“He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden?”’” (v. 3:1, NIV).

If a person stands around the proverbial water cooler at work long enough, he will hear comments made in envy, anger or with busybody intent concerning another. Most often, these words contain an element of truth but are not proposed to build up the other person. However, they are spoken to create doubt in the listener and bring a bad reflection upon the other person’s character. The Bible specifically condemns these lies, gossip or slander, depending upon what is spoken.

Satan also was attempting to plant a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind concerning the character of God by appealing to her emotional perception, and, according to the next two verses, the seed began taking root. The Bible in this passage does not instruct us to the reasoning behind Satan’s motive, yet we understand through the whole Word of God the devil’s desire to “steal, kill and destroy” man’s relationship with the Lord. Even today, he continues in the business of attempting to separate man from God through whisperings, gossip, lies and slander through other people.

God has given us his tremendous Word, the Bible, for study and through which we can spiritually grow to recognize good from evil (Hebrews 5:14). Through the instruction of the Holy Spirit, we are able to understand the will of God so we will not be ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15), and when tempted will not submit to doubt God through the whisperings of Satan in the gossip or slander of others.

Lord, when I am tempted by Satan to doubt your Word, empower me to use your Word to rebuke him, just as you did in the wilderness. Through your indwelling Spirit, give me wisdom and discernment to recognize good and evil.

Robin Buchanan