You are good and do good. —Psalm 119:68
Satan deceived Eve by causing her to question the goodness, love, and motives of God. The implication in Genesis 3:1 was: “Has God put restrictions on your freedom? Sounds like He doesn’t want you to be happy.”
The truth is that God is a generous God. In that entire, vast Garden, God had posted only one Keep Off sign: “Do not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.”
Furthermore, the one restriction God imposed was in the best interest of the couple and was intended to guarantee their long-term blessing and happiness. God knew that when they ate of that tree, they would die; their relationship with Him would be severed; they would become slaves—to Satan, sin, and self.
The Serpent further deceived Eve by lying to her about the consequences of choosing to disobey God. God had said, “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Gen. 2:17). Satan countered: “You will not surely die” (3:4). He flatly contradicted what God had already said.
Make it Personal
Ask the Lord for discernment to distinguish between lies and His truth.