When God placed Adam in the garden of Eden He told him to tend to it and keep it. Then he gave him a warning about that darn tree called the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Adam was given the instructions that this was the only tree which was not to be eaten from. Eve took it a bit farther when she addressed the devil and said they were not even supposed to touch it.

Eve received her instructions from Adam, not God, according to scripture.

When Satan approached her he approached her with a lie.”You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

Eve was quick to correct him and tell him what the rules actually were.

Remember Eve had not been told directly by God so that may be why Satan decided to approach her instead of Adam.

Then Satan appeared to correct the lie that supposedly God had said and told her that she wouldn’t die. She would just be like God and have knowledge.

Well, that doesn’t sound so sinful does it?

Apparently it was and we know the consequences of that sin.

There are three things that I want to point out about this passage.

If you want someone to do something the right way it is best to tell them directly. The message gets watered down if you pass it through others who can dilute it.

Second, if you hear something second hand, it may not be fact.

I think of those poor Malaysian people who heard so many different stories about their loved ones at sea. All they needed was some truth and no one was willing to give them that.

Third, if God says for you not to do something don’t do it. Simple as that, there are no excuses or bending when it comes to the law of God.