Unless we earnestly study the real thing, a counterfeit is hard to spot.

Satan knows this.

Genesis 3 is interesting since it begins in vs 1 with Eve and the serpent in what appears to be mid-conversation.

There’s no telling how long the serpent has been working to earn Eve’s trust. He’s now become a close enough friend that Eve has no problem listening to his views on God’s instructions.

Satan then misquotes God.

“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Eve replied,

“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.’” (3:1-2)

Both were wrong.

God told Adam,

“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (2:16-17)

God never said not to eat from any tree in the garden. Further, although it was probably a good idea just to stay away from it, God never said touching the forbidden tree would kill you – only eating its fruit.

Satan is a genius at convoluting the Word of God, usually including just enough truth to make it seem true.

But, a half-truth is still a whole lie.

And, if we listen to his reasoning, like Eve, we’ll get to a place where we end up getting it wrong as well.

In the wilderness temptation narratives, Satan misquoted scripture to Jesus by cherry-picking a passage and taking it completely out of context. This must have been quite a moment – the devil misquoting the Word to the Word made flesh. (Matt 4:5-7; Luke 4:9-12)

Now, consider this final example:

Paul wrote to the Philippians:

“…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,…” (2:10-11)

All around us, we see a global culture demanding we “bow” to their unbiblical opinions and worldviews, to their definition of “tolerance” (though they are bigoted toward, and intolerant of, anything with which they don’t agree).

But, it doesn’t stop there.

We must also “confess” any cultural, mainstream opinion.

Translation: we must not only agree with, but must also embrace and celebrate any word or behavior that is in direct opposition to God’s Word.

This is how Philippians 2:10-11 read from “The Devil’s  Bible”:

“…at the will of the culture every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess whatever mainstream culture decides is right and wrong.”

In short, Satan is counterfeiting Philippians 2:10-11. And like lemmings, people are following him right off the proverbial cliff.

Read your Bible. Know your Bible.

The serpent still “slithers into the garden.” He wants to be your friend. He wants to turn you from God. He wants you.

Be fearless, nw