I had originally planned to put this in my "Power of the Tongue" series but after spending some time thinking about it I think this blog post would be better off as a stand-alone. For those who have not read the "Power of Tongue" series of posts I am currently blogging about the Bible's treatment of words and the power of the tongue. I think this is very important because the Lord puts tremendous emphasis on words (for he is the incarnation of the Word itself). It is with our words (and our witness) that we grab hold of salvation and defeat Satan. I want to elucidate this by contrasting Eve's defeat with Christ's victory in warfare with Satan (certain of these ideas [particularly those about Eve] are credited to E.W. Bullinger in his book Number in Scripture: Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance).
Citing common experience I think we can agree that words have the power to heal and the power to destroy. Psalms has varied treatment of this (Psalms 57:4; Psalms 64:3 for examples) and Proverbs warns against the wicked tongue (Proverbs 10:20; Proverbs 17:4 for examples). What weapon does Satan use against mankind in his (presumably) first encounter? His words. The Serpent, who was more crafty than any beast in the field (Genesis 3:1 ESV), approaches Eve with a question: " 'Did God actually say 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?" ' (Genesis 3:1 ESV). Eve's response corrupts the word of God (in contrast with Jesus, as discussed later). The Lord prohibited her from eating of the tree of good and evil but she adds to the word of God (which is proscribed) by saying that she is not only not allowed to eat of it but she is not allowed to touch it (Genesis 3:3 ESV). The Serpent responds with a lie: "You shall not surely die." (Genesis 3:4 ESV). And so Eve listens to Satan's deception (for she saw the tree was good for food; was a delight to the eyes; and made one wise [Genesis 3:6 ESV]) and eats of the tree and so ensues the fall of mankind. Eve made two mistakes: 1) she corrupted the word of God and 2) she yielded to temptation by heeding deception (it is interesting to note Proverbs 17:4 "An evildoer listens to wicked lips..." ESV). Perhaps Satan sensed some corruption and rebelliousness in Eve's heart already and was speaking to that wickedness and drawing it out of her with his crafty question.
Flash forward many years and Satan once again comes to tempt with his words (and on the point of food again!). After fasting for forty days and forty nights our Lord was hungry (Matthew 4:2-3 ESV). So Satan challenges him to change stones into bread (id). Christ faithfully responds that "it is written" and goes on to clarify that man lives on the word of God and not bread alone (Matthew 4:5 ESV). Satan proceeds to the next temptation and challenges him to prove his divinity by jumping off the pinnacle of the temple. Once again Christ responds "it is written" that one shall not put the Lord to the test (Matthew 4:7 ESV). Finally, Satan offers him all the kingdoms of the World if he will just bow down to him but Christ responds with "it is written" (Matthew 4:10 ESV). As noted by E.W. Bullinger the temptations of Christ loosely parallel the temptations of Eve: they are both tempted with the sensual and earthly but also with immediate reward (wisdom for Eve and power for Christ). They also both are fundamentally tempted to step out their relationship with God into a relationship with Satan. Because there was no iniquity in Christ and because he stuck to Scripture he triumphed over Satan and redeemed the race of Eve who fell at the words of the Serpent.
It goes without saying that we are not Christ and there is sin in us (in our very flesh). But we are advantaged over Eve in that we have Christ in us and we have his word. To battle against Satan (in whatever form he or his agents appear to us) we must be equipped with knowledge of the Word but also self-knowledge. We must be aware of the sin that is within us and not let the words of others draw us in to committing iniquity and corrupting the word of God for our own ends. The Word of the Lord is two-edged sword - if we use it faithfully and with pure hearts we can defend ourselves against the craftiness of the Serpent and triumph in Christ.
*ESV=English Standard Version.
Citing common experience I think we can agree that words have the power to heal and the power to destroy. Psalms has varied treatment of this (Psalms 57:4; Psalms 64:3 for examples) and Proverbs warns against the wicked tongue (Proverbs 10:20; Proverbs 17:4 for examples). What weapon does Satan use against mankind in his (presumably) first encounter? His words. The Serpent, who was more crafty than any beast in the field (Genesis 3:1 ESV), approaches Eve with a question: " 'Did God actually say 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?" ' (Genesis 3:1 ESV). Eve's response corrupts the word of God (in contrast with Jesus, as discussed later). The Lord prohibited her from eating of the tree of good and evil but she adds to the word of God (which is proscribed) by saying that she is not only not allowed to eat of it but she is not allowed to touch it (Genesis 3:3 ESV). The Serpent responds with a lie: "You shall not surely die." (Genesis 3:4 ESV). And so Eve listens to Satan's deception (for she saw the tree was good for food; was a delight to the eyes; and made one wise [Genesis 3:6 ESV]) and eats of the tree and so ensues the fall of mankind. Eve made two mistakes: 1) she corrupted the word of God and 2) she yielded to temptation by heeding deception (it is interesting to note Proverbs 17:4 "An evildoer listens to wicked lips..." ESV). Perhaps Satan sensed some corruption and rebelliousness in Eve's heart already and was speaking to that wickedness and drawing it out of her with his crafty question.
Flash forward many years and Satan once again comes to tempt with his words (and on the point of food again!). After fasting for forty days and forty nights our Lord was hungry (Matthew 4:2-3 ESV). So Satan challenges him to change stones into bread (id). Christ faithfully responds that "it is written" and goes on to clarify that man lives on the word of God and not bread alone (Matthew 4:5 ESV). Satan proceeds to the next temptation and challenges him to prove his divinity by jumping off the pinnacle of the temple. Once again Christ responds "it is written" that one shall not put the Lord to the test (Matthew 4:7 ESV). Finally, Satan offers him all the kingdoms of the World if he will just bow down to him but Christ responds with "it is written" (Matthew 4:10 ESV). As noted by E.W. Bullinger the temptations of Christ loosely parallel the temptations of Eve: they are both tempted with the sensual and earthly but also with immediate reward (wisdom for Eve and power for Christ). They also both are fundamentally tempted to step out their relationship with God into a relationship with Satan. Because there was no iniquity in Christ and because he stuck to Scripture he triumphed over Satan and redeemed the race of Eve who fell at the words of the Serpent.
It goes without saying that we are not Christ and there is sin in us (in our very flesh). But we are advantaged over Eve in that we have Christ in us and we have his word. To battle against Satan (in whatever form he or his agents appear to us) we must be equipped with knowledge of the Word but also self-knowledge. We must be aware of the sin that is within us and not let the words of others draw us in to committing iniquity and corrupting the word of God for our own ends. The Word of the Lord is two-edged sword - if we use it faithfully and with pure hearts we can defend ourselves against the craftiness of the Serpent and triumph in Christ.
*ESV=English Standard Version.
