I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Romans 16: 17, 18, NIV.
Merciful God, please open our eyes and make us aware of the voices that we are listening to. Then by Your grace, give us the strength to avoid those who would lead us astray. In the precious name of Jesus Christ we humbly pray. Amen.
For the next two days we will be dedicating our devotional to this topic. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will anoint our eyes with spiritual eye salve, that the intent of God’s words will be made very clear to us. I was amazed to see the similarities that exist between the portion of Scripture we will be studying today and tomorrow, with Chapter 3 of Genesis.
In the beginning, God created a beautiful garden – fully equipped with everything necessary for our first parents to be comfortable and happy. In the midst of the garden, were two trees: the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The latter was the only tree that Adam and Eve were not to partake of. They had been forewarned by God, their Creator and Friend (see Genesis 2: 15 -17).
One day, the Creator came down to visit His friends, and apparently, they were not at the usual place, so He went in search of them and found them – hiding. They had trodden on forbidden ground and had been caught in the deadly trap of the Divider, par excellence – the Devil, Satan. Two of the most effective methods of causing division among people are lies and accusations. The Adversary is guilty of both charges (see John 8: 44; Revelation 12: 9, 10).
According to our Scripture for today, we are warned to beware of those who, “put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.” God had told Adam and Eve, ” ‘ “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.” ‘ ” The Adversary told the woman just the contrary. He began his divisive work by creating doubt, then went on to blatantly contradict the word of the Lord. Listen to what he said to the woman: ” ‘ “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” ‘ “ . . . ‘ “You will not certainly die,” ‘ ” (Genesis 3: 4). Emphasis provided.
Then the spirit of division held full sway! “Blame” was born: ” ‘ “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it” ‘ ” (Genesis 3: 12, 13c). The “Curse” came on the scene (14, 17-19)). Eve went from “Woman . . . taken out of Man” (23) to “Eve . . . mother of all living” (20). Some may see this as a promotion. I see it as a distancing between husband and wife. While she was Woman there was no shame between them. God had created them to be one (see Genesis 2: 23-25). That kind of intimacy has no place for shame. But when the spirit of division was introduced, it brought “shame” and “aprons” made of leaves, between them. It also brought “death.” The leaves that they plucked to make their aprons died (3: 7). The skins that God used to make their coats required the life of an innocent animal(s).
What is so sad about this story is that the serpent could only tempt them at “the forbidden tree.” He was not permitted to follow them around the garden (Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 59). They had wandered out of their safe boundaries and was now on the Adversary’s terrain. We can learn from their experience.
It should be very clear to us, who the spirit of division comes from. Because of its Source, we should steer clear of it no matter where it is found; whether in the home, the office, or the church. The minute you see it raising its ugly head – flee to safety – to the arms of the Savior – in prayer! Then you will have the strength to stay off of forbidden ground!