WHO IS YOUR SNAKE?  WHAT IS YOUR APPLE?

NOTE:  The Bible does NOT say Eve ate an apple.  It says she ate fruit.  The fruit being an apple came about during a translation of the Bible and artists needing something to put in paintings and stained glass windows.  Besides, using the apple keeps little kids from asking, “Which fruit did Eve eat?  Was it a grape?  Or a lemon?”  Think how many Sunday School teachers are glad they do not have to pick a fruit.  I will go with tradition and use apple.

 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”  The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 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.’ ”  “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.  She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”

Genesis 3:1-6 NIV

It doesn’t say the snake led her to the tree, so I think Eve was standing by the tree when the snake spoke to her.  I wonder what Eve was thinking as she stood there?  Was she admiring the color of the fruit?  Was she enjoying the shape of the tree?  Was she comparing the tree to the others in the Garden?  Was she thinking about all God had told Adam and her?  Was she wondering what the forbidden fruit tasted like?

Was the crafty serpent waiting to see what Eve would do?  Had the snake been around Eve before so that Eve was not shocked when it approached?  Did Eve take one step closer to the tree?  Did the snake see a moment ..  a split second ..  of doubt in Eve? 

We do not know their interaction prior to the snake asking Eve, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”  He listened to Eve and then said quietly that she would not die.  Instead, the snake informed her that eating the fruit would make her like God.  The snake changed Eve’s focus from God to sin.  The snake changed the fate of humans and it was so easy.  All it took was a lie that seemed like the truth. 

WHO IS YOUR SNAKE?

Of course you would not believe a snake!  Hate to tell you but snakes come in all sizes and shapes.  The snake can be a family member or a friend or a stranger.  The snake can be a beautiful woman or an ugly hag.  It can be a strong man or a sleazy man in a back street alley.  Snakes are not strong because of how they look.  They are strong because their lies are sweet to our ears and offer us what we think we need.

WHAT IS YOUR APPLE?

Just as the snake comes in many shapes and sizes, the apple comes in many forms.  The snake can offer alcohol or drugs or sex.  The snake can make excessive shopping seem like fun or ignoring family to watch every game on TV a reward for your hard work.  The snake can make young kids think they do not fit in and if they do this or that, they will be accepted.  The snake can make us feel inadequate or better than everyone else.  The snake uses lies to confuse us and then offers us a way out.  What apple would the snake lead you to?

WHO IS YOUR SNAKE?  WHAT IS YOUR APPLE?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could say, “I am strong enough to resist a snake, no matter what form it takes.  I would never turn to sin over God.”  The truth is we are all susceptible.  The snake can lead us by using phrases like everyone is doing it, it is a small compromise, you deserve this, or once will not hurt.  And with each word that comes out of the snake’s mouth, it is dangling a carrot in front of you.  That carrot could be success, health, prosperity, or a way to stop reality. 

So I ask, “Who is your snake?  What is your apple?”  Where will you find the strength to turn away?