Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. (Genesis 3:1–7 NIV)

New Series: Empty and Filled

Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. (Proverbs 12:16 NIV)

Yahweh

Elohim

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden…” (Genesis 2:16 NIV)

The point: We start believing lies in our hearts before they ever make it to our head.

Eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is about moral self-dependence.

Merciful God, we confess that we have fallen deep into sin. We have turned away from Your Word and followed the desires of our hearts. Forgive us, Lord, and lead us in paths of righteousness. We pray this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.