and had bought a dress that she knew she couldn’t afford. “Why did you do it?” her husband asked. “I just couldn’t help it,” she said. “The devil tempted me.” “Why didn’t you say, ‘Get thee behind me, Satan’?” the husband asked. “I did. But he just leaned over my shoulder and whispered, ‘My dear, it fits you beautifully in the back.’” There is no doubt from our reading that the devil is very crafty. Satan’s deceptive tactics are seen initially in the form he takes. The serpent, before the fall, was different than the poisonous, repulsive reptile we know. Apparently before the curse it was an attractive animal which did not cause Eve any fear or repulsion. He takes the form of this beautiful creature. It is all a part of his plan that he appeals to our natural desires in an attempt to separate us from God. Disguised as a crafty serpent, Satan came to tempt Eve. As a created being, Satan has definite limits. Although he is trying to tempt everyone away from God, he will not be the final victor. God promises that Satan will be crushed by one of the women’s offspring who is the Messiah. Temptation feeds off our own tendency toward self-reliance. The serpent tempted Eve by getting her to doubt God’s goodness. He implied that God was strict, stingy, and selfish for not wanting Eve to share his knowledge of good and evil. Satan made Eve forget all that God had given her and instead focus on the one thing that would bring her harm. His strategy was to cause doubt in the intention of God toward them. His tactics have not changed. The next time you are feeling low and thinking about what you have endured, consider the great gifts of God toward you. When you feel abandoned, remember the great sacrifice Jesus has already made on your behalf. It is this sacrifice that forever proves his intention of love and grace toward us.