The Creative Power of the Voice of God – The Serpent – No. 4

Moving on into the third chapter of the book of Genesis, an unusual serpent slithers his way into the Garden of Eden. He stands out because he’s more shrewd and devious than any other created being. Cunningly, this arrogant and deceitful rebel initiates a conversation with Eve where he seeks to undermine and minimize the Word and Authority of her Creator. “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?”  1  It’s obvious that this pernicious fraudster knows this is not what the Creator actually said, but he uses this ruse to establish a connection and draw Eve into his cunning web of manipulation.  

In her innocence, Eve is unable to discern the deceptive ploy perpetrated by the serpent. Naively she replies, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’”  2

This slithering stranger undermines the loving intent of the Creator. Though banished from heaven, Lucifer is still seeking to usurp the supremacy of the Author of Life and to trick Eve into disobeying the Truth.  Defiantly he offers, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”

This is the fourth part of some thoughts I wrote in the fall of 2012 in an attempt to capture the incredible power, glory, splendor, radiance, and majesty of God speaking in the creation. I'd enjoy any feedback you might have: L2G.Forum@gmail.com.
~ Rusty Rustenbach © 2012

FOOTNOTES

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1 Quoted from Genesis 3:1 in The Message.

2  Genesis 3:2-3 (msg)