The following thought I discussed with my husband to make sure I was on track with understanding a very common passage of scripture:

Please read Genesis 3:1-8

For sake of space, I will just focus on a few verses.

Genesis 3:2-3 and 6

2 “And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:”

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food…”

Through this brief study, “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Gen. 2:17 I will just reference as “the tree.”

New Thought:

First – Eve was not at “the tree” when Satan came to temp her.

I think she was somewhere else in the garden, working, and minding her own business. Why do I think this?

• In v3 the Bible says, “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden…”
  • If Eve was standing at “the tree” I believe this passage would say something like “But of the fruit of the tree which is here in the garden…” or But, of the fruit of this tree which is in the garden…” or some other wording that would let us know Eve was standing next to “the tree.” Instead, the wording is very specific and says, “in the midst of the garden.” I would use similar wording if I was in one place of my garden and referenced another location in my garden.
• Also, in v6 the Bible says, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food…”
  • If Eve was standing at “the tree” I believe this passage would say something like “And while the woman beheld that the tree…” or “And while the woman was looking upon the tree…” As preachers have preached over the years, God’s wording is very specific even in the smallest of words.

In a short summary, I do not believe Eve was at “the tree” but instead, was minding her own business and tending to the garden the day Satan tempted her.

Second – Why is this even important?

This is so important to help us in our daily walk with the Lord. Since Eve was:

• not at “the tree” and since we can see
• she was minding her own business and tending to the garden and
• since she doing what is right the day Satan came –
• we can see Satan comes to us right where we are and
• when we are not expecting it and
• when we are minding our own business and
• when we are trying to do what is right.

This brought to mind the familiar passage of scripture:

I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

If we are aware of Satan’s devises, it will be easier to withstand and resist him.

I think we tend to think:

• If I don’t walk into a bar/pub, Satan won’t bother me
• If I don’t hang with the wrong crowd, Satan won’t bother me
• If I don’t……

But in all reality, we should probably be thinking:

• Here I am going to church, watch out Satan will tempt me
• Here I am reading my Bible, watch out Satan will tempt me
• My child is alone in his/her own room, they can’t get into trouble there, watch out Satan will tempt them
• I’m minding my own business, doing my housecleaning, watch out Satan will tempt me
• I’m on the computer just chatting with friends, watch out Satan will temp me
• etc.

In conclusion, Satan came to where Eve was working and while she was minding her own business. Satan will come to where we are and while we are minding our own business.

So – Beware!