The first question recorded in the bible was posed by the serpent in the garden of Eden. It was a question directed toward Eve that gives us insight into the nature of sin and temptation. The question is recorded in Genesis 3:1 (ESV),
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’?”
Why would the serpent pose such a question? What was he up to? I think when you step back and reflect for a moment it becomes clear that the serpent was trying to create distrust when it came to God’s command. He wanted Eve to think God was keeping her from something good. That sort of distrust creates a fertile ground for temptation and can cause us to really question God.
Maybe God is not good and is holding out on me? Maybe God is not shooting straight with me? Maybe God meant something different when He said that? Now it’s not wrong to ask God questions, but it is quite dangerous to follow through with actions that blatantly disregard His character and word. Those acts of disobedience are what the Bible calls sin. The enticement and lure of these things is what the Bible calls temptation.
When we have a hard time trusting what God has said the pull of temptation is much stronger and our proclivity towards sin increases. This was on full display when the serpent tempted Eve. Let’s look at what God actually said to put it all in perspective.
“You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 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 2:16b-17
What were the consequences of eating the fruit? Did they really die? The Bible reminds us that Adam eventually died (Genesis 5:5) but also through disobedience he was removed from the garden (Genesis 3:24) and sin/death entered the world (Romans 5:12). Though his physical death was delayed, the spiritual death was immediate as he was separated from God. No doubt, God was telling the truth.
Do you feel as though you can trust God’s word? Let me remind you that God does not lie (Numbers 23:19) and His word always proves true (Proverbs 30:5). If you have been tempted lately, God will provide a way out if you trust Him (1 Corinthians 10:13). If you are afraid, put your trust in Him (Psalm 56:3). May we be the sort of people that take God at His word and faithfully follow Him. As the prophet Jeremiah said,
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. -Jeremiah 17:7, ESV