The second half of Genesis chapter 3 verse 1 records, purportedly the first recorded lie in the scripture. This was spoken by the Devil to Eve, the woman – “And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Careful scrutiny of the words reveal a strategy employed by the Devil in deceiving Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3) and the world (Revelation 12:9).
Notice how the Devil starts of by saying, “Yea” implying that he fakes a position of affirming with what God has commanded his people. Then the next words of the Devil are “hath God said” which is his way of discrediting God by instilling doubt in the minds of men. Then the Devil questions the woman by using the following words “Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?“, which interestingly has every word spoken by God in his command to man, except one. That word is “every”. God had commanded that man must not eat of the tree that is in the middle of the garden – the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but the Devil twisted the words of God, being the father of lies (John 8:44), to include all trees, as the one that God had specifically identified.
Points to ponder:
Even today, the Devil schemes to deceive us, by first faking a false affirmation with God’s command. Then he attempts to instill doubt in our hearts, so that we would not trust God and take him at his word. Finally, he twists the word of God so that we would not see the deception and the lies in his schemes. Let us be careful and pay attention, watching out so that we are not beguiled by the Devil, as was Eve, for he twists the truth.
Jesus said I AM the Truth but the devil twists that truth and wants us to believe that we need every other means to be saved. This is the “Jesus + Something else” gospel that is prevalent in the world. No amount of works can save us, only believing in Jesus can. Jesus is the only means to Salvation, for there is no other name by which man can be saved – Salvation is found in no other (Acts 4:12).
Genesis 3:1 (KJV)
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
