Test of Probation
9
Eve had wandered near the forbidden tree, and her curiosity was
aroused to know how death could be concealed in the fruit of this fair
tree. She was surprised to hear her queries taken up and repeated by a
strange voice. “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of
the garden?” Eve was not aware that she had revealed her thoughts in
audibly conversing with herself; therefore, she was greatly astonished
to hear her queries repeated by a serpent. She really thought that the
serpent had a knowledge of her thoughts, and that he must be very
wise.
She answered him, “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.”
Here the father of lies made his assertion in direct contradiction to
the expressed word of God. Satan assured Eve that she was created
immortal, and that there was no possibility of her dying. He told her
that God knew that if she and her husband should eat of the tree of
knowledge, their understanding would be enlightened, expanded, and
ennobled, making them equal with Himself. And the serpent answered
Eve that the command of God, forbidding them to eat of the tree of
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knowledge, was given to keep them in such a state of subordination
that they should not obtain knowledge, which was power. He assured
her that the fruit of this tree was desirable above every other tree in
the garden to make them wise, and to exalt them equal with God. He
has, said the serpent, refused you the fruit of that tree which, of all
the trees, is the most desirable for its delicious flavor and exhilarating
influence.
Eve thought that the serpent’s discourse was very wise, and that the
prohibition of God was unjust. She looked with longing desire upon
the tree laden with fruit which appeared very delicious. The serpent
was eating it with apparent delight. She longed for this fruit above
every other variety which God had given her a perfect right to use.
Eve had overstated the words of God’s command. He had said to
Adam and Eve, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou
shalt surely die.” In Eve’s controversy with the serpent, she added