“Like God” or godlikeness?

Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.  For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” . . .  Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3: 4, 22-24, NKJV.

Dear God please make Your Word plain to us as we pause in Your presence. There is so much for us to learn; and what better place to learn it, but as we sit at Your feet. So speak Lord, for we are listening. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ we ask this prayer. Amen & Amen!

As I knelt in prayer yesterday, I was impressed to take some time today to do some additional reflecting on Peter’s “coming out of the boat” experience. So even though today’s devotional is under a new title it can be considered an addendum to yesterday’s devotional.

Sometimes God will allow His children to have what they want, even though it is not what He wants for them. Stay with me as the Spirit of God unfolds this truth to us. I believe that the fact that Jesus did not invite Peter or any other disciple to walk on water, may have been an indication that that was not in His plans for them. There are certain things that we cannot handle; therefore God in His infinite mercy withholds these things from us. Sometimes indefinitely, sometimes until we have been equipped by His Holy Spirit to handle them. God created the law of gravity – He can walk on water without sinking. Peter or the other disciples could not. He is God! They are not.

When making a request of God, it might be a good rule of thumb to ask ourselves:  Why do I want this? Will this make me “like God” or “godlike”? There is a vast difference between the two. The answer to that question might help to keep our feet on solid ground! No pun intended.

Let us look at the phrase in the light of our Scripture for today, and then let us compare it with another incident in the Bible, prior to the Garden of Eden. It was the serpent, serving as a medium for Satan, who encouraged the woman to eat of the fruit that would make her “like God.” Perhaps in her bedazzled, bewitched, bewildered, condition she either did not hear his complete proposal “knowing good and evil” or she did not really understand the consequences. Before this she had not known evil. (Beware of the fine print when signing a contract. Read every word, and ask as many questions as needed before agreeing to something!). Perhaps a question like “How can You walk on water Jesus?” Would have received an answer like “Because I am God, Peter.” Chances are, Peter would have decided to stay in the boat! With Peter, you can never know for sure!

When talking to the serpent a question like “How comes you being a serpent can talk?” Would have made the enemy disappear. I wonder what would have been his answer if she had asked, “What is evil?” The concern of the Godhead is almost conclusive evidence that human beings were not to know evil. That would make them “like God” who alone can handle evil. It most likely would have done nothing for their “godlikeness.”

It is so important to know whose philosophy we are adopting. The Bible reveals the following:  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks . . .” (Luke 6:45). We do not quote people whose philosophy we are not in agreement with, unless we are doing this to prove a point. Under further investigation we find this quote, who many Bible scholars have ascribed to our Adversary the devil:   “‘“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart:  ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. . .”‘” (Isaiah14: 12-15. Emphasis provided). Five “I’s” in one sentence, reveals a lot about the speaker!

What is our goal for life? To bring glory to God or to glorify self? May God help us to seek His glory that we might truly be godlike, and not attempt to take God’s glory to ourselves by being like God. I believe a safe thing would be to “Stay in the boat” unless God invites you to come out.