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〃How shall I curse； whom God hath not cursed？ or how shall I defy； whom the
Lord hath not defied？〃 〃Let me die the death of the righteous； and let my
last end be like his！〃 When sacrifice had again been offered； the ungodly
prophet declared： 〃Behold； I have received commandment to bless： and He hath
blessed； and I cannot reverse it。 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob；
neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel： the Lord his God is with him；
and the shout of a King is among them。〃 〃Surely there is no enchantment
against Jacob； neither is there any divination against Israel： according to
this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel； What hath God wrought！〃
Yet a third time altars were erected； and again Balaam essayed to secure a
curse。 But from the unwilling lips of the prophet； the Spirit of God
declared the prosperity of His chosen； and rebuked the folly and malice of
their foes： 〃Blessed is he that blesseth thee； and cursed is he that curseth
thee。〃 Numbers 23：8； 10； 20； 21； 23； 24：9。
The people of Israel were at this time loyal to God； and so long as they
continued in obedience to His law； no power in earth or hell could prevail
against them。 But the curse which Balaam had not been permitted to pronounce
against
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God's people； he finally succeeded in bringing upon them by seducing them
into sin。 When they transgressed God's commandments； then they separated
themselves from Him； and they were left to feel the power of the destroyer。
Satan is well aware that the weakest soul who abides in Christ is more than
a match for the hosts of darkness； and that； should he reveal himself
openly； he would be met and resisted。 Therefore he seeks to draw away the
soldiers of the cross from their strong fortification； while he lies in
ambush with his forces； ready to destroy all who venture upon his ground。
Only in humble reliance upon God； and obedience to all His commandments； can
we be secure。
No man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer。 Especially should we
entreat the Lord for wisdom to understand His word。 Here are revealed the
wiles of the tempter and the means by which he may be successfully resisted。
Satan is an expert in quoting Scripture； placing his own interpretation upon
passages； by which he hopes to cause us to stumble。 We should study the
Bible with humility of heart； never losing sight of our dependence upon God。
While we must constantly guard against the devices of Satan； we should pray
in faith continually： 〃Lead us not into temptation。〃
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Chapter 33
The First Great Deception
With the earliest history of man； Satan began his efforts to deceive our
race。 He who had incited rebellion in heaven desired to bring the
inhabitants of the earth to unite with him in his warfare against the
government of God。 Adam and Eve had been perfectly happy in obedience to the
law of God； and this fact was a constant testimony against the claim which
Satan had urged in heaven； that God's law was oppressive and opposed to the
good of His creatures。 And furthermore； Satan's envy was excited as he
looked upon the beautiful home prepared for the sinless pair。 He determined
to cause their fall； that； having separated them from God and brought them
under his own power； he might gain possession of the earth and here
establish his kingdom in opposition to the Most High。
Had Satan revealed himself in his real character； he would have been
repulsed at once； for Adam and Eve had been warned against this dangerous
foe； but he worked in the dark； concealing his purpose； that he might more
effectually accomplish his object。 Employing as his medium the serpent； then
a creature of fascinating appearance； he addressed himself to Eve： 〃Hath God
said； Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden？〃 Genesis 3：1。 Had Eve
refrained from entering into argument with the tempter； she would have been
safe； but she ventured to parley with him and fell a victim to his
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wiles。 It is thus that many are still overcome。 They doubt and argue
concerning the requirements of God； and instead of obeying the divine
commands； they accept human theories； which but disguise the devices of
Satan。
〃The woman said unto the serpent； We may eat of the fruit of the trees of
the garden： 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。 And the serpent said unto the woman； Ye shall not surely die：
for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof； then your eyes shall be
opened； and ye shall be as gods； knowing good and evil。〃 Verses 2…5。 He
declared that they would become like God； possessing greater wisdom than
before and being capable of a higher state of existence。 Eve yielded to
temptation； and through her influence； Adam was led into sin。 They accepted
the words of the serpent； that God did not mean what He said； they
distrusted their Creator and imagined that He was restricting their liberty
and that they might obtain great wisdom and exaltation by transgressing His
law。
But what did Adam； after his sin； find to be the meaning of the words； 〃In
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die〃？ Did he find them to
mean； as Satan had led him to believe； that he was to be ushered into a more
exalted state of existence？ Then indeed there was great good to be gained by
transgression； and Satan was proved to be a benefactor of the race。 But Adam
did not find this to be the meaning of the divine sentence。 God declared
that as a penalty for his sin； man should return to the ground whence he was
taken： 〃Dust thou art； and unto dust shalt thou return。〃 Verse 19。 The words
of Satan； 〃Your eyes shall be opened；〃 proved to be true in this sense only：
After Adam and Eve had disobeyed God； their eyes were opened to discern
their folly； they did know evil； and they tasted the bitter fruit of
transgression。
In the midst of Eden grew the tree of life； whose fruit had the power of
perpetuating life。 Had Adam remained
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obedient to God； he would have continued to enjoy free access to this tree
and would have lived forever。 But when he sinned he was cut off from
partaking of the tree of life； and he became subject to death。 The divine
sentence； 〃Dust thou art； and unto dust shalt thou return；〃 points to the
utter extinction of life。
Immortality； promised to man on condition of obedience； had been forfeited
by transgression。 Adam could not transmit to his posterity that which he did
not possess； and there could have been no hope for the fallen race had not
God； by the sacrifice of His Son； brought immortality within their reach。
While 〃death passed upon all men； for that all have sinned；〃 Christ 〃hath
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel。〃 Romans 5：12； 2
Timothy 1：10。 And only through Christ can immortality be obtained。 Said
Jesus： 〃He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life： and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life。〃 John 3：36。 Every man may come
into possession of this priceless blessing if he will comply with the
conditions。 All 〃who by patient continuance in well…doing seek for glory and
honor and immortality；〃 will receive 〃eternal life。〃 Romans 2：7。
The only one who promised Adam life in disobedience was the great deceiver。
And the declaration of the serpent to Eve in Eden〃Ye shall not surely
die〃was the first sermon ever preached upon the immortality of the soul。
Yet this declaration； resting solely upon the authority of Satan； is echoed
from the pulpits of Christendom and is received by the majority of mankind
as readily as it was received by our first parents。 The divine sentence；
〃The soul that sinneth； it shall die〃 （Ezekiel 18：20）； is made to mean： The
soul that sinneth； it shall not die； but live eternally。 We cannot but
wonder at the strange infatuation which renders men so credulous concerning
the words of Satan and so unbelieving in regard to the words of God。
Had man afte