Know Thy Enemy - Week 2: Wednesday
Genesis 3:4-5
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.
Commentary
H.H. Pope Shenouda III
The Devil is a liar: He lied when he said to our forefathers Adam and Eve, "You will not surely die." And, "you will be like God ..."(Gen. 3:4,5). Lying is a distinctive characteristic of the devil; so the Lord said about him, "He is a liar and the father of it." (John 8:44). It was said so that we might not believe or be deceived by anything said by the devil. All the temptations of the devil are kinds of falsehood: he makes man imagine some happiness to be gained from sin, whether it be pleasure, authority, benefit, dignity or glory. Almost all sins are hidden behind one of the devil's lies. The devil suggests to the thief that no one will see him or discover his theft. He suggests the same thing to the smuggler, the briber and the fraudulent. In all this, the devil lies because God sees, and everything is revealed before him even though the human eye cannot see. Perhaps atheism is the greatest falsehood offered by the devil to humanity.
The Devil is envious: His heart never rests whenever he sees a successful or a righteous person. He tries his best to overthrow such a person. The devil envies knowledge and wisdom, envies chastity, and envies humility. He spreads ignorance, adultery and pride in the world with all the malevolence he has. Thus, when you do any act of righteousness, expect the envy of the devils.
Questions
• Have you ever believed one of the devil’s lies such as: God doesn’t love me; I’m not good enough; People hate me; I’m a failure?
• How often do you fall into the temptation of despair believing the devil’s scheme that you are not loved by God or anyone?
• Have you ever experienced that there is no hope for your salvation?
• Does the devil jump in with ideas that God will never forgive you or that your sins are too big or too shameful for God to overlook?