What to Do When We Hate Eve
I want to hate Eve! What was she thinking? How different would life be if she had just resisted the temptation to take that one, little bite? Aggravated at the consequences of her sin throughout the ages, it’s easy to think it’s all her fault. Then one day, I sensed a distinct impression from God: Shauna, you would have done the same thing.
And He’s right. (He’s always right.)
I would have and I do give into temptation all the time.
Reading Genesis 3 as part of my one-year Bible reading plan, a number things struck me as just as applicable today as they were at the beginning. See what you think.
Satan is still crafty, and he’s still telling the same lies to twist the truth:
Did God really say _____________?
Does He really mean _____________?
Will He really _____________ if you do/don’t ________________?
If the devil starts a conversation with us, we are wise to ignore him. The only thing he speaks is lies. Don’t engage! Eve stays in the conversation way too long, and then she invites her husband into it.
The enemy gets us to focus on what we don’t have. God gave Adam and Eve free indulgence of every fruit tree in the garden except for two, and the enemy focuses on those two forbidden trees. He makes it look like God has wronged them to hold back. I guarantee Satan is doing the same thing today in ways we don’t even know in order to get us to doubt God’s goodness, plan, love, wisdom, timing, ways, etc.
The enemy appeals to man’s innate desire to be like god—to decide our rights and wrongs, do’s and don’ts, many times based on our feelings or momentary temptations.
Eve exemplifies the three things that likely entice us into sin today. 1 John 2:16 lists them: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, all things that are of the world, which is under the sway of the enemy.
Unconfessed sin makes us want to hide from God.
Even when we’re trying to hide, God knows where we are and initiates reconciliation and relationship, the first step of which is uncovering or convicting us of our sin. It’s a gift.
Our attempts to cover sin will never be enough. Only God’s covering by the shedding of blood forgives/covers sin.
As women, our desire to control or take charge instead of or over our husbands is part of our sin nature and is rooted in the curse. I don’t know about you, but it seems to create perpetual tension and contention, sometimes internally and sometimes bubbling over. Jesus became and overcame the curse when He died and rose again. The only way we can overcome this cursed dynamic in our marriages is IN CHRIST! His order is the opposite—wives submit, husbands love—and it’s only possible when He is the one making it so in, through, and for us.
Relocation out of the Garden of Eden wasn’t punishment—it was protection. God knew the insurmountable temptation the Tree of Life would be, so He protected Adam and Eve by removing them from the Garden. Then He set a guard at the entrance. He may do the same for us—remove us from something we see as perfect and good because He knows it also comes with an irresistible temptation that would become an obstacle to His good and perfect will. He protects His children by placing boundaries and even barriers in our way.
I love the way God’s word speaks today and its relevance to our daily lives. There’s no more effective way to hear from God, to know Him, and to know what He wants than to read the Bible.
Do you have a Bible or a Bible reading plan for the year? YouVersion is an app that provides a wide variety for free. Start one, even if it’s already day 13. Don’t worry about what’s behind. Start where you are, and go forward. Read with expectancy. I promise, God will satisfy every pure desire for Him and your hunger for His word. Ask for understanding. Hold your heart and hands wide open, and receive what He gives.
“For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” (Psalm 107:9 NKJV)