IN THE BEGINNING

Genesis 2:15-17

MAN REBELS

The rebellion was the beginning of mans trouble between himself and God.

We find in Revelation the fact that it was the devil tempted Eve and Adam in the Garden. Adam was just as tempted as Eve was or he would have led her away from sin.

Luke 4:2-12

Jesus was tempted just as Adam and Eve when He went into the wilderness to worship God.

First the temptation was for food, just as Adam and Eve were tempted with the thought of food. Why is it that when we are hungry our belly cries out and we are more vulnerable? We succumb to the desire of wanting “me to become full”.

Esau sold his birthright for temporary sustenance. It smells so good. Our senses become stronger for our bellies to be full. Our selfish desires increase when we are hungry. Just like a baby that learns quickly, me, my, mine we keep that attitude, unless we learn to rely on the Lord’s leadership through our selfish desires.

The first temptation was for food because that is where Jesus was most vulnerable at the time. The answer from Jesus was, “It is written, man does not live on bread alone.”

The second temptation by the devil was: “Surely you will not die,” the serpent said. Eve was tempted to have the first and last word. You will be smart. The devil offered intellectual pride. .  Eve thought she could rule more than she really wanted.

The devil tempted Jesus by offering him to rule over all the earth. Jesus’ reply was, “Do not tempt the Lord your God.”

The third temptation of Eve was, “You will not surely die?” He was offering her knowledge of life and death. That sounds so powerful.  When we ask people a question, sometimes, it makes them doubt. Eve doubted God’s word and guidance.

Jesus reply to such a temptation as the Devil said, “Jump off this cliff and you will surely not die.” Satan offered Jesus power over the laws God put in place when he created the heavens and the earth. Satan was in effect saying, I will give you power over nature’s law, therefore power over God.  Jesus’ reply, “Get the behind Satan, The Lord is God and Him only will I serve.”

Verse 13 says, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

In Adam and Eve’s case the Devil left also, only the consequences were quite different. They learned what it cost to disobey God.

Jesus went on to conquer death by his resurrection by obeying God.