Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (KJV, Gen. 3:1).
A careful analysis of Genesis 3:1 can prove to be beneficial for anyone who is undergoing forms of spiritual attack. While there may be some who brush away the thought of spiritual attack, the Bible makes it clear that the primary battle that a Christian will encounter is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual entities. Preparing for the fight and knowing the enemy are essential for victory.
“Now the serpent”
In Genesis 3:1, Satan is declared to be a serpent. Elsewhere in the Bible, much is said about this foe. Take note of the following Scripture passages:
• In John 8:44, Satan is said to be the father of lies.
• In John 8:44, he is declared to be a murderer.
• In Ephesians 6:12, Paul tells us that Satan is the ruler of this world.
• Matthew 12:24 tells us that Satan is the ruler of the demons.
• Revelation 12:10 gives us a glimpse into the reality that Satan is also the accuser of the brethren.
• In 1 Samuel 16:14, Scripture declares that Satan is a distressing spirit.
• In 1 Peter 5:8, we are told that Satan is our adversary.
• Ephesians 6:12 tells us that Satan rules the darkness of this world.
Scripture says, “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Rev. 12:9). Thus, we can see that Satan goes by many names, leads an army of foes, is on the earth, and attempts to deceive the world.
“was more subtil than any beast of the field”
As the Scripture continues, it is also said that Satan was subtle, even more subtle than the other beasts of the field. In modern translations, Satan is referred to as crafty. The Hebrew word that is translated as “subtil” is aruwm. Aruwm can mean crafty, prudent, or subtle. It also carries the meaning of being cunning and is usually used in a negative light.
In seeking to understand the works of the enemy, it is important to note that he is cunning, crafty, and subtle in his ways. With this in mind, the believer must be aware of the fact that when he is the victim of spiritual attack, it may be hard to detect. This leaves the believer with a great need to be on guard.
Scripture says, “Be sober, be viglilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). The instruction of Peter here, as it relates to the crafty enemy, is that the believer must be sober and vigilant. In other words, the believer must be watchful and stay on guard.
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He gave His disciples instructions to watch and pray so that they would not fall into temptation. The reason for this is that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Watching and praying was necessary, for Jesus and His disciples were on the verge of entering into spiritual warfare. However, Peter fell asleep and did not pray; he was not watchful, nor did he stay on guard.
Prior to this point, Satan asked to sift Peter as wheat. Peter went through a time of spiritual attack and gave into the temptation that he was met with. Had Peter prayed and watched, the outcome may have been different for him. The enemy was crafty and cunning and got the best of Peter, but God was faithful to Peter in the midst of the trial and restored Peter after his fall.
“which the Lord God had made”
It is also important to note that in the midst of spiritual attack, the believer is still dealing with a created being. Satan is not better than God, nor is Satan God’s equal. Satan is not stronger than his Creator. Satan is also required to submit to God’s sovereignty, whether he knows it or not.
Some people may wonder why Satan keeps trying to overthrow God and His plan since it is foolish to think that he can win. While some people may simply think that it is because Satan hates God, there is yet another answer. Sin is deceiving by its very nature. When people sin, their hearts become darkened, and the truth is veiled. Lies are believed, and those lies, in essence, become the new truth for the sinner. The bottom line is that Satan is not just the deceiver, but he is also deceived in his own thinking.
Nevertheless, the believer can be encouraged in the fact that Satan is merely the creation of God. When someone approaches the topics of spiritual warfare and Satan, it could be good to read about Satan’s activity in the book of Job. In the book of Job, it is shown that Satan is not omnipresent like God (Satan is not in all places at all times). The book of Job also tells us that Satan must answer to God, and Satan cannot do anything outside of what God allows him to do.
“And he said unto the woman”
Here we see that Satan sought to communicate with Eve. This point is important and should be recognized in the midst of spiritual warfare. Satan sought to communicate with Christ in the desert. Satan sought to communicate with Judas surrounding the betrayal of Jesus when Satan placed it in Judas’ heart to betray Christ. Satan also placed it in the heart of Ananias and Sapphira to keep back a part of the proceeds from the land which they sold and to lie to the Holy Spirit.
Thus, it can be concluded that there is a way in which Satan seeks to communicate with man. It also should be concluded that this communication is rather subtle and may be missed if someone does not stay on guard and watch. Finally, it must be recognized that Satan ultimately seeks to speak to the heart.
“Yea, hath God said”
When Satan deceives, there is a way in which he deceives that should be noted. Here we see that Satan will attempt to sway people into questioning God’s Word, into unbelief, and/or into skepticism. This type of activity can occur in the life of a believer or unbeliever.
When Satan confronted Eve, his first approach was to get her to question God’s Word. God’s Word is a sure foundation under the believer’s feet. Without the Word of God, the believer will be on sinking sand. The believer must believe in God’s Word. He must believe every book, every chapter, every passage, down to every word. He must not allow the enemy to take his foundation out from underneath his feet.
God said in the book of Psalms that it was His Word which He sent to heal His people and to deliver them from destruction.
“Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
Satan came against a direct command of God. He also sought to do the same thing with Jesus in the desert. Satan’s activities have not changed. Have you ever noticed how similar many of the cults and religions are to Christianity? The reason for this is that Satan takes the truth and twists it so that it has no value left within it.
The Bible is clear about what God expects of the believer. When Christ was in the desert, what was it that helped Him to fight off the attacks of the enemy? The Word of God! When Paul told his readers about the armor of God, what did he say was the Christian’s weapon? The Word of God! What did the psalmist store up in his heart so that he would not sin against God? The Word of God!
God has said it; now hold it fast!
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for Your Word. I see that there is a battle raging on and that I must take it seriously. Work in my heart by Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.