1 Now the serpent said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
Genesis 3:1-3
There are some questions we have no business trying to answer.
The first sin in human history wasn’t just pride. That’s the common interpretation, and it’s partially true, but it’s not the whole story. The first sin was disbelief in something God had said. A promise He had made. And it all started with an innocent question.
Satan implanted four simple words in Eve’s mind: Did God really say? An innocent question. But a question she had no business trying to answer. He got her to scrutinize something she was simply called to believe. She fell for it. Ate the fruit. And people have now been scrutinizing God and His promises ever since.
Satan’s strategy towards us is still the same today. His primary question is still: Did God really say…? If he can get us to innocently question God’s promises or His character, the rest will take care of itself. Just ask the Israelites who listened to the 10 spies’ negative report of the Promised Land.
Now of course there’s room to ask tough questions about God. You’d have a mindless faith if you didn’t. Of course there’s room for wondering how we navigate the tensions of this world that we live in that’s so often a waiting room between the promises God has made and their fulfillment. You wouldn’t live in reality if you didn’t.
Nevertheless, we always have to remember:
Like the Israelites in the Promised Land, you’re called to explore God’s promises, not scrutinize them.
There really are some questions you have no business trying to answer. Questions whose only answer can ever really be, “God has said.”
Is God really good if people are dying in Japan and from tornadoes?
Can God really heal people?
Has God really forgiven me?
That’s not land you’re supposed to scrutinize. Not because it isn’t important. But because God hasn’t called you to validate His promise of His goodness. His healing power. His forgiveness. Or any other promise He has made. He’s called you to believe it.
Is it difficult? Of course. But since when has faith ever been easy?
Don’t waste time trying to validate a promise that God has simply called you to believe.
Some people will say that just means you’re brainwashed.
I say it just means you’re born again.
And you don’t want to repeat the mistakes of Adam and Eve again.
