The tricks of the enemy haven't changed since the beginning of time. Why should he change when they work so well? Since the beginning he has muddied the water concerning Yahweh's instructions. He has planted doubt in what Yahweh has said and has even told lies in opposition to the truth. This is clear starting in the garden.
He came to Eve and planted a simple doubt:
“Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)
What's great is that Eve did the right thing; she simply repeated what Yahweh had told them:
“We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” (v. 2-3)
This is the same thing Jesus did when Satan came at him in the desert. In that situation the enemy tried to use Yahweh's words in a twisted way but Jesus straightened it out by responding with the Word. So it should be clear to us that our greatest weapon against the enemy's tricks is the Word of God properly applied. But in the case with Eve, he didn't just twist the words of Yahweh; in response to Eve's correct answer of truth, the enemy told a boldfaced lie mixed with truth:
“You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (v. 4-5)
That lie "you will not surely die", was enough to get Eve considering the fruit of the forbidden tree; the only thing Yahweh had withheld from them. Eve did not insist in the truth, even though she knew the instruction had came from the one who created and took care of her. It became a matter of trust. Who was telling her the truth. this serpent she did not know or the Creator who she knew intimately? If she had insisted in the truth her trust would have remained intact and she would have walked away from the temptation. This is why Jesus succeeded where Eve failed.
The enemy's tricks have not changed but neither have the tools to deal with him. Many today are failing and falling in their faith and trust in Yahweh because they have set aside the Word of God. When we set aside his instructions all we are left with is our self-centered instincts. We do what we feel is right instead of what Yahweh has defined as right. Like Eve, we look at sin and see it is "good" to participant in, it is "pleasant" to the eye, and it makes us "wise" in the eyes of this world. This is what happens to us when we set aside the truth of Yahweh's instructions.
It always comes down to the clear statement that Joshua gave to Israel when he told them that all possibilities lay before them but they had to decide who it was they were going to serve. If you love Jesus it will manifest in your desire to obey him with all your heart, to hold to the truth, to trust the one who gave the instructions. To not obey him is to choose another master. It really is as simple as making a choice.
1 comment:
Your blog is so true. I have been writing on this subject for years.
Especially the practice "Permitting a woman to teach and have authority over a man" a practice that's in direct contradiction to 1 Tim 2:12 "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet."
Your blog echos the passage that follows (verse 13 and 14)
1 Tim 2:13-14 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
God bless you.
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