Satan’s Doubt; God’s Reply
“The serpent said to the woman, “Did God actually say...” (Gen. 3:1)
While the sun shone the Garden of Eden, in slithers a most dastardly serpent whose forked tongue spreads lies, lies, lies. Two lies rise above the rest – a denial of God’s goodness and a denial of God’s justice. Isn’t this where Satan always begins? First, he tempts us that “we surely will not die.” Today, we still hear: “God may have said that the soul who sins shall die, but did He mean it? Isn’t He merciful? Surely, God wouldn’t be so severe.” We underestimate the justice of God when we fail to account that it is a perfect justice. Every “I” is dotted; every “t” is crossed – as Satan and man would soon learn.
Second, he tempts us into doubting God’s goodness. Satan implies, “God knows what will happen if you eat. God’s keeping back from you.” Satan’s primary tactic is to persuade us that to live right is to live without. If we would just “live a little,” we would experience a whole world of pleasure. But what does this say about God? The very accusation implies that God has a narrow-heart and a closed hand. Those simple words of “take and eat” hold forth a host of vile accusations against the character of God Almighty.
How does God respond? Quite simply, He lets His character show. First, He demonstrates the depths of His justice, and Satan is the first to feel His wrath. The truth of God is magnified in the judgment against Satan. Adam and Eve are not excused; rather, death comes to them in all its terror. First, they endure that spiritual death, that separation from God, when they hide in the bushes from the God who is “all eyes.” Next, their bodies between to break down, returning to the dust from which they were taken (3:19). And finally, the reality of that eternal death, that eternal separation from God lingers overhead, waiting to fall upon them as soon as they fall into the grave.
Second, God demonstrates the heights of His goodness. Oh, my friends! Could goodness shine any brighter? As if to remove all doubt, God shines forth His goodness in all its luster. Oh, no sooner does sin enter the world than does the promise come near. The first gospel, the protoevangelium, comes in Genesis 3:15. God promises to send the Seed of the Woman who is also His Son – able to defeat the serpent in our place. He promises us a new heart, a new hatred for Satan and all things sinful. No sooner does Satan bar the door to heaven than does God shatter the lock!
Then comes those beautiful words: take and eat.” The justice and goodness of God come together at the Lord’s Supper where the goodness of God is on display as Jesus prepares to bear the full brunt of the justice of God for us (Matt. 26:26). If Satan ever once tempts you to doubt the goodness or justice of God, simply look to the death of Christ and taste them both in the Lord’s Supper.
