Greatest Bible Questions: A Question from Satan

(Genesis 3)

INTRODUCTION:

1. It is a good study because there are questions posed in the Bible that can teach us about life, serving God, temptation, and our need to take care in how we answer questions posed to us.
2. The question I would like to examine today is the first question of the Bible and was posed by Satan to Eve while in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1 – “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”).
   A. Although this appears to be a very simple question on the surface, it presents far more for our consideration than might immediately meet the eye.
   B. For, the identification of the one who asked the question, the circumstances in which it was asked, the implications presented within the question, and/or the consequences connected to the
   question all give us cause to ponder and an opportunity to learn.
   C. With these things in mind, let us examine this question and see what we can learn from.

BODY:

Identification: The one asking the question was the serpent, the snake (Gen. 3:1 – “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”). This was a real serpent/snake though different at that time than the snake we are accustomed to.

1. That this was a real serpent/snake is seen in the physical curse put on it (Gen.3:13-14 – “The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life”). So, it was an animal like cattle and beasts of the field.
2. That this serpent was different from a snake today is seen in:
   a. Its ability to rebel against it created purpose (Gen.3:1a – “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made…”). It determined in its craftiness to act against God who created it!
   b. Its ability to speak, which did not alarm Eve. For, she freely conversed with it likely because she was unaware of who this snake was.
   c. Its apparent ability to walk or stand upright, which was taken away by God’s curse at least from this serpent, but likely all that followed. Hence, our snakes today. This serpent was more than a clever animal whose lineage now slithers on the ground.
3. The serpent is identified as the devil and Satan (Rev. 20:2 – “And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years”).
   a. Devil (διάβολος – diabolos) – false accuser, slanderer, traitor—the one who sought to tempt Jesus that he might accuse him and destroy God’s plan of salvation (Luke. 4:1-3).
   b. Satan (Σατανᾶς, Satanas) – an adversary, opponent, enemy—the one behind the Peter’s attempt to stop Christ’s sacrificial work of redemption (Matthew. 16:23 – “But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”).
4. Point? Nothing good can come from a casual conversation with him! Who the serpent is alone tells us his question and conversation have evil, destructive intentions!
5. So, if you find yourself debating in your mind God’s restrictions for our life, you should be afraid and end that debate, knowing it is from the accuser/enemy who would destroy you!
   Circumstances: Satan approached Eve at the best of times (Gen. 3:1-3 – “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”).
   This was the best of times because Eve was living in the garden of Eden, a place created by God specifically for them to have all the things needed for life and happiness.
6. There was work with accountability (Gen.2:15-17), both of which are needed for happiness, with great rewards (3:2b – Eve – “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat”).
7. It was also where God came in some form to be with them (Gen.3:8 – “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…”). They knew this was God coming to be with them. What an amazing time and place to live! Why ask this question here?
8. Because Satan tempts us when times are good (Deut. 6:10-12 – “Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”).
9. If you find yourself questioning God’s blessings in your life, that you need more to be happy, especially in this country—in the best of situations in this world—beware that such questions are most likely of Satan’s design! So, stop that quickly!
   Implications: Doubt God (Gen.3:1b – “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”).
   Satan’s question was designed so Eve would wonder, even just a little bit, if God was withholding something important from her and cause her to doubt God’s love and care!
10. Satan asked if there was “any tree” whose fruit God refused them—any of all the trees that God created and surrounded them with in the garden by His grace!
11. So, rather than thinking on the innumerable blessings of God, Satan’s question would have Eve, and us, focus on the particular thing God refused to allow them to have.
12. That is at the heart of so much of Satan’s power in temptation! We need to beware of the implications of Satan’s questions, the ones we roll around in our heads during temptation, so that we might answer them properly!
13. Eve did not do this and her answer opened the door for Satan (Gen.3:2-3 – “The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”).
    Eve’s words about this tree are not what is revealed (Gen. 2:16-17 – “The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”). So, it appears that Eve’s answer—“you shall not…touch it”—is language added by her which emphasizes God’s strictness! In other words, her answer showed Satan that she had taken the bait—that she was willing to question God’s goodness!
14. Satan pounces (Gen.3:4-5 – “The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”).
    Here we see the full implications of Satan’s question—that it was designed to bring
    doubt into Eve’s mind so he could openly:
    i. Accuse God of lying and having unloving motives—that He is withholding good!
    ii. Encourage Eve to disobey God that she might have more—have the good life.
    b. Beware of any thought or situation that leads you to question the legitimacy of God’s love and kindness in our life. For, it is a question from Satan with evil intent!
    
15. Consequences: Listening to Satan always has consequences (Gen. 3:6-13, 22-24).
    First: Eve’s and Adam’s rebellion against God (Gen.3:6 – “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”).
16. Conversing with Satan led Eve to focus on what she saw and reject what she knew.
17. Is not that Satan’s MO—to get us to want what we see (i.e., lust of the eye) over what we know (i.e., God is good and sin leads to death). Think about David and Bathsheba, etc.
18. He does this because he knows if we are willing to gaze upon sin long enough, it will look good, delightful, and desirable!
19. And because Eve did this she took of the fruit and ate, along with Adam, and they rebelled and sinned against God, their creator! Yet, Satan lies and never delivers what he promises!
20. Were their eyes opened to know good and evil? Yes—but in the worst of ways! (Gen.3:7 – “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.”)
    a. They now knew good and evil, but only because they had committed evil.
    b. What Satan had offered as sophistication and enlightenment produced nothing but shame and a pathetic and ignorant attempt to cover their sin with fig leaves!
21. Were they like God in that they now knew good and evil?
    Yes, but that knowledge meant they were no longer like God in holiness! (Gen.3:8-10 – “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”).
    i. That knowledge meant fellowship with God had now turned to fear and flight.
    ii. They no longer walked with God, but ran and hid themselves in fear!
    The consequences of this knowledge were blame and betrayal (Gen.3:11-13 – “And He [God] said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”).
    iii. Adam points at Eve, and Eve points at the Devil, but both pointed truly at God!
    iv. And like people today, neither accepts responsibility for their actions!
22. Did they get the good life Satan promised? No!
    The good life of the garden full of blessings turned to pain, toil, and sweat! (Gen.3:16-19 – “To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”) Endless life by God’s grace was replaced by expectation of death (Gen.3:22-24 – “Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.”).
23. So, if you find yourself pondering the “good life” Satan offers you in sin, know that all that he poses are nothing but lies and death! So, end that conversation! Be encouraged! For, God wins! (Gen. 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between you [serpent/Satan] and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”).
24. This may sound like another physical curse on a snake, but the N.T. shows it is far more.
25. It is a prophecy of God’s triumph over Satan by the cross.
    So, know that the devil, or Satan, has been ultimately rendered powerless by Christ (Heb. 2:14-15 – “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”). Through Christ and the gospel God has reversed all that Satan has done (Acts 26:16-19 – “But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’”). God is truly the God of reversals!

CONCLUSION:

1. Never listen to Satan or entertain his questions. He only has your destruction in mind!
2. But, as we have just said, we need not lose heart, seeing God has through Jesus brought the way to victory to those who have sparred with Satan and lost!
3. If you want victory, will you come to Jesus today in F-R-C-Bp?

Message today comes from: Bro. Petras