Daily a new Bible text for devotion - EZBB

Genesis 3:1

The serpent crept stealthily into the tranquil garden like a sinister visitor. As the story progresses, the serpent is presented everywhere as an instrument of some hidden spiritual power. In the New Testament, Jesus relates the serpent to the devil (John 8:44), as does Paul (Romans 16:20, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Timothy 2:14) and John (Revelation 12:9, 20:2).

The serpent began to speak with an expression of surprise: "YOU SHALL NOT EAT OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN?" and proceeded to erroneously quote God's original command, making it absurd. The original prohibition was related to only one tree, but the serpent said "OF EVERY TREE," note that this technique of distorting words has been used since the beginning. It is the corruption of language already being used from the earliest times. The phrase in 2:16 is found in the permissive order and not in the negative order (2:17). The serpent questions God's goodness: He was too restrictive, unnecessarily withholding valuable benefits.

This first question was seemingly innocent, but it deceived the woman, causing her to also misquote the command. She made the prohibition much stronger than it actually was. God did not say: DO NOT EVEN TOUCH THE FRUIT OF THAT TREE (v. 3). But He made the threat of punishment much more serious than LEST YOU DIE. She unknowingly made the command irrational and the punishment a mere possibility, instead of an inevitable outcome. The woman missed a golden opportunity to defeat the serpent's suggestion. Had she quoted the command correctly and adhered to it, the enemy would not have been able to proceed with his intent. The woman should have realized that animals do not speak and, therefore, should have perceived the evil.

The serpent perceived the advantage and proceeded to categorically deny the truth of God's punitive declaration, stating positively: YOU WILL NOT DIE (v 4). He focused his attack on inciting resentment against the restriction and arousing a desire for power.