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 This is the one passage in the bible which probably better than any other that defines how Satan works and it is the story of the temptation that takes place in the garden of Eden, here in Genesis chapter three. And it begins for us in 3:1

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

(Gen 3: 1)

This opening verse is packed with insights about how Satan operates. The first thing I would say is this, did you noticed that Satan disguised himself. Verse 1 identifies Satan appearing in the form of a serpent”. In many peoples mind this passage conjures up the image of a snake, but as a matter of fact later in the passage and in others there is a suggestion that the serpent walked upright. But the thing to note here is that temptation came to her unexpectantly and in disguise. Now the other thing that verse 1 tells us is that he was more cunning than any beast of the field, which the Lord God had made. So, this serpent like creature is crafty and cunning. He didn’t come presenting himself with out and out wickedness in plain view. He came subtly, shrewdly, so to speak, in disguise and appears to Eve when she was alone. So, what does this means today? I would like to suggest that this is Satan’s usual pattern, and he is up to the same old tricks even today. It means that Satan doesn’t come in a red suit with devil horns and a pitchfork, he often come and he often come unexpectantly and in the appearance of an ordinary person. He may also appear as a man or woman of influence. Sometimes he can even appear as a religious person. Satan often shows up where people are trying to appear religious and will often disguise himself as a person of influence. 

Alright let’s go back to verse one and see what he says.

 Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Did God really say that??? 

Look closely Satan is questioning what God said but by deliberately misquoting what God said, and he is very cleaver because he did not deny that God spoke. Immediately he engages the woman in a discussion about what God said. Satan creates a gap in God’s narrative and inserts himself in it. That is what Satan does he creates or suggests that gaps exist in the word of God, then inserts himself into them. “Did God really say”? This phrase plants the bad seed by placing a doubt about the goodness of God. Did God really say you could not eat of any tree? Can you see, first he gets her to doubt God’s word, then to doubt God’s goodness. So, Satan isn’t just casting doubt on the Word, it goes beyond that he is in fact questioning the goodness of God. Bear in mind up until this point Adam and Eve had already been given many, many, things that testified to the goodness of God. Just think about all that God had given them. He had given them healthy bodies and perfect companionship. He had given the dominion and authority of the creation. And he gave them permission to eat the fruit of every tree in the garden and access to the tree of life. The Satan comes along and highlights the one prohibition as if that somehow outweighed all the other good things God has done for them. So, he is casting doubt on the very character of God and He still does this today. His starting point is always to plant a seed of doubt. Satan will always focus our attention on God’s exclusions in such a way as to suggest God is limiting you by withholding something from you or stopping you experiencing pleasure or happiness. There are many people out there who see the bible as just a list or rules that stops them doing the things they want to do. And that is what the devil wants them to think and that what he does here with Eve. I wonder how Eve will respond. We will find out how Eve respond to Satan’s temptation next time.