January 2, 2014 Readings: Genesis 3-5, Matthew 2, Psalm 2:1-6, Proverbs 1:4-5

Genesis 3 deserves a month of devotionals all on its own. In this chapter, we see the path of temptation that Satan sets before us; we see the ease with which we are duped by his lies; we see the terrible effects of sin and the curse it brings on our lives; and most gloriously, we see the intent of God to redeem (3:16) 

But I was struck by the first line in the chapter, “The serpent was more crafty than any other…” Of course, we know from the rest of Scripture that this serpent was the rebel Satan. He is amazing in his ability to deceive humans and lead them astray.

Consider the irony of the situation. God gave Adam and Eve a paradise – a place beyond our wildest imaginations. Beauty. Joy. Sustenance. Companionship. Pleasure. What more could they ask for. And all God required was that they would honor his Lordship to him by refusing to eat of one tree. One tree out of a thousand? A million? That one tree belonged to God and they were to treat it as holy in obedience to the Father.

Could God have been any better to Adam and Eve?

And yet, Satan was able to convince this first human pair that God was against them, that he was robbing them of the joy of life, that he was holding them back. Look at his question. 

“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 

With these crafty words, Satan turned the goodness of God into meanness. God is not providing goodness, but he is withholding it, Satan suggested. Is God really that mean and cruel that he would keep that one tree from you? How could he do such a thing? What a master he is at making the gifts of God look like burdens.

Then, Satan made assertions. 

“You will not surely die!” 

The Liar of Liars calls the God of Truth a liar – and Adam and Eve bought it. It has been one of Satan’s great tactics throughout time; undermining the veracity of God’s word. The Bible is not accurate. It is full of mistakes. The expertise and wisdom of man is more reliable than the outdated truths of God’s word. It is a lie that too many of us buy into.

Finally, he said, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

God is not a good shepherd, the tempter says. He will not lead you to green pastures and quiet waters, but into disaster. You cannot trust God. God is trying to oppress you and hold you down. I fell for this lie so hard in my younger days. I still do at times. I am tempted to believe that if I follow God’s will, it will be a bad thing.

Adam and Eve fell to the lies of Satan and brought death and destruction into this world. Day by day, we let the lies of Satan lead us into all kinds of trouble. We curse our own lives with foolish and sinful choices.

May we listen to the truth of God instead of the lies of Satan.

Lord, you are Truth. May we listen to your truth and to God’s Word rather than to the lies of the Enemy. Let this year, 2014, be the year that we expose the works of darkness with the light of truth.