Three Conversations

Confronting Man, Condemning God

In Genesis chapter three, we have our first encounter with satan, that old serpent. We can learn a great deal by examining his conversation with Eve.

First, he begins his assault by asking, "‘Has God said?’" If he can cause a question in our minds about the trustworthiness of God and His Word, he has his foot in the door. Then, once he gains an audience through doubt, he continues by causing us to question the goodness of God. He convinced Eve that God was holding out on them, that there were pleasures that they weren't allowed to have. Maybe The Creator hadn't been as good to them as they thought. Maybe there's an entirely different option that needs to be explored.

In this earliest account, satan confronts man with one idea: condemn God. The devil suggests to Eve that God is not honest with her about the consequences of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He says to Eve, "‘Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’" (Genesis 3:1). By framing the commandment in this way, satan implies that God is withholding something from Eve that she deserves to have.

The serpent then directly contradicts God's warning about the consequences of eating from the tree. He tells Eve, "‘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.’" (Genesis 3:4-5) By doing so, satan insinuates that God is lying to Eve about the consequences of disobedience and is intentionally trying to keep her from gaining knowledge and power.

Once he gains an audience through doubt, he continues by causing us to question the goodness of God.

Through these subtle insinuations satan effectively condemns God to Eve, suggesting that God is not good, trustworthy, or fair. By casting doubt on God's character and motives, satan creates an opening for temptation, leading Eve away from God's plan for her life. This, in turn, leads to the fall of humanity and the introduction of sin and death into the world.

Trusting God’s Motives

This conversation strikes at the heart of God's motivation. We start questioning the Lord's goodness because we lack clarity about His motives. This can cause great fear and doubt.

Yet, if I believe that God's motives are pure, I can be at peace even if I don't understand all the details. I know that He has my best in mind. How do I know this? His Word has been clear. Our enemy wants us to question what God has said. If we have trouble trusting God's Word, we'll never trust Him.

“⁸He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love...¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him...18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

1 John 4:8, 16, 18

I can plainly see in God's Word that His motives are pure. How do I know this? The Scripture above tells me that God is love. I need not worry if He loves me or has my best interests in mind. I can't do anything to earn His love or nullify His love. He IS love! We can completely trust the Lord and His motives toward us.

Confronting God, Condemning Man

“And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

Revelation 12:10 (Emphasis mine)

“And the LORD said unto satan, Whence comest thou? Then satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

Job 1:7

As satan admits to moving about seemingly unhindered, God recommends Job for consideration. Say what?! Yes, you read that right. God is the one suggesting that satan attack Job—but pay careful attention to the conversation.

In the garden of Eden, satan confronts man while condemning God; in the case of Job, the enemy confronts God while condemning man.

“⁹Then satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? ¹⁰Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. ¹¹But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face”

Job 1:9-11

The devil's accusation is that Job serves God for the wrong reasons, that he only worships God because of God's blessings and protection, and according to satan, if God would only remove His hand, Job would curse God and cease to love Him.
 

A Great Promise

God does allow satan to tempt Job but not to touch his life. This also gives us further insight into the spiritual warfare that is going on behind the scenes. That old serpent may be able to tempt, distract, and even afflict, but he cannot take the life of a child of God. As followers of Christ, we are sealed by that Holy Spirit of promise.

“¹²That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. ¹³In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”

Ephesians 1:12-13

This promise should give us great confidence in the motive and protection of God in our lives. Whatever battle we face, whatever storm we're in, the love of God is watching over us. Jesus is the Author and the Finisher of our faith—not satan!

If you really want to get technical, satan actually works FOR God. He is a created being, which means he has to answer to The Creator. And as we saw in the Scripture reference in Job, satan had to present himself before God. Even our greatest adversary serves the eternal purpose of Jehovah God.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose”

Romans 8:28 (Emphasis mine)

All things. Whether storms or serpents, all things work together for good. Even though satan may have had one thing in mind for Job, God had a more excellent plan.

Another Great Promise

Even though our enemy seeks to condemn us, we must consider one more great promise before we end this chapter.
 

“[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Romans 8:28 (Emphasis mine)

No condemnation. Stand on this promise when you feel condemned and belittled. "No condemnation!" Pay careful attention to the verse, though. It doesn't say there's no condemnation, and that's the end of the story. There are conditions to this freedom.

Genuine belief will always be demonstrated by our behavior.

To them which are in Christ Jesus // Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Only those in a covenant relationship with Jesus and actively walking according to His Spirit can enjoy this promise. Many would like to say they are in Christ but do not walk according to His Spirit. Genuine belief will always be demonstrated by our behavior.

When we profess to serve Christ but walk contrary to His Word, we open ourselves up to the enemy's condemnation. Many will attempt to use grace as a justification for a less-than-holy lifestyle. They argue that they are under grace and free to live as they desire. But this doesn't line up with God's Word. The more we walk according to the example of the world and less like Christ, the more vulnerable we become to the enemy's condemnation.

Confronting the God-Man

 So far, we've examined two out of the three conversations of satan recorded in Scripture. First, he confronted man while condemning God, and second, he confronted God while condemning man. Now let's take a look at the third.

“¹Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. ²And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. ³And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. ⁴But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. ⁵Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, ⁶And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. ⁷Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. ⁸Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; ⁹And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. ¹⁰Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Matthew 4:1-10

When Adam disobeyed The Lord, he died in his nature toward God. He didn't just make a mistake or need to say he was sorry. He died. Maybe this death wasn't immediately apparent physically, but it was spiritually. His nature, and ours, were forever cursed to be in separation from God.

Since that event, satan has found something to condemn in every human. No matter how godly they seemed, there were always imperfections and failures. No one could ever break sin's hold.

“¹⁰As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ¹¹There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. ¹²They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Romans 3:10-12
 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

Romans 3:23

Then He Met Someone Different

When satan encountered Jesus, he came face to face with someone entirely different. Someone without a sinful nature. Someone that couldn't be tempted by the temporary distractions of this life. Before he was overcome by pride and rebellion, satan inhabited Heaven and enjoyed direct access to God Himself. But the devil had never encountered God in this form.

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Matthew 1:23

“⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 2:5-8 (Emphasis mine)

The devil repeatedly says, "If you're the Son of God." No doubt he was near the Jordan river at Jesus' baptism when the Father from Heaven spoke of being pleased with this, His Son. So now, with the threat of losing his kingdom, satan must make every attempt to derail God's plan of salvation for mankind.

Remarkably, satan suggests several ways for Jesus to prove His divine origin. First, he tempts Him to turn stones into bread. Then the old deceiver tries to get Him to throw Himself off a cliff. He also tempted Jesus with the kingdoms of this world. Thankfully, Jesus wasn't interested in the enemy's ideas. Instead, the devil has to conclude that this one's different!

In Genesis, the serpent confronted Eve with a question concerning the Word of God. In the wilderness, Jesus replies to his temptations with the Word of God. It's as if Jesus is returning things to their original order. He's doing what Adam and Eve should've done - resting in God's Word.
 

“⁴But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God...⁷Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God...¹⁰Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 (Emphasis mine)

Binding the Strongman

Once Jesus was baptized by John, and the Holy Ghost came upon Him, He was led into the wilderness. But why?

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”

Matthew 4:1

The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness specifically to face the devil. Jesus needed to bind the enemy that had deceived mankind. So to begin His earthly ministry, He went to the enemy's turf and bound him with the Word of God.
 

“No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.”

Mark 3:27

“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

1 John 3:8 (Emphasis mine)

“For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12

 Let us never forget the power we've been given through God's Word!