Chapter 33—The First Great Deception
With the earliest history of man, Satan began his efforts to deceive
our race. He who had incited rebellion in heaven desired to bring
the inhabitants of the earth to unite with him in his warfare against
the government of God. Adam and Eve had been perfectly happy in
obedience to the law of God, and this fact was a constant testimony
against the claim which Satan had urged in heaven, that God’s law
was oppressive and opposed to the good of His creatures. And fur-
thermore, Satan’s envy was excited as he looked upon the beautiful
home prepared for the sinless pair. He determined to cause their fall,
that, having separated them from God and brought them under his own
power, he might gain possession of the earth and here establish his
kingdom in opposition to the Most High.
Had Satan revealed himself in his real character, he would have
been repulsed at once, for Adam and Eve had been warned against
this dangerous foe; but he worked in the dark, concealing his purpose,
that he might more effectually accomplish his object. Employing as
his medium the serpent, then a creature of fascinating appearance, he
addressed himself to Eve: “Hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every
tree of the garden?”
Genesis 3:1
. Had Eve refrained from entering
into argument with the tempter, she would have been safe; but she
ventured to parley with him and fell a victim to his wiles. It is thus
[532]
that many are still overcome. They doubt and argue concerning the
requirements of God; and instead of obeying the divine commands,
they accept human theories, which but disguise the devices of Satan.
“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.”
Verses 2-5
. He declared that they would become like God, possessing
greater wisdom than before and being capable of a higher state of
444