The temptation from the serpent

The enemy approached Eve in the form of a serpent, integrating deception and craftiness. Satan's strength lies in his subtlety and deviousness. His strategies are focused on confusing the target, twisting the truth, creating doubt, and exploiting weakness. On our own, we cannot outsmart Satan; his schemes are ancient and refined. We overcome him by the Word of our testimony and the power and authority of Jesus Christ. Through the sacrifice on the cross, Christ made us more than conquerors. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). In Christ, we stand victorious, equipped with truth, righteousness, and the sword of the Spirit.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. (Genesis 3:7).

Satan often strikes where the chain is weakest. In the Garden of Eden, he targeted Eve because she was more vulnerable to deception, as God had spoken the command to Adam (Genesis 2:16 - 17), and Adam was responsible for conveying it. Additionally, had Adam sinned first, Eve might have claimed she was following his lead, out of submission to her head. But by tempting Eve first, Satan aimed to undermine both her trust in God and the created order. Adam’s sin was not out of ignorance but willful disobedience. Both were guilty, but Satan’s tactics were deliberate: isolate, deceive, and then destroy.

 

Satan’s primary strategy is to attack the Word of God, by confusing, twisting, or planting seeds of doubt. The devil asked Eve: “Has God indeed said…?”* (Genesis 3:1). The greatest vulnerability in a believer’s life is not always weakness of will, but ignorance of God’s Word and doubt about His character. God's people perish out of ignorance (Hosea 4:6). Eve’s mistake was not just in eating the fruit, it started when she entertained a dialogue with the serpent.

… and do not give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27).

Eve gave a foothold for deception to work. That hold often begins in the mind, with a thought or idea that contradicts God’s truth. When we allow ourselves to “massage the fruit”, to toy with temptation instead of fleeing from it, we set ourselves up for a fall. "Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12). What we entertain, we may eventually embrace. Wisdom demands that we do not to reason with sin, but resist it immediately and cling to the Word of God.

 

Though God, Jesus never gave the enemy a foothold. Even when tempted in every way, He remained perfectly obedient to the Father. As He declared, *“The prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me”* (John 14:30). Unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus did not entertain the enemy’s lies. He responded with the truth.

I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me (John 14:30).

When the weight of sin’s outcome is removed from our minds, we are more likely to fall for its momentary pleasures. Hence, spiritual vigilance requires both knowledge of God’s Word and a sober awareness of sin’s consequences.

 

Temptation is inevitable, "Temptations to sin are sure to come" (Luke 17:1). The enemy, is cunning and aware of the tools the world offers to draw us away from God. "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world." (1 John 2:16). These three areas: physical desire, visual appeal, and self-exaltation form the pattern of temptation since the Garden of Eden.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate (Genesis 3:6).

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world (1 John 2:16).

Satan can entice, but he cannot force. Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Therefore, the responsibility lies with us to choose obedience. God, in His faithfulness, always provides a way out of temptation. In summary, temptation is expected, it is not unusual, Satan entices, but never compels. Therefore, we are responsible for our response and God always provides an escape route.

 

God is faithful to limit temptation and provide escape, but we must respond in humility and surrender, actively resisting and fleeing from sin. "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:6–7). The first ingredient of resisting the devil starts with submitting to God. Willpower without surrendering to God is a vain effort. Many people attempt to resist the enemy without first humbling themselves under God’s authority, and they fall.

 

God’s presence as light not only illuminated but also covered Adam and Eve. I am of the opinion that, Adam and Eve were originally clothed in glory. When this glory departed after they sinned.

Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain (Psalm 104:2).

What remained was exposure, not just physical nakedness, but a spiritual vulnerability and shame.

 

Before sin, there was no shame because there was no separation from God (Genesis 2:25). But after disobedience, when the divine light withdrew, they saw themselves without God's covering, both physically and morally, and felt shame (Genesis 3:7).

He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2).

However, when this light departed, their covering was gone, and they were exposed to nakedness. It is good to feel godly sorrow when you have done something wrong, and having no sense of godly sorrow means a dead conscience.

 

The only covering that will stand God's judgement is the righteousness that comes from the work of Christ on the cross, (Revelation 3:5, 18), and put on Jesus Himself as our covering garment (Galatians 3:27). God has a covering for His people (Isaiah 61:10), this calls for believers to remain watchful and keep their garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame (Revelation 16:15).