For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)
Recently as a church we started a 365-day Bible reading plan that will take us through the entire Bible in the next year. If you would like to join us, you can sign-up for the Bible Recap reading plan for free on the Bible app or purchase a copy of the Bible Recap daily devotional on Amazon. The daily devotional tool features a blend of commentary on each section of Scripture we study as well as videos and resources to take you deeper into the text. We are on a continual journey to read the Bible and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do what it says.
Recently as we kicked off this journey, something struck me in the earliest pages of Scripture. In Genesis chapter three, we see our great grandparents face (and fail) their first big test of faith. Into the perfection of Eden and the innocent life of unbroken fellowship they enjoyed with our Creator, the enemy came slithering up in the form of a serpent. It is a fun fact that snakes likely used to have legs (sorry for sharing that nightmare image).
When Satan arrived in Eden to tempt Adam and Eve, his ploy was simple and the bait he used then is one he still uses to ensnare and enslave so many today. The Scripture gives us a historical look at how the conversation unfolded: Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1 ESV) Notice what the enemy of our souls and the accuser of the brethren does first, he immediately brought the word of God into question. “Did God really say…”
Why is a personal knowledge of the Scripture so important? It starts right here. As followers of Jesus it is essential for us to have more than a second hand knowledge of the God we serve. It isn’t your parents faith, your spouses faith, the faith of your pastor, or anyone else that will help you in times of great trial and temptation, it is a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. If you don’t know what the Scripture says, and if you don’t understand the will and Word of God, you are headed for pain and suffering. It is so precious and important to know the Word, will, character, nature, and promises of God.
As we continue reading, we see how the conversation immediately begins to take a turn towards deception: And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” (Genesis 3:2-3 ESV) First, the obvious: Eve should have never entertained or conversed with the Serpent. Even if she didn’t know that, we do. Stop inviting the enemy into your life and giving him a foothold to attack you, tempt you, and destroy your life. The more time you spend with Jesus, the more you will begin to recognize the subtle work of the enemy around you.
Next, we note several things that occur with Eve’s response. Firstly we notice we see that Eve took away and added to God’s instruction. She first diminished the liberty and abundance of God’s provision. God actually said: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden” (Genesis 2:16 ESV). Notice the seemingly small but incredibly important omission. God’s Word had show the abundant love, gracious provision, and incredible gift that God had given our first ancestors, Eve missed that and sadly many still do today. They wrongly see God’s Word as restrictive instead of understanding that true freedom comes through Christ alone (see John 8:32 and John 8:36).
We then see that Eve took God’s clear, precise instruction and she left out a detail: “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17 ESV) Eve referred to the tree as the “tree that is in the midst of the garden,” yet God had clearly revealed its name: “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” It may seem small, perhaps you might even think its harmless, but when we ignore, leave out, change, or redefine any part of God’s Word for any reason, we are setting ourselves up for deception.
Lastly, we see that Eve added a prohibition that God had not. Eve got God’s Word wrong and said that God’s instructions wasn’t just that they shouldn’t eat it but also that they shouldn’t even touch it. Now practically that was pretty solid advice… if you don’t even touch it surely you can’t eat it! But again we see Eve adding in something extra that God never instructed. This type of legalistic thinking ignores or misses the heart of God and the purpose of His Word while adding in extra layers of tradition and instruction that aren’t in God’s Word. You don’t have to add or take away from God’s Word, read what it actually says and respond with a heart of loving, faithful obedience.
Notice lastly how the serpent, emboldened by Eve’s ignorance and her poor handling of God’s Word, responds: But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 ESV) First, the serpent out right denies the Word of God. In this denial, he calls God a liar and calls His trustworthiness and goodness into question. Then the serpent gets right to his dastardly work as he claims that God is somehow keeping something good from Adam and Eve and that there was more to life. As they go on to rebel against God and His Word, they would lose more than they could have ever imagined. (Spoiler alert: the did “surely die”)
So, it all comes down to this. Without a personal knowledge of the Scriptures you will never experience the depth, intimacy, and security of knowing the God you serve. It is God’s will for you to read it, through His Holy Spirit He will help you understand it, and empowered by our Helper, Comforter, and Guide we will be able to live out His Word and will in our lives. As you join us on this journey through the Bible, I pray you will develop a deep love for reading the Scripture as you abide in Christ regularly, intentionally, and faithfully!
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 ESV)
