DEVOTION ~ THE CUNNING TONGUE

Theme: The Cunning Tongue 

Text: Genesis 3:1-5

3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The cunning tongue does not present itself as a threat to the one whom it is misleading. That's exactly how the serpent presented itself to the woman in the Garden of Eden. It came as though it's much concerned about the woman. It asked a question, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” Knowing very well God has not made such a command. The question was to test the in-depth knowledge of the woman on the command.

The woman fell prey because she could not give an accurate command. Let's identify some of her mistakes;

a. She couldn't specifically mention the name of the treee

b. She could not quote the command

c. She added her own version: nor shall you touch it, lest you die

Let's reflect back on the command given Adam in chapter two verses sixteen and seventeen;  And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” The serpent quoted the final part of the command wrongly back to the woman in response saying "You will not surely die".

God's plan for us is always in our best interest but the devil finds diverse means to cunningly take us out of that plan. We ought to be vigilant, read extensively especially the Bible, seek wisdom from God and pray for a discerning spirit to overcome the cunning tongues around us. 

Prayer: Gracious and everlasting Father, I thank You for opening my eyes to the deceit of the devil and his agents. Help me to stand firmly in the truth and increase my faith in all that I do to your glory. This I pray in Jesus' name. AMEN!