It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon in the Garden of Eden. The birds were chirping softly high in the trees. A cool, gentle breeze fluttered the leaves of the many exotic plants and bushes, and the flowers swayed peaceably unfolding their petals upwards to grasp the warm afternoon sunlight. It was another absolutely perfect day just like every other except today, one creeping thing, the serpent, which God had created was busy devising his plan to lure God's creation away from their heavenly estate of truth, glory, peace and happiness.
Just as he had gotten his wicked scheme clearly devised, he slowly approached the woman, the object of his interest, who was resting near the center of the garden. He knew exactly where to find her because that was her favorite spot and he had seen her there often. In fact, she just seemed mesmerized by the two beautiful trees that stood as the focal point of this lush domain. She would often sit for hours pondering, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Why, she knew this command quite well although it was originally spoken to Adam, her husband by "God, himself." Adam had not failed in his responsibility to take her to this very place and warn her of God's command. There were occasions while she sat beneath the trees that she sensed the very nearness of the Creator, as a reminder of the command that was in effect.
Deep down, during her pondering moments, Eve knew that it was wrong to even consider disobeying God's law, yet, the tree was so beautiful to look at and the fruit of it looked as luscious and sweet as the other fruit in the garden that she and Adam could freely eat and enjoy. She did not fully understand why it had been placed off limits either, but because it was, she intended for it to remain so.
On this particular afternoon, Eve closed her eyes momentarily and soon felt a presence nearby. This time it was not the same familiar presence of God which she was well acquainted with, nor was it the presence of Adam, her husband. Opening her eyes slowly, there standing before her was a most beautiful serpent, dazzling in brillant color. He stood motionless before her as though waiting to see her reaction to him.
Now Adam had named all of the animals of the earth and had told Eve about their different natures. She knew their make-up and was aware of their unique ways. She could hear Adam's voice saying, "Eve, serpents are very beautiful creatures, but they are crafty and cunning, so use extreme caution and don't forget what God told us - that we are to have dominion over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
Coming back to the presence at hand, she thought, this serpent is beautiful but, it is not creeping... should I really be in fear of it as Adam warned me? At this instant, she could not believe that Adam's warning words were true. So she allowed the serpent to approach even closer. Finally he spoke. His was the most enchanting, musical voice of any creature she had ever heard. It was full and grand, majestic in some way, and it would soon haunt her for the remainder of her life.
"Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'"
She replied, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 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.'"
Now, at this point, Eve had exaggerated the Lord's command, for at no time is it recorded in Scripture that they were not allowed to "touch" the tree. It is my belief that she had God's command so thoroughly impressed within her that to "touch" in her opinion, was synonymous with "eating," and to touch it would have placed her under God's judgment just as to eat of it would certainly have.
The serpent never questions nor counters this statement of error, but moves forward to offer one blatant lie saying, "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."
Eve's mistake in probably one or two quick seconds was this: How could she allow another creature, created by God explain to her God's divine purpose in not desiring for her to partake of the fruit of that tree? God had already explained to both Adam and she what the consequences of their actions would result in, so why should she entertain this serpent? Neither did she counter the serpent's lie by speaking truth. And she also quickly forgot her husband's instruction saying, "Have authority over any creeping thing."
You see the serpent was "creeping into Eve's territory, into her mind, and into her relationship with the Lord." He was creeping into her thoughts and although she was the law, she did not stop him from walking right on in and taking over. That was her downfall. That is still how satan operates against us today, and still is the downfall of all of us who do not rise up and exercise our dominion over him. She did not stop the creeping words that were now causing her to doubt and question God's command to her. Eve let down her guard for a few seconds and the serpent (satan) gained an advantage.
From that moment on, Eve looked at the fruit of that tree differently and quickly opened herself up to an evil motivation which resulted in a change of conviction. In Genesis 3:6 we read: "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."
What is disturbing to me is this: How long had Adam been present? The Bible is not clear whether he had been there all along; or he came into this scenario at a later time. Of this point, we can not be 100% certain. I hope that he was not there all along. I pray that sometime during that fatal encounter with the serpent, he walked up, not being fully aware of what was taking place. We will all get the true answer to this hopefully in eternity one day.
Eve had allowed that one creeping thing to lie to her, and because of that lie she plunged into a state of deception which still greatly plagues women of all ages, races, nationalities and creeds today. The results of that lie were overwhelming and have brought forth much devastation to the woman (as a species), and the knowledge of her true image in God has been defiled and distored as well. The truth concerning her power to exercise dominion was stifled as she yielded to the beguiling speech of the serpent's tongue. Beguiling words still lead many women into enticing traps of sin, degradation and abusive relationships.
How quickly Eve forgot that she had been taken from Adam to cure his loneliness, created by God as a perfect helper for him. How quickly one deceitful intruder in their Paradise, rocked their blissful world and totally altered their state of glorious existence. How quickly one creeping thing caused the most beautiful woman in the world to be stripped of her heavenly glory, the very image and likeness of God, in whom she was created.
Proverbs 30:7-8 - A Prayer: "Two things I request of You: Deprive me not before I die: Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food alloted to me, lest I be full and deny You, and say, "
Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God."
May you seek the Lord to remove falsehood and lies far from you today.
Scripture Text: Genesis, Chapter 3
Eating the Word Heartily Unto Wholeness
Dr. Lalita (c) 2011 LSMI
