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Daily Devotion: Genesis 3:4-5

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Genesis 3:4-5    "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

It seems that humanity is constantly wanting something that they do not already have. We are always desiring more; whether it be money, fame, fortune, or knowledge. We never seem to have enough "stuff".  I have just spent three months clearing out "stuff" that has accumulated over a fifty year period.  I can assure you that it is more difficult to rid yourself of stuff than it is to accumulate it. The serpent (Satan) played on that part of Eve's character in order to place her where he wanted her to be.The first thing he did was to cause her to doubt God. "You won't die. God is hiding something from you and doesn't want you to be equal with Him. If you eat of that tree you will be as gods and know good and evil." Satan knew that once he was successful in getting Eve to look at the tree, he could get her to go the rest of the way with just a little persuasion.  "You will have the same knowledge and understanding as God - IF you will eat of the fruit of the tree."

Eve's eyes were closed to one basic truth: She already knew everything good.  So what did Satan have to offer Eve? She would "know" evil.  What does it mean to "know... evil"?  Did it mean that she would be able to see and identify evil? Did it give her increased power to know evil? Why did God instruct them to stay away from the tree of the "knowledge of good and evil"?  God knew that knowledge would become a part of their being. It was not just the ability to identify evil; rather, evil became a part of who humans would become.  Let me use a Scriptural illustration.  We read in Genesis 4:1  "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived..."  When Adam knew Eve, their bodies became joined as one. When Eve partook of the fruit, she knew evil in that it became part of who she was. As a result, that genetic part of humanity has been passed down upon each and every human being since then.

I cannot stop this devotion without reminding us of the cure. "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17)  Jesus committed no sin whatsoever; yet, He became sin in order to redeem us from our sin. How did He become sin?  He took your sin and mine upon Himself and washed them clean by His righteous blood that He shed on Calvary's cross. We were sinful creatures. Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness!  

 

Oh, What a wonderful Saviour we have !

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