Genesis 3:4

New International Version

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.

For Meditation

In yesterday’s message, I emphasized the peril of dressing sin in garbs of decency and glamor, making it comfortable. The conversation between the serpent and Eve in Eden starkly illustrates this softening of spiritual matters we can explore today.

Satan comes to Eve as a serpent and slyly seeks a conversation. Nothing threatening, only that Eve did not know the superior craftiness of her supposed friend (Gen. 3:1).

“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” the serpent asks.

The question was loaded, intended to raise doubt about what Eve heard and confuse her response, as Satan does with us many times. How one responds to any question or situation determines the outcome. Our response must be factual. We quote the exact word of God—the essence of scripture memorization. Check Eve’s answer to the serpent.

“We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” (3:2-3).

Now, stop right there. Did God call the tree by name, or did He call it by its location in Chapter 2: 16-17?

The Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it, you will certainly die.” [Emphasis mine]

Please note the two causes of Eve’s fall to the slippery slope of temptation the serpent is leading her. God did not describe the tree’s location, the middle of the garden, which would have been ambiguous because of the other trees, including the Tree of Life. Neither did God prohibit them from touching it.

God was specific with the tree’s name—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (2:17)—and it was for a purpose. There was no ambiguity. It was to let them know they could not handle the responsibility such knowledge would open to them.

Deuteronomy 29:29 gives insight into this scripture. With her response, Eve opened herself to the serpent to push her off the cliff. That results from refusing to call sin for what it is rather than its acceptable name.

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to Eve.

That statement relaxed Eve and set her up for the deception that followed (5-7). Eve believed the serpent and carried all of us along the rebellious path until Christ. The question for us today is: Who will you believe, God through His word or that of any human, regardless of their reputation or your respect for them?

This week, you have heard many arguments in the lecture halls, on social media, in public, in books and magazines, etc. This weekend, you will hear much more from the same people and platforms, especially from the pulpit. Determine now who you will believe—the written word of God or any other. Then, be a Berean Christian and fact-check every message you hear or read to ensure it aligns with the written word (Acts 17:11).

The grace of God be with you. Amen!

Shalom