Genesis 3”3-4 “but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’  But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die.”

This story reminds me of peer pressure.

We learned rules and guidelines from our parents since we were tiny and we know them well.  We follow them because we do not want to upset our parents and we do not want to be in trouble.  Then someone, one of our “friends” comes along and starts asking questions.  They don’t come right out and say the rules are ridiculous but they question them until we question them and that is enough.

The serpent had just asked Eve about what they were forbidden to eat.  The seed of questioning had been planted.

I wonder what would have happened if Eve had told that serpent to be quiet and she had walked away?  If Adam and Eve had stopped listening to the lie of the serpent, they might have made life easier on all of us. 

We will never know.  I don’t blame Adam and Eve because I know I have listened to the sly whispers of lies on occasion too.  If they hadn't fallen to the lie, then their children likely would have, or their children’s children.

The serpent told Eve “you will not die” and because of God’s divine love, we live.  Walk away from the lies and step into truth with God.  This is life eternal, life with God.

Lord,

Your grace was called on even in the garden with Adam and Eve.  They broke the rules and instead of them dying, you allowed them to live.  Quiet the voices that lie to us, the ones the draw us away from your ways.  Tune our ears to hear only you so that we may live in truth and light with you forever.  I ask this through Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer.  Amen.