Eve is typically remembered for bringing sin to mankind. And yes, although she was the first to eat of the fruit, I can’t say for certain I wouldn’t have been convinced to do the same being in her shoes. Eve desired wisdom, and most likely felt that God was holding out on her by not allowing them to eat the fruit that would give them that wisdom. What she didn’t realize at the moment, was that God was actually protecting them from the knowledge of evil. From the moment she and Adam ate of the fruit, they were inundated with feelings of guilt, shame, and fear. Those feelings led them to hide from God because they were afraid of facing the consequences. One of those consequences was that God had to send them out of the Garden of Eden. God could not risk having them eat from the tree of eternal life while they were in their sinful state. In His great mercy, God kept them (and us!) from living forever in a spiritual state of sin.

Satan always has such a subtle way of putting the temptation before us that, if we are not careful, we fail to see the bigger picture and focus only on what we can see at the moment. No one likes feeling like they are missing out, and we all want to be “in the know”. Therefore, we listen to other voices in our head that lead us to make hasty decisions in a vain effort to gain what we want. However, more often than not, we reap the consequences of these decisions because we go against God’s plan or timing.

Desiring wisdom is not a bad thing. That is why James 1:5 tells us, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” God is the voice of truth that will never lead us astray. We can trust that he has our best interest at heart, and if he is holding something from us at the moment, it is for a good reason!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, you know my compulsive desire to know it all. You know I try to take control by making hasty decisions at times. Please forgive me for seeking my own wisdom instead of trusting in Yours. Give me an obedient and teachable spirit, so that I can enjoy a close relationship with You. Give me wisdom and courage to stand against the temptation that comes my way. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. Genesis 3:6 (NLT).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B.