‍Deluded Deity

‍Genesis 3:1-7 (NET) Now the serpent was shrewder than any of the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?” ... The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

‍When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband, who was with her, 1 and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them opened, and they knew they were naked; so they... made coverings for themselves.

‍Let me summarize what these verses convey.

‍The serpent, whom we know represented or embodied the devil, was very cunning or sly.

‍He said to the woman, “If you’ll simply eat of that forbidden fruit, you’ll make yourself like a god (…but serving me).”

‍So she did—believing she'd become like God.

‍We have a similar situation in which Jesus was tested.

‍Matthew 4:8-11 (NET) Again, the devil took [Jesus] to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

‍And the devil said to him, “Jesus, if you’ll just bow to me in worship, I’ll give him the world to rule like a god (…but serving me).”

‍He did not, choosing instead to obey God's word.

‍We have, at play here, a spiritual principle.

‍Romans 6:16-18 (NLT) Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?

‍When the woman obeyed the devil, we became slaves to sin under his authority and influence, and later, Jesus’ refusal to obey the devil, followed by His sacrifice, gave us the option and power to choose to obey God.

‍Romans 6:20-22 (NLT) When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

‍If you've received salvation through Jesus' sacrifice, you are now enabled to choose whose promptings you will obey—the fallen flesh (the devil) or the Word (the risen Jesus). Who will you choose to obey?

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‍Footnote:

• "who was with her" - Genesis 3:6 (AMP) "This may have been sometime later. Jewish tradition said that Adam was absent at the time of Eve’s conversation with the serpent (according to the Talmud)."

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‍© 2026 Steve Bydeley.

‍All publishing rights reserved. Permission is herewith granted to reprint this article for personal use and to link or refer to it; however, no commercial re-publishing of the material in this article is permitted without prior written consent.

‍Steven is the author of *Fathered by God* and, together with his wife Dianne, co-author of *Dream Dreams* and *Dreams that Heal and Counsel*. They have appeared as guests on the Miracle Channel, Trinity Television, and Crossroads Communication, and have taught various topics around the world.

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‍Without Prejudice. © 2026, Steven., house of bij de Leij., of man.