Disobedience has devastating consequences
by Norma Koehne
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Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say …?’ (Genesis 3:1).
Read Genesis 3:1–24
God created humankind to have free will. Adam and Eve were not robots, and they had an amazingly close and loving relationship with God. However, in return, God expected love and obedience. He had very few restrictions, but one he had was that they should not eat of the fruit of one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God knew evil in the fall of the disobedient angel, Lucifer/Satan. He wanted them only to know what is good.
Unfortunately, Eve and later Adam were no match for Satan, ‘the father of lies’. He starts to undermine God’s word with the words, ‘Did God actually say …?’, and then goes on to suggest that God was meanly limiting their lives and knowledge. Listening to Satan had devastating consequences, which we bear today as the stain of original sin. Although Adam and Eve were sent out from the garden and their close relationship with God, in his love and mercy, God made a promise. One would come who would defeat Satan but at great suffering to himself.
Today, Satan still tries to destroy the people of God and the church with his lies by attacking and undermining God’s words and his good and gracious will for his church and us as his children. ‘Did God actually say?’ In the arrogance and almost worship of knowledge today, people can begin to think they are above God’s word and can change it as they please to fit in with modern hegemonic attitudes.
Thank God that through Christ, he has made a way back to a close, loving relationship with him.
Gracious God, forgive us when we listen to the lies of Satan, especially when he undermines or even negates your word. May your Holy Spirit guide us and help us to obey and honour all you have told us in your word. Amen.
Norma grew up in Koonibba SA. She was a teacher at Concordia College in SA and then served in various roles in Papua New Guinea with her husband. Returning to Australia, Norma worked as an International Student Advisor and, after completing a PhD, worked in administration at the University of Divinity. She has been privileged to serve the LCA on the General Church Board, the Seminary Council, and as president of Lutheran Women of Victoria and Lutheran Women of Australia. Currently, she is happily retired.
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