By Joyce Tilney

Eve had everything anyone could desire. She was content as the First Lady of the Garden. Her home was perfect, her husband was perfect, and all the animals lived harmoniously. Her fellowship with her husband and God brought much joy to her life.

Then one day a strange voice asked, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1, NKJ). Her interest was aroused; she did not perceive the deception of God’s Word being twisted and His love questioned.

Satan, the master deceiver, was setting her up, one thought at a time. He didn’t quote God exactly, but used similar words to plant doubt in Eve’s mind. “Why, haven’t I noticed that tree before? It’s beautiful and has luscious fruit. How can anything so beautiful cause harm?” She became obsessed with the tree.

Eve had been created with free will. She had a choice to make. She did not have to give in to temptation. She could have called out to Adam, shared her dilemma with him. Perhaps the two of them could have stood together against the enemy. Eve was at a turning point—she could listen to the enemy or resist the temptation.

Unfortunately, Eve not only listened, but also answered him. She also twisted the words of God. She added, “Neither shall you touch it….” (Genesis 3:3) This gave Satan confidence and was the beginning of her fall. He continued to talk with her and she became a willing listener. Her desire grew and she gave in to the temptation. Not only had she twisted the Word of God, but now she also became a deceiver and entangled her husband in her sin. Adam also had a free will and God had spoken directly to him, but without protest he accepted the fruit from her and ate. “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings” (Genesis 3:7) Sin always makes us want to cover up.

At this point God entered the scene. “Where are you?” He asked. He did not accuse them, just asked a simple question. They missed the opportunity to tell the truth. Adam blamed Eve and sounded as if he blamed God, too. “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate” (Genesis 3:12) Eve also passed the guilt. “…the serpent deceived me and I ate.” (verse 13) She was not willing to admit she had acted on her own free will. Eve had traded the security and strength that comes from God’s Word for the temptation of the enemy. In so doing, Eve, the last link in God’s creation, destroyed the happiness she knew. She learned the penalty of sin—separation from God. She didn't die a physical death, but she lost her precious spiritual life and connection to God. What a price to pay!

Through the choices of Adam and Eve, sin entered the world. Never one to abandon something that works, Satan uses the same tactics on you and me today, as evidenced in Paul's words to the Corinthians. “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (II Cor. 11:3). The battle is in the mind. We are exhorted in Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

As a woman of God I am not bound to natural thinking; I have the ability to read the Word of God and allow His thoughts to become my thoughts. Natural thinking focuses our attention on ourselves. We become a slave to our feelings, our moods and our emotions!

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3) When you are walking in the peace of God you can hear His voice (John 10:3-5).

As long as we live in this world, the devil will tempt us to doubt God's Word. James tells us “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12) Blessed is the man that endures the temptation, not the trial. Our temptation is the same as Eve's, to doubt God’s Word and His love for us.

Where are you in your relationship with God? Just as Adam and Eve were to walk in obedience to His Word, so are we. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

Though often held up as an example of disobedience, Eve is also a living demonstration that it is not possible to sink so low you can’t turn back. Genesis 4:25 says, “And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for God has appointed another seed for me…” She couldn't return to Eden, any more than we can turn back the clock when we sin and go back to our previous situation. But God did not abandon Adam and Eve. Indeed, from this "seed" would one day come the Redeemer of all who hunger for forgiveness—Jesus Christ.

Joyce Tilney is the Founder of Women of God Ministries. She is the author of the book, Leah, The Substitute Bride.