Don’t Doubt God’s Character

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:1-6)

If God created the earth and its systems, then how did we end up where we are today? How did a perfect world, designed by an ideal God, become filled with chaos, deception, and brokenness? It wasn’t the enemy that caused this. It was because man believed and followed a lie. The serpent didn’t sneak into Eden with threats of violence or fear. Genesis explains that he came in subtly. His first move was to make mankind question God’s Word: “Did God really say…?” Then he immediately contradicts God: “You will not surely die.” Finally, he casts doubt on God’s character: “God knows… your eyes will be opened… you’ll be like Him.” Satan convinced Eve that God was restrictive rather than protective. He planted a lie in her mind that God was withholding something good from her.

Before Eve ever took a bite of the fruit, she had already accepted the lie. She stopped trusting God’s heart and started to believe He didn’t have her best interests in mind. Most believers who walk away from their faith don’t leave God because they doubt His power, but rather because they give in to the lies of the enemy that make them question His character. They believe God could bless them, but He won’t - that He could heal them, but He didn’t. But faith without trust in His nature isn’t really faith at all.

Practical Application

Before Satan can steal your obedience, he will target your confidence in God’s character.

2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9