"Satan succeeds in getting Eve to doubt the truthfulness of God's word and the goodness of His motive.

One can only imagine what life was like in the Garden before sin.  Adam and Eve had tasks to perform, but work was not by the sweat of the brow.  They not only enjoyed intimacy with each other that was unstained by sin, but more importantly, they enjoyed unhindered intimacy with God.  But Eve entered into a discussion with the serpent, and, through being deceived, she gave in to temptation, and all of that changed.  Today we want to look at how Eve was tempted, and see what we can learn about our own temptations.

Questions (Print and Study or just pick up your bible, a pen, and a few sheets of paper and step into the Bible Study Lesson)

  In Genesis 3:1 we see Eve engaging in a conversation with the serpent.  Why, from what the text says about what he is like and what he does, is that a bad idea?

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The text reveals two negative realities about Satan: what he is like -- "more craft than any beast of the field,..." and what he does---he calls into question the revealed will of God.  He asks, "Indeed, has God said...?"  He also exaggerates the limitations that God's will imposed on mankind.  He misquotes God as saying, "You shall not eat from any tree of the garden."

   Compare Genesis 3:1-6 with each of the passages below, writing down what you learn about Satan's activities.

2 Corinthians 11:3 ---__________________________________________________________________

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2 Corinthians 11:12-15--- __________________________________________________________________

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1 Timothy 2:14--- _______________________________________________________________________

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We see in 2 Corinthians 11:3 that the serpent "deceived Eve by his craftiness."  This idea is also picked up on by Paul in 1 Timothy 2:14 where he says that she was "quite deceived."  Satan (along with his workers) operates through deception and disguise.  In fact, we are told in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that he disguises himself as an angel of light.  When dealing with an enemy who doesn't deal in truth, one must be especially careful to not take anything at face value.  Eve should have let God's words be her authority, but as soon as Satan tricked her into calling what God said into question, it was only a matter of time before she went her own independent way.  When we make ourselves the judge of whether God's words are true, transgression is inevitable.

  As you look closely as Eve's responses to Satan's questions, it looks at first like she accurately represents God's will, but if you look more closely you will discover some important differences. Compare how Eve quotes God in Genesis 3:2-3 with what God actually said in Genesis 2:16-17.  On the chart below, mark the differences you see and write your observations on what she adds and what she leaves out.

How Eve Quotes God (Genesis 3:2-3)	What God Said (Genesis 2:16-17)
From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat	From any tree of garden you may eat freely
but from teh fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden	but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or tough it	you shall not eat
lest you die.'	for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.

It is incredibly revealing when we look closely at the subtle but significant differences in how Eve quotes God compared to what He actually said.  God had actually instructed that they could eat "From any tree..." and that they "may eat freely."  Both statement emphasize the liberty of the Garden.  Eve, by leaving these out, seems to be minimizing or making light of her liberties.  God's sole restriction in the Garden was specific---they were not to eat "from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."  Eve doesn't focus on what the tree is, but on where it is.  She avoids the reminder that the tree is associated with evil.  In restricting them, God had only said, "you shall not eat."  Eve adds the phrase, "or touch it,"  and in so doing, seems to maximize the restrictions or limitations God had placed on them in the Garden.  Finally, Eve quotes the consequences as "lest you die."  She leaves out the term "surely," and the phrase "in the day that you eat from it," apparently making light of the certainty and immediacy of the consequences.  When we shade God's truth just a little bit, it can have disastrous impact.

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