Eve lived in paradise, but she was still tempted to want more.
God planted a garden and filled it with every tree that was “pleasant to the sight and good for food.” (Genesis 2:9 NKJV) In the midst of that garden he included the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
God gave Adam and Eve free reign in the Garden of Eden with just one stipulation. They could eat from any tree except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He warned them that if they ate from that tree, they would die.
We’re not sure how long Eve lived in Eden before the serpent came along. But one day as she went about her business, a serpent engaged her in conversation. Was this a normal occurrence? We have no way of knowing, but a talking snake doesn’t seem to surprise her. His question, though, intrigues her.
“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1 ESV)
She lets him know that they can eat from any tree except for the one in the middle. Then, she adds to God’s word, telling him they can’t eat from that tree, nor touch it, or they’ll die.
The serpent assures her they won’t actually die. In fact, he tells her the reason God doesn’t want them to eat from that tree is because then they’ll be as wise as God. He insinuates that God was keeping Adam and Eve from something good. Instead, God was protecting their innocence.
Had Eve spent more time talking to God and less time talking to the serpent, she would have known that God wants the best for us. Though we may not understand, we have to put our trust in him.
Eve’s Temptation in the Bible: Genesis 3:1-7; 2 Corinthians 11:3
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