God’s Word and Eve

Before God created Eve, He gave Adam explicit instructions regarding one specific tree in the Garden of Eden: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17, nkjv). Eve’s response to the Serpent’s question clearly testified that she knew what God had told Adam. Once she began her conversation with the Serpent, Eve sought from Adam neither clarification nor confirmation of God’s instructions.

The Serpent suggested that Eve was blind and that God was withholding something from her: “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” (Genesis 3:5, nkjv). He promised Eve that once she would eat of the forbidden fruit she would truly see and possess all knowledge. When Eve listened to the Enemy, she gave the Word of God a backseat to the Enemy’s suggestion and her easily manipulated senses. Eve ate of the fruit and was driven into a life of fear, shame, and guilt as she experienced alienation from both God and her husband.

Eve was not alone in her decision. Since the Fall, women (and men) struggle between knowing, clarifying, and obeying God’s Word or following their senses and Satan’s suggestions. Noted theologian Bruce K. Waltke acknowledges this common battle: “Christians are people of the ear, not of the eye. God does not appear to be seen but speaks to be heard.”[i] Knowing God’s Word and heeding God’s Word protects women from following either the dictates of the senses or the suggestions of the Enemy.

Heavenly Father, Eternal Word, I thank You that You are good and that You only do good. Your Word is true. Help me to know and obey Your Word. Expose areas in my life where I’ve followed my senses and the Enemy’s suggestions to my detriment. Amen.

[i] Bruce K. Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001), 209.