November 13, 2024

Joel Hernandez
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Genesis 3:1-6

In Genesis 3:1-6, we see the first-moment humanity doubted God’s goodness. The serpent’s words subtly twisted God’s instructions, making Eve question what God really said. She focused on what was forbidden, and in her uncertainty, she took the fruit. Adam, standing by, joined her in that choice, choosing passivity rather than stepping in to honor God’s guidance.

This passage highlights how temptation often begins with doubt—a small question that grows into mistrust. The question itself isn’t wrong; in fact, later in the New Testament, we see Jesus Himself asking many questions. What leads Adam and Eve astray is the choice they made to ignore God’s truth and what He commands of them in the process. They were tempted by the thought that God was holding out on them, and if they just bent the rules a bit, they would receive more in return. In our lives, similar moments come when we’re tempted to compromise, take the path of least resistance, ignore His truths, seek our own earthly wisdom in things not of God, and isolate ourselves from the community who could help point us back to Him.

The empty promise that there is more for us if we just choose to ignore God’s commands or the temptation to believe God is holding out on us can be hard to navigate. But as we see as early as the Garden, God’s commands are expressions of His love, meant to protect us and keep us close to Him. This story reminds us to trust God’s heart for us, even when it’s hard, and to surround ourselves with others who are willing to do the same.

Take a moment today to ask God for the wisdom to recognize moments of doubt and to respond with faith. Whether it’s a small compromise or a bigger decision, seek His guidance and strength. Let’s choose to trust in His goodness and walk in His ways, believing that His boundaries are there to bring us life.