The Snake In The Garden: The Serpent Came To Eve Genesis 3:1

The Snake in the Garden: The Serpent Came to Eve

Genesis 3:1

1. The Devil is _Intelligent_. (V.1).

“The serpent was more crafty…”

What does it mean that the serpent was “crafty”? Well, the Hebrew word translated“crafty,” and is translated as “_prudence_” elsewhere (Prov. 1:4). It is a kind of intelligence. It is a quality not necessarily evil, but it can be perverted for sinister use.

A. The devil exploited the weakness in the nature of the serpent. This nature was not sinful, but was there already. The Devil exploited this and merged himself with it (Rev. 12:9; 20:2).So the devil exploited the weakness and tendency already present in the nature of the serpent. He joined himself to this serpent, and spoke through it to seduce Eve.

B. Where did the Devil _come_ from?

We are not told explicitly where Satan comes from, but since all creation was originally “very good” (1:31), we know his wickedness is not from the hand of God. The devil is therefore a fallen creature. Other texts make it clear that he is a fallen angel (Job 1:6-12; 2 Cor. 11:14; Rev. 12:7-12).

C. “...He said to the woman, “Did God _actually_ say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” The text doesn’t mention Eve’s name, just her nature: “woman.” Why the focus on her nature, and why her, why did the Devil approach her and not Adam whom we learn was “there with her” the whole time (v.6)?

2. Devil Exploits The _Weaknesses_ in our Male/Female Nature. (V.1)

Paul mentions that Adam was not deceived, but Eve was. Similarly, Eve says she was deceived (Genesis 3:13). Interestingly, Paul also does not use Eve’s name (1 Tim. 2:14), but he does use Adam’s name. Paul notes, as here in Genesis 3, that the “woman” was deceived.” Adam sinned with full knowledge making Adam’s sin worse, Eve sinned from deception showing her tendency to be deceived. Adam’s sin was worse and would result in the fall of creation; Eve’s sin came from her deception and would result in the Fall of Adam (3:12).

A. Before the Fall there was not culpable sin, but there was _failure_ and _weakness_. This answers the question “How could Eve have been deceived? How could Adam have been passive?” Well, there was failure and weakness before the Fall, that’s how!

B. The Devil exploits weaknesses in our nature. Adam either rebelled or simply did not care, and Eve was deceived. We would be foolish not to learn from this. Men tend to be either rebellious or just not care, and women are more easily manipulated and fooled. Nevertheless, Paul warns all Christians not to be deceived in 2 Cor. 11:3. It is not a matter of absolutes, it is simply a trend.

3. The Devil Causes People to _Doubt_ God’s Word (V.1).

A. “...He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Many evangelical preachers and commentators rightfully note that Satan attempted to persuade Eve by casting doubt as to what God’s Word was. This is where He started. “Did God actually say…” This is a good warning to all of us.

B. It falls on deaf ears, because we do not read, memorize, or study God’s Word–we are so ignorant of it, there is no need to get most Christians to doubt because to doubt something you must know it first! The Devil simply keeps us all too busy to study it, then there is no need to get Christians to doubt it. Nevertheless, the Devil often casts doubt on God’s Word. His chief way in doing this in recent years has been through theological liberalism, Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834) is widely considered the "father of theological liberalism" for redefining Christianity from a doctrinal system to a subjective religious experience. His system of thought has been repackaged repeatedly, finding its most recent expressions in the thought of Bart Ehrman, Rob Bell, and others.

4. The Devil is _Defeated_. (Rev. 12:7-9; 20:10).

A. Jesus Defeated the Devil

John 3:8: "The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work".

B. The Devil Still Has Access to Heaven and God’s presence (Job 1:6-12).

C. In the End Times, The Devil Will Lose this Access God’s Presence. Read (Rev. 12:7-9)

D. The Devil will be Thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10).

Revelation 20:10: "And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet also are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

Learning and Obeying God’ Word:

1. Expect the Devil to exploit your weaknesses.