Satan's Modus Operandi
Genesis 3 gives the account of the fall of man through the temptation and deception of Satan who came to the woman in the form of a serpent. He is still in the business of temptation and deception and he is still using the same tactics that he used on Eve. 2 Cor. 2:11 says we are not unaware of his schemes. The KJV says we are not ignorant of his devices. It helps to know how an enemy will attack so defenses can be mounted accurately and intelligently.
His first assault was on the Word of God. Gen. 3:1. "Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden?" He questioned God's Word. Did God really say that? Are you sure that's what he meant? Doesn't that seem to be a little unreasonable to you? If Satan can get us to question God's Word he's weakened our defenses and he has a foot in the door. God did not say they couldn't eat from any tree; it was just one particular tree. His reasoning is, I'm sure God didn't really mean that. You must be interpreting Scripture wrong. I'm sure God wants you to have a little fun, etc.,etc.
Gen. 3:2. The result of Satan causing Eve to question God's Word was that she added to the Word. God had said, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Gen. 2:17. Eve told the serpent that God had said they must not eat of the fruit of that tree, "and you must not touch it." God had not said that. That sounds like a small mistake, but we are not to add anything to God's Word or make it say something that it does not say. Deut. 4:2 says "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you."
Gen. 3:4. The serpent went one step father and changed the word. God had said that if they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would surely die. Gen. 2:17. But Satan says "You will not surely die." He just added one little word but it changed the whole message that God had given them. Can you hear him? God understands if you can't stay pure until marriage. After all, he created you with those passions. He knows that everyone needs to have a little fun. It won't hurt you in the long run to partake of this little sin; no one will ever know. You can do what you want and latter on, when you're a little older, or when things are easier for you, then you can begin to live a holy life. Satan comes only steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10. He is like a python slowly coiling around you until you are unable to break free.
Next Satan slandered God's Word. Gen. 3:5. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Slander is telling the truth in such a way as to leave a lying impression. He was inferring that God was withholding something very good from them; that he was a selfish God. God knew that if they disobeyed their eyes would be opened to evil and he wanted to shield them from that. He was withholding something that was not good for them, not because he was a mean, selfish, vindictive God.
Look what their eyes were opened to. (1) Verse 6: A spirit of independence. (Eve could make her own decisions; she didn't need God to tell her what to do.) (2) Verse 7. Self consciousness. They suddenly knew they were naked. The glory of God that had been their clothing was gone. (3) Attempted to cover up what they had done. Num. 32:23. "Be sure that your sin will find you out." (4) Verse 8. Shame and guilt. They hid when God came walking in the garden to fellowship with them, and their fellowship with him was broken. (5) Verse 10. Fear. They were afraid because they were naked. (6) Verse 12. A spirit of self-justification. Adam blamed the woman and the woman blamed the serpent. Ultimately Adam was blaming God because he had created the woman. Interesting that there are six things that are the direct result of their disobedience. The number six in Scripture is the number of man. These are the "wonderful" things the serpent was inferring that God was withholding from them.
Know the enemy's modus operandi so you can be forearmed and aware of his tactics.
Naomi Brinkman
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