Journeying in Genesis: Don’t Relinquish Your Sword

“And the woman said to the serpent,

‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said,

“You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden,

neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”’”

Genesis 3:2-3

How gracious of God to tell us what is helpful and what is harmful. Satan was seducing Eve to question God rather than trust and appreciate Him. He was setting her up to believe a lie that there was something better out there than God and His ways. We must stand firm in truth.

Eve was deceived when she relied on her own wisdom rather than God’s, and ran right into rebellion and Satan’s trap. When Jesus was on the earth, He was tempted by Satan. He always countered with the Word of God and wouldn’t be moved from truth. It left Satan unable to accomplish his purposes, and that is our example.

Ephesians 6:17 calls the Word of God the sword of the Spirit. To walk away from the truth of the Word of God is to walk away from our weapons against the enemy. 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us to rightly handle it. That protects us from walking into spiritual danger or presenting doctrine that isn’t there. Let’s humbly appreciate, study, know, and find joy in the gift of God’s Word. It blesses not just us, but everyone around us. May the following be true of us, as we hold fast to truth!

"Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by your name,

O LORD, God of hosts.”

Jeremiah 15:16