Genesis Lecture 69 | Satan's Snare
Bible passage: Genesis 3:1
"[1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"
This is 69th Lecture on Genesis.
In the lecture, I explained the first half of Genesis 3:1.
I explained why God allowed the crafty serpent to stay in the Garden of Eden. The ground that God used to create the serpent contained an attribute which could change into either craftiness or into wisdom depending on whether it made contact with the darkness or the light. Since the Garden of Eden is surrounded by the light, the serpent behaved very wisely while staying in the Garden, and thus it was loved by Eve for long time. Meanwhile, Satan kept thinking of a plan to cause Adam to commit sin.
Satan kept sending the signals of darkness into the Garden of Eden in the domain of light. But, it was dinosaurs that accepted it. Because of this, the dinosaurs rebelled against God, and Satan was able to gain a bit of confidence. During the dinosaur incident, the actual target was Adam. To tempt Adam and make him fall, Satan first approached the dinosaurs that were close to Adam and loved by Him. However, dinosaurs were not wise. They were very simple-minded, and they didn't know the front from the rear.
They just kept on pushing until they got what they wanted. And so, as they were recklessly heading to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God punished them. After this incident, Satan began to look for a wise being. Satan set up a plan even more craftily to bring down Adam. Then, Satan saw that Adam's wife, Eve, was close to the serpent. And the serpent was very crafty.
So, Satan used the serpent as its instrument. Of course, the serpent didn't listen to the voice of Satan from the beginning. Satan set the serpent as the target, and for many long years Satan sent the signal of the attributes of darkness. Then, the serpent eventually succumbed to it. The crafty attribute of the serpent acted like an antenna to receive the darkness that Satan sent out. Once the serpent made a connection with Satan, it continued to accept the thoughts of Satan. Soon, the serpent ended up truly becoming a slave to Satan.
Therefore, what the serpent said to the woman from this point on can be considered the words of Satan. Now, Genesis 3:1 says that the serpent questioned Eve about something. Satan approached to the woman through the serpent. By the way, Satan didn't approach the man, Adam, directly. Why was that? At that time Adam was the ruler who controlled both the First and the Second Heavens. His authority and dignity were very great. All the beasts of the land obeyed Adam, loved Adam, and followed Adam. Therefore, it was not an easy job for the serpent to come close to Adam directly to tempt him. Of course, Satan's ultimate target was Adam.
But, the serpent didn't dare come close to Adam and speak a deceiving word to his face. Even if it had done it, Satan knew all too well that Adam would not have been easily deceived. And so, Satan chose to deceive Adam indirectly through the woman who was loved by Adam. Satan planned to first tempt his wife, Eve, and then to tempt Adam through her.
In the end, Adam was tempted by the one who was closest to him and who was loved most by him, and eventually he fell. Even today, chances are that, as is often the case, many Christians receive the temptation of Satan through those who are close to them. Many sisters-in-faith, who at one time managed good believing lives, suffer from persecution after marriage. Many of their 'future-husbands' promise that they will go to church after marriage, but after they get married, they change their minds.
They even hate their wives going to church and persecute their wives. Even in-laws and other family members hinder them from going to church. Even though they are persecuted directly like this, as long as their family is not evangelized, they are exposed to this or that temptation within their families. Since their unbelieving family belongs to Satan, their family receives instigation of Satan without their knowledge. Satan tries all means to keep those who belong to God as far from their salvation as possible.
That's why there is spiritual warfare even in a family. For this, Jesus said in Matthew 10:35-36, "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD." You should not interpret what He said literally. Our Lord doesn't bring discord to a family, nor does He make family members become enemies toward each other.
When they didn't believe in God, they all to belonged to Satan. Once they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, they no longer become the children of the devil, but of God. Likewise, even in a family, there is a spiritual warfare between those who belong to God and those who belong to the enemy devil and Satan; this is what the Lord talked about. In order not to be defeated in this spiritual warfare, you should accomplish the truth in your heart.
It is because what unbelieving family members often say seems ethically plausible. It is likely that the family may enjoy peace only if the believers yield their faith. Eventually, using the excuse that they are seeking peace in their family, their faith becomes lukewarm. Moreover, you should always be on the alert because there may be Satan's temptation even though the entire family manages believing lives.
Say, a wife tells her husband what has happened in the church. But her account contains begrudging, complaining and words against the church leaders or other brothers or sisters in faith. She was hurt in her heart at the church, and then she complained about it as her account of 'what happened at church'. If her husband loves her in a fleshly way, he will agree with the wife and go along with her.
"Really? Did they do that? They should not have done so." He echoes the wife's words. He doesn't discern things correctly by the truth, but he judges others together with his wife. In this case, strictly speaking, the husband is being incited by Satan through his wife. If you have fleshly affection among family members or friends, then your discernment about them becomes dulled. You tend to believe what they say and follow them. That is why Galatians 5:24 says, "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Desires can make your discernment dull, and so can the fleshly attributes of affection and passion.
Therefore, the people of Jesus Christ should possess not the fleshly passion but spiritual love. If you are cling to fleshly affection, you may walk the path of sinners along with others. In the worse case, you may go to the way of death together with them. Even if it seems that you may be in discord with your family, you should choose the way of life. Only then can you lead your family into salvation. Moreover, even when your family does the things that violate the truth as they go to church together with you, you should be able to help them realize it. If you go along with them to please them, you will ride on the fleshly flow together. Even though you may feel awkward for the moment, as you help them realize and discern things by the truth, and help them to ride on the spiritual flow.
However, you should not misuse what I just said. You should not neglect your duties in your family doing the works for the church without reservation. As a parent, child, wife, or husband, you should do what you are supposed to do. You should look over your family spiritually, love them spiritually, and serve them with your heart. In addition, as you lead your family who doesn't have faith or has weak faith, you should understand them from their point of view, and help them follow you. You must not force or intimidate them saying things like "You should not do that. If you do, you'll go to hell. You have to do it this way..." You must first be able to experience how happy it can make you feel to live by the word of God. Then you should be able to share that happiness with others.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Now, let's take a look what kind of words Satan used through the serpent to deceive Eve. Genesis 3:1 says, "And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"" If you study the words the serpent used, you can see that every word contains the intention to tempt Eve. First off, the word you should pay attention to is "indeed." You should be aware that even this single word can become a baited trap. When people want put an emphasis on what they are saying, they use a word like "indeed".
However, in this Genesis verse, it has a totally different meaning from this. Satan intentionally used this word to deny the fact that God has forbidden the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." For example, in a conversation, one may say, "Is it really true?" It is usually used to reconfirm what others say is true or not; however, it is also used to deny what is spoken. It is an expression that contains a bit of doubt like, "it's actually hard to believe what you said." Likewise, as Satan used the word, "Indeed," as he asked a question to Eve, he tried to make her deny the fact that God has forbidden the tree of the knowledge."
It was to bring confusion to the one who was asked a question. To help you understand better, here is an allegory. You talked to someone about something that you are 100% certain that is true. Now, suppose the one who listens to you, asks the question "Is it indeed true?" Not just once, but he repeats the question, "Really? Are you sure? So, indeed, it is true, huh?" Now, how do you feel about your former certainty?" Your confidence about the thing that you were so convinced about may begin to disappear. As he doubts and talks about it negatively, you shrink from what was initially held to be true. "Is what I knew really true? What if I'm wrong?" Your confidence becomes weaker and weaker. Eventually, you may step back. And you may say, "I will check that again."
When Satan asked a question to Eve, he was waiting for this. Eventually, Eve became weakened just as Satan wanted. Then, Satan distorted what God commanded concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God said, "You will surely die in the day you eat from it," but Even said that God had said, "You will die." Those who accomplished the truth completely do not sway in any situation.
No matter what others say, truth is truth, and falsehood is falsehood. Say, the capital city of the US is Washington D.C. It is true, right? Is it really true?" What about this situation; think about it. You are in a place for an interview, and your waiting number is 30. The interviewer asked the 1st interviewee, "What is the name of the capital city of the United States?" Now, the 1st interviewee said, "It is New York." You may think, 'The answer is wrong.' The 2nd interviewee also said, "It is New York." You again think, "He got it all wrong, too." Now, the 3rd interviewee also said that it is New York. You may still think the third person is also wrong.
However, number 4, 5, and 6 interviewees all continued to say that it is New York. Now, can you be still sure that what you know is the correct answer? Or, wouldn't it possible to think, "Was the capital city of the US changed without my knowledge?" Now, all the 29 interviewees said it was New York, and it is finally your turn. Here comes the question. "What is the capital city of the United States of America?" Now, can you answer the question with confidence and say it is Washington DC? Do you think, "Of course, I could!"? Most of people can't do so. Even though they were sure of something in the beginning, when many others says it is wrong, they lose confidence and they even doubt it.
It is because they have a self seeking and deceiful heart. They think, "What if I face some sort of loss if I insist differently from the others? Am I not going to be estranged from the others or disregarded?" Then, even though they know it is wrong, chances are that they take others' side. The children that God the Father wants to acquire are those who don't have this deceitfulness of heart at all; they are those who can be truthful in any given situation.
Father God is pleased with those who have an upright heart to choose the truth even in a life-threatening situation. You should not misunderstand this, either. If you are in a situation when both options are good, you'd better keep the peace even if your idea looks better. Even if you choose the second best option, it is still better to keep the peace than choosing the best option. Actually, it is the best way. However, your heart should not sway with what is not true; false, unrighteousness, and unlawlessness. Dear brothers and sisters. Those who are honest don't say, "Truly" or "Honestly." If they make a confession of love for someone, "I really love you." They just say, "I love you," and it is enough. Since the word they speak itself is true, they don't need to add, 'truly,' or 'honestly.' If you read the Gospel of John, however, you may find many verses that our Jesus said "Truly truly."
In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, such a verse is not found. There are verses which have 'truly' just once in a sentence. The word, 'truly' is used twice in a sentence reflects the personality of Apostle John. Apostle John was desperate to put great emphasis on the word of Jesus, and it was reflected. On the other hand, the reason Satan used the word 'indeed' was far from the original meaning of the word 'indeed'; it is not to emphasize or to agree with the word of God. Satan intentionally used the word 'indeed' to make Eve deny the word of God. Dear brothers and sisters. The next word you should pay attention to is the word, 'you.' In the conversation with Eve, the serpent used the plural form of 'you' as is indicated from the response of Eve in the verse 2.
It implies that the serpent made not only Eve, but also Adam, his target. Eventually, this word contains the intention of Satan to put Adam into temptation as well. In addition, the fact that the serpent used the plural forms of 'you' explains that the serpent already knew that God forbade not only Eve but also Adam from eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And as he used the plural form of 'you,' he intended for Eve to speak for Adam as well. That is, even though Eve replied with her own thoughts, it carries the intent that Adam's thought would be also the same. It is because the plural form of 'you' already included Adam. Therefore, the reply of Eve could become the reply of both of Adam and Eve. Eve didn't notice this intention of the serpent. The serpent knew about it, and he made the reply of the woman become a snare to Adam. Those who are truthful and keep their place are not deceived by even such a single word. Let's say, you want to receive a mission group's opinion about a certain item.
Now, you got a call from the assistant leader of the group. Since you are extremely busy, and it was hard to make a contact with the leader of the group, you ask the assistant leader instead of the leader. In this case, chances are that the assistant leader will respond with his personal opinion. However, his opinion could be understood to be the opinion of the entire group. Even though it may be the opinion that all the members of the group agreed with, it must be the group leader who officially announces it. If the assistant leader was truthful and he was the man who keeps his place, he wouldn't announce the opinion of the group carelessly. Even if he knows it, he should not make it public, but instead he should say, "I will ask my group leader."
Even if it is urgent, he will first get the permission of the group leader and announce it. Likewise, those who are pure in heart will not miss even a single word, but filter it out. However, Eve didn't receive human cultivation, and thus she didn't catch the evil intention which was hidden in the word that Satan spoke through the serpent. Moreover, she was close to the serpent, and so she relaxed her guard when she talked with the serpent. Dear brothers and sisters. Now, we have to pay attention to the next word, 'any.' The serpent said to the woman, "has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" What did God say about the tree? Genesis 2:16-17 says, "The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.""
God allowed them to eat freely from any tree of the Garden, but forbade them from eating only from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The serpent knew about this. Therefore, if it had to confirm the fact, it coud have said, "has God said, 'You shall not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil'?" However, the serpent said, "has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" The reason it said so was that it wanted to make Eve confused. It gave bait to her. If the serpent had said, "Has God said 'You shall not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil'?", Eve must have said, "That's right." Then, it could have nothing to deceive Eve with.
If the serpent said, "Has God said 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?", what would happen? It would make her think, "That's not what I heard." The serpent knew it, and distorted the fact craftily, and induced her to think negatively. Let me tell you a story to help you understand better. A son and his mother went to a swimming pool. The mother warned her son never to swim in the deep in the pool. The son obeyed his mother; he didn't go to the deeper water, but played in a shallow water. Now, there was an evil man; he wanted to hurt the son and tried to make him go to the deep water. If the evil man had said to the boy, "Let's swim in the deep water," would the boy listen to him? The son would say, "My mother told me never to swim in deep water."
Then, the evil man couldn't have talked to him any longer. Now, the evil said to the boy, "Did your mother truly tell you never to swim in the water?" Then, the boy would give him a negative answer. It's because his mother didn't tell him never to swim in the water. He might add his own thought and say, "My mother said it would be alright to swim in shallow water." Then, the evil could say, "It's OK to swim in the deep water. Your mother just wanted you to be careful. It is much more fun in the deep water than in the shallow water." He might deceive the boy like this. Likewise, the serpent knew what kind of question it had to ask to Eve to get the answer they way it wanted.
Among the words people tend to use like a habbit is the word, 'any.' It contains the meaning of 'all, everything, everyone.' In fact, it is not 'all,' but people use the word 'all' or 'every' to emphasize or exaggerate the fact. For example, someone is late for lunch, and he finds only a little bit of food left, and then he may say, "You ate them all." He may add another sentence to emphasize the situation, like, "Nothing's left for me." It may reveal that he is dissatisfied, and it may make others feel uneasy.
Because of this trivial expression, people on the spot could have ill feelings against ach other. Those who are good and honest will not use these words recklessly. Even if it is almost out of their lips, they stop it in their hearts. They rather say, "Even though I'm late, you left some food for me. Did you have enough?" They rather consider others. This kind of expression contains a heart of felling sorry, and a heart of considering others, and thus it makes others feel at ease. One of the reasons people don't walk the right path is that 'All others don't walk the right path, either.'
"All the businessman do lawlessness and adopt an expedient. What is the use if I only walk the right path?" Satan puts this kind of thought into them, and deceive them. However, there are people who run t he business in a righteous way and become successful. Not all of them do lawlessness and adopt an expedient. If someone says to you, "It's OK to do so because all other people do so", then I hope you can realize it is the word to induce you to the way of sinners. In addition, there is another expression people use about a group of people or an organization; they criticize people by saying, "All of them are like this.
They all act the same." They have ill feelings against some of a party, but pour out the ill feelings against entire members of the party. If what they say is heard by others of the party, how much will they be hurt in their hearts? Even though some of the party definitely did something wrong, they couldn't stand that the entire party will be blamed, and they may talk back. A fight between kids can easily turn into one between parents; people may have ill feelings against people in a certain area or town.
Every word people speak contains the heart of those who speak the word. A single word makes the listeners have different idea, and the different idea brings for different action. I hope you can remember this well, and speak only the honest and true words all the time.
Mafundisho ya Mwanzo 69 | Mtego wa Shetani
Andiko la Biblia: Mwanzo 3:1
“[1] Basi nyoka alikuwa mwerevu kuliko wanyama wote wa mwitu aliowafanya Bwana Mungu. Akamwambia mwanamke, ‘Ati! hivi ndivyo alivyosema Mungu, Msile matunda ya miti yote ya bustani?’”
Hili ni somo la 69 katika mafundisho ya Mwanzo.
Katika somo hili nilieleza sehemu ya kwanza ya Mwanzo 3:1.
Nilieleza kwa nini Mungu alimruhusu nyoka mwerevu kubaki katika Bustani ya Edeni. Udongo ambao Mungu alitumia kumuumba nyoka ulikuwa na sifa ambayo ingeweza kubadilika na kuwa ujanja au hekima, kulingana na iwapo ungekutana na giza au nuru. Kwa kuwa Bustani ya Edeni imezungukwa na nuru, nyoka alitenda kwa hekima kubwa alipokuwa bustanini, na kwa hiyo Hawa alimpenda kwa muda mrefu. Wakati huohuo, Shetani aliendelea kuwaza mpango wa kumfanya Adamu atende dhambi.
Shetani aliendelea kutuma ishara za giza ndani ya Bustani ya Edeni, iliyokuwa katika eneo la nuru. Lakini dinosauri ndizo zilizozipokea. Kwa sababu hiyo, dinosauri zilimwasi Mungu, na Shetani akapata ujasiri kiasi. Katika tukio la dinosauri, Adamu ndiye aliyekuwa mlengwa halisi. Ili kumjaribu Adamu na kumwangusha, Shetani alianza kwa kuzikaribia dinosauri zilizokuwa karibu na Adamu na alizozipenda. Hata hivyo, dinosauri hazikuwa na hekima. Zilikuwa rahisi sana kuelewa mambo na hazikutambua lililokuwa mbele wala nyuma.
Ziliendelea kusukuma tu mpaka zilipopata kile zilichotaka. Kwa hiyo, zilipokuwa zikielekea bila kujizuia kula matunda ya mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya, Mungu aliziadhibu. Baada ya tukio hilo, Shetani akaanza kutafuta kiumbe mwenye hekima. Akapanga kwa ujanja zaidi jinsi ya kumwangusha Adamu. Kisha akaona kwamba Hawa, mke wa Adamu, alikuwa karibu na nyoka, naye nyoka alikuwa mwerevu sana.
Basi Shetani akamtumia nyoka kama chombo chake. Bila shaka, nyoka hakuwa amesikiliza sauti ya Shetani tangu mwanzo. Shetani alimlenga nyoka na kwa miaka mingi akamtumia ishara za sifa za giza. Hatimaye nyoka akazishindwa nazo. Sifa ya ujanja ya nyoka ikafanya kazi kama antena iliyopokea giza ambalo Shetani alikuwa akilituma. Nyoka alipounganishwa na Shetani, aliendelea kuyakubali mawazo ya Shetani. Muda si muda, kweli nyoka akawa mtumwa wa Shetani.
Kwa hiyo, kuanzia wakati huo, maneno ambayo nyoka alimwambia mwanamke yanaweza kuchukuliwa kuwa maneno ya Shetani. Mwanzo 3:1 inasema nyoka alimuuliza Hawa jambo fulani. Shetani alimkaribia mwanamke kupitia nyoka. Lakini Shetani hakumkaribia Adamu moja kwa moja. Kwa nini? Wakati huo Adamu alikuwa mtawala aliyesimamia Mbingu ya Kwanza na ya Pili. Mamlaka na heshima yake vilikuwa vikubwa sana. Wanyama wote wa nchi walimtii Adamu, walimpenda na kumfuata. Kwa hiyo haikuwa rahisi kwa nyoka kumkaribia Adamu moja kwa moja na kumjaribu. Bila shaka, Adamu ndiye aliyekuwa lengo kuu la Shetani.
Nyoka hakuthubutu kumkaribia Adamu na kumwambia maneno ya udanganyifu usoni. Hata kama angefanya hivyo, Shetani alijua vizuri kwamba Adamu hangedanganyika kwa urahisi. Kwa hiyo Shetani akachagua kumdanganya Adamu kwa njia isiyo ya moja kwa moja, kupitia mwanamke aliyependwa na Adamu. Alipanga kwanza kumjaribu Hawa, mke wake, kisha kumjaribu Adamu kupitia kwake.
Mwishowe Adamu alijaribiwa na mtu aliyekuwa karibu naye zaidi na aliyependwa naye zaidi, naye akaanguka. Hata leo, mara nyingi Wakristo hujaribiwa na Shetani kupitia watu walio karibu nao. Dada wengi katika imani waliokuwa wakiishi maisha mazuri ya imani hupata mateso baada ya kuolewa. Wachumba wao wengi huahidi kwenda kanisani baada ya ndoa, lakini wakishaoana hubadili mawazo.
Hata huchukia wake zao wanapoenda kanisani na kuwatesa. Wakwe na watu wengine wa familia pia huwazuia kwenda kanisani. Hata wanapoteswa moja kwa moja namna hiyo, familia zao zisipoongoka, hukabili majaribu ya namna hii na ile ndani ya familia. Kwa kuwa watu wa familia wasioamini ni wa Shetani, bila kujua hupokea uchochezi wa Shetani. Shetani hutumia kila njia kuwafanya walio wa Mungu wawe mbali iwezekanavyo na wokovu wao.
Ndiyo maana kuna vita vya kiroho hata ndani ya familia. Kwa habari hii Yesu alisema katika Mathayo 10:35–36: “Kwa maana nalikuja kumfitini mtu na babaye, na binti na mamaye, na mkwe na mkwe mtu; na adui za mtu ni wale wa nyumbani mwake.” Msitafsiri maneno haya kihalisi. Bwana wetu haleti mifarakano katika familia wala kuwafanya watu wa familia wawe maadui wao kwa wao.
Kabla hawajamwamini Mungu, wote walikuwa wa Shetani. Wanapompokea Yesu Kristo kuwa Mwokozi wao, hawaendelei kuwa watoto wa ibilisi bali wanakuwa watoto wa Mungu. Vivyo hivyo, ndani ya familia kuna vita vya kiroho kati ya walio wa Mungu na walio wa adui ibilisi na Shetani; hivyo ndivyo Bwana alivyomaanisha. Ili tusishindwe katika vita hivyo, tunapaswa kuikamilisha kweli mioyoni mwetu.
Sababu ni kwamba yale ambayo watu wa familia wasioamini husema mara nyingi huonekana yana mantiki ya kimaadili. Inaweza kuonekana kwamba familia itakuwa na amani ikiwa waumini watailegezea imani yao. Hatimaye, kwa kisingizio cha kutafuta amani ya familia, imani yao inakuwa vuguvugu. Zaidi ya hayo, mnapaswa kuwa macho daima, kwa sababu majaribu ya Shetani yanaweza kutokea hata familia nzima inapokuwa na maisha ya imani.
Tuseme mke anamweleza mumewe jambo lililotokea kanisani. Lakini katika maelezo yake analalamika, kunung’unika na kusema maneno dhidi ya viongozi wa kanisa au ndugu wengine katika imani. Aliumia moyoni kanisani, kisha analalamikia jambo hilo anaposimulia “kilichotokea kanisani.” Mume akimpenda kwa upendo wa kimwili, atakubaliana naye na kuunga mkono maneno yake.
Atasema, “Kweli? Walifanya hivyo? Hawakupaswa kufanya hivyo.” Anayarudia maneno ya mkewe. Hatoi hukumu sahihi kwa kweli, bali anawahukumu wengine pamoja na mkewe. Kwa kusema kweli, katika hali hiyo mume anachochewa na Shetani kupitia mkewe. Mkiwa na mapenzi ya kimwili kwa watu wa familia au marafiki, utambuzi wenu kuwahusu hufifia. Mwelekea kuyaamini wanayosema na kuwafuata. Ndiyo maana Wagalatia 5:24 inasema, “Na hao walio wa Kristo Yesu wameusulibisha mwili pamoja na mawazo yake mabaya na tamaa zake.” Tamaa zinaweza kufifisha utambuzi; vivyo hivyo, sifa za kimwili za mapenzi na mahaba zinaweza kufanya hivyo.
Kwa hiyo, watu wa Yesu Kristo wanapaswa kuwa na upendo wa kiroho, si mahaba ya mwili. Mkishikamana na mapenzi ya kimwili, mnaweza kutembea pamoja na wengine katika njia ya wenye dhambi. Katika hali mbaya zaidi, mnaweza kwenda nao katika njia ya mauti. Hata kama mnaonekana kutofautiana na familia yenu, chagueni njia ya uzima; hapo tu ndipo mtaweza kuiongoza familia yenu kwenye wokovu. Zaidi ya hayo, familia yenu inapofanya mambo yanayovunja kweli hata inapohudhuria kanisani pamoja nanyi, muweze kuwasaidia kulitambua hilo. Mkiwaunga mkono ili kuwafurahisha, mtafuata pamoja mkondo wa mwili. Hata kama mtaona aibu kwa muda, wasaidieni kuelewa na kupambanua mambo kwa kweli na kuingia katika mkondo wa kiroho.
Hata hivyo, msitumie vibaya nilichosema. Msipuuze wajibu wenu wa kifamilia kwa kujitoa bila mipaka katika kazi za kanisa. Kama mzazi, mtoto, mke au mume, fanyeni yale mnayopaswa kufanya. Itazameni familia yenu kiroho, ipendeni kwa upendo wa kiroho na kuitumikia kwa moyo. Pia, mnapoiongoza familia isiyo na imani au yenye imani dhaifu, ieleweni kwa mtazamo wake na msaidie kuwafuata. Msiilazimishe au kuitisha kwa kusema, “Usifanye hivyo, ukifanya utaenda jehanamu. Lazima ufanye hivi...” Kwanza ninyi wenyewe muweze kupata uzoefu wa furaha ya kuishi kwa Neno la Mungu. Kisha mtaweza kushiriki furaha hiyo na wengine.
Ndugu wapendwa katika Kristo, sasa tutazame maneno ambayo Shetani alitumia kupitia nyoka ili kumdanganya Hawa. Mwanzo 3:1 inasema, “Akamwambia mwanamke, Ati! hivi ndivyo alivyosema Mungu, Msile matunda ya miti yote ya bustani?” Tukichunguza maneno ya nyoka, tunaona kwamba kila moja lilikuwa na nia ya kumjaribu Hawa. Kwanza, neno la kuzingatia ni “ati.” Tambueni kwamba hata neno hilo moja linaweza kuwa chambo cha mtego. Watu wanapotaka kusisitiza wanachosema, hutumia neno kama “kweli.”
Hata hivyo, katika mstari huu wa Mwanzo maana yake ni tofauti kabisa. Shetani alilitumia kimakusudi neno hilo ili kukanusha kwamba Mungu alikuwa amekataza mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya. Kwa mfano, mtu anaweza kusema katika mazungumzo, “Kweli kabisa?” Kwa kawaida hutaka kuthibitisha kama alichosema mwingine ni kweli, lakini pia hutumiwa kukipinga. Huonyesha shaka kidogo, kana kwamba, “Ni vigumu kuamini ulichosema.” Vivyo hivyo, Shetani alipomuuliza Hawa swali kwa kutumia neno “ati,” alijaribu kumfanya akane kwamba Mungu alikuwa amekataza mti huo.
Lengo lilikuwa kumchanganya aliyeulizwa. Ili kuelewa vizuri, fikiria umemwambia mtu jambo unaloliamini kwa asilimia mia moja. Msikilizaji akuuliza, “Kweli kabisa?” Halafu anarudia, “Kweli? Una uhakika? Kwa hiyo ni kweli kabisa?” Ungejisikiaje kuhusu uhakika wako wa awali? Huenda kujiamini kwako kukaanza kupungua. Anapolishuku na kulizungumzia vibaya, unaweza kuanza kulegea kuhusu jambo ulilokuwa ukiliona kuwa kweli: “Je, nililojua ni kweli? Labda nimekosea.” Uhakika wako hudhoofika zaidi na zaidi, na hatimaye unaweza kurudi nyuma na kusema, “Nitalichunguza tena.”
Shetani alipomuuliza Hawa swali, alikuwa akingojea jambo hilo litokee. Hatimaye Hawa akawa dhaifu kama Shetani alivyotaka. Kisha Shetani akapotosha amri ya Mungu kuhusu mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya. Mungu alisema, “Siku utakapokula matunda yake utakufa hakika,” lakini Hawa alisema Mungu alisema, “Mtajiua.” Wale walioikamilisha kweli hawatikiswi katika hali yoyote.
Wengine wakisema lolote, kweli hubaki kweli na uongo hubaki uongo. Tuseme mji mkuu wa Marekani ni Washington, D.C. Hilo ni kweli, sivyo? “Je, ni kweli kweli?” Fikiria hali hii. Uko kwenye usaili na namba yako ya kusubiri ni 30. Mhoji anamwuliza mtu wa kwanza, “Mji mkuu wa Marekani unaitwaje?” Mtu huyo anajibu, “New York.” Unaona amekosea. Wa pili naye anasema, “New York.” Unafikiri amekosea pia. Wa tatu anajibu hivyo hivyo.
Hata hivyo, watu wa nne, wa tano na wa sita wanaendelea kusema ni New York. Je, bado unaweza kuwa na uhakika kwamba jibu unalolijua ndilo sahihi? Au unaweza kufikiri, “Je, mji mkuu wa Marekani umebadilishwa bila mimi kujua?” Sasa watu wote 29 wamesema ni New York, na zamu yako imefika. Unaulizwa, “Mji mkuu wa Marekani ni upi?” Je, unaweza kujibu kwa uhakika kuwa ni Washington, D.C.? Unaweza kufikiri, “Bila shaka nitaweza!”? Watu wengi hawawezi kufanya hivyo. Hata kama walikuwa na uhakika mwanzoni, wengine wengi wakisema wamekosea, hupoteza uhakika na hata kuanza kutilia shaka wanachojua.
Ni kwa sababu wana moyo wa kujitafutia faida na wa udanganyifu. Hufikiri, “Nikisisitiza tofauti na wengine, nitapata hasara? Je, sitatengwa au kudharauliwa?” Kisha, hata wakijua kuwa jambo hilo si sahihi, huenda wakawaunga mkono wengine. Watoto anaotaka Mungu Baba ni wale wasio na udanganyifu huo wa moyo hata kidogo; wanaweza kushikilia kweli katika hali yoyote.
Mungu Baba hupendezwa na watu wenye moyo mnyoofu wa kuchagua kweli hata wanapokabili hali inayoweza kuhatarisha maisha. Msielewe vibaya jambo hili pia. Ikiwa mna uchaguzi kati ya mambo mawili yaliyo mema, ni bora kudumisha amani hata kama wazo lenu linaonekana bora zaidi. Hata kuchagua jambo la pili kwa ubora ni bora kuliko kuvunja amani kwa kuchagua lililo bora zaidi; kwa kweli, hiyo ndiyo njia bora. Lakini mioyo yenu isiyumbishwe na lisilo kweli—uongo, udhalimu na uasi wa sheria. Ndugu wapendwa, watu waaminifu hawasemi, “Kweli” au “Kwa uaminifu,” ili kuthibitisha maneno yao. Wakimwambia mtu, “Nakupenda sana,” inatosha kusema, “Nakupenda.” Maneno yao yenyewe ni ya kweli, kwa hiyo hawahitaji kuongeza “kweli” au “kwa uaminifu.” Hata hivyo, katika Injili ya Yohana kuna mistari mingi ambapo Yesu alisema, “Amin, amin.”
Katika Injili za Mathayo, Marko na Luka hakuna mistari ya namna hiyo; kuna mistari ambamo neno “amin” limetumika mara moja. Neno “amin” linapotumiwa mara mbili katika sentensi linaonyesha tabia ya mtume Yohana. Alitamani kusisitiza sana maneno ya Yesu, na msisitizo huo ukaonekana katika maandishi yake. Lakini sababu ya Shetani kutumia neno “ati” ilikuwa tofauti kabisa na maana yake ya kawaida; hakulitumia kusisitiza au kukubaliana na Neno la Mungu. Alilitumia kimakusudi ili kumfanya Hawa alikane Neno la Mungu. Ndugu wapendwa, neno linalofuata la kuzingatia ni “ninyi.” Katika mazungumzo yake na Hawa, nyoka alitumia hali ya wingi ya “ninyi,” kama jibu la Hawa katika mstari wa 2 linavyoonyesha.
Hilo linaashiria kwamba nyoka hakumlenga Hawa peke yake, bali pia Adamu. Kwa hiyo neno hilo lilikuwa na nia ya Shetani ya kumwingiza Adamu katika jaribu pia. Zaidi ya hayo, matumizi ya wingi yanaonyesha nyoka tayari alijua kwamba Mungu alikuwa amemkataza Adamu pamoja na Hawa kula matunda ya mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya. Kwa kutumia wingi, alikusudia Hawa ajibu kwa niaba ya Adamu pia. Hata Hawa akijibu kwa mawazo yake mwenyewe, jibu hilo lingeweza kueleweka kuwa ndilo wazo la Adamu pia, kwa sababu “ninyi” tayari lilimjumuisha. Kwa hiyo jibu la Hawa lingeweza kuwa jibu la Adamu na Hawa wote wawili. Hawa hakutambua nia hiyo ya nyoka, lakini nyoka aliijua na akalitumia jibu la mwanamke kuwa mtego kwa Adamu. Watu wenye ukweli na wanaoshika nafasi yao hawadanganywi hata na neno moja kama hilo. Tuseme unataka kujua maoni ya kikundi cha huduma kuhusu jambo fulani.
Msaidizi wa kiongozi wa kikundi anakupigia simu. Kwa kuwa una shughuli nyingi na imekuwa vigumu kumpata kiongozi, unamwuliza msaidizi badala yake. Huenda msaidizi akakujibu maoni yake binafsi, lakini maoni yake yanaweza kueleweka kuwa maoni ya kikundi kizima. Hata kama washiriki wote wa kikundi wamekubaliana, ni kiongozi wa kikundi anayepaswa kuyatangaza rasmi. Msaidizi akiwa mkweli na anayeshika nafasi yake, hatatangaza ovyo maoni ya kikundi. Hata kama anayajua, hatayatoa hadharani, bali atasema, “Nitamuuliza kiongozi wa kikundi changu.”
Hata kama jambo ni la haraka, kwanza atapata ruhusa ya kiongozi na ndipo atangaze. Vivyo hivyo, watu wenye moyo safi hawatapuuza hata neno moja; watapima maneno kwa makini. Lakini Hawa hakuwa amepitia malezi ya kibinadamu, kwa hiyo hakugundua nia ovu iliyofichwa katika neno ambalo Shetani alisema kupitia nyoka. Zaidi ya hayo, alikuwa karibu na nyoka, hivyo alilegeza uangalifu wake alipokuwa akizungumza naye. Ndugu wapendwa, sasa tuzingatie neno linalofuata, “yoyote.” Nyoka alimwambia mwanamke, “Ati! hivi ndivyo alivyosema Mungu, Msile matunda ya miti yote ya bustani?” Mungu alisema nini kuhusu miti? Mwanzo 2:16–17 inasema: “Bwana Mungu akamwamuru huyo mtu, akisema, Matunda ya kila mti wa bustani waweza kula, walakini matunda ya mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya usile, kwa maana siku utakapokula matunda ya mti huo utakufa hakika.”
Mungu aliwaruhusu kula kwa uhuru matunda ya miti yote ya bustani, lakini akawakataza kula matunda ya mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya pekee. Nyoka alijua jambo hilo. Kwa hiyo, kama alitaka kuthibitisha tu, angeweza kuuliza, “Je, Mungu alisema msile matunda ya mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya?” Lakini nyoka alisema, “Je, Mungu alisema msile matunda ya miti yote ya bustani?” Alisema hivyo ili kumchanganya Hawa na kumpa chambo. Kama angeuliza kuhusu mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya, Hawa angejibu, “Ndiyo.” Basi nyoka asingekuwa na jambo la kumdanganya nalo.
Nyoka aliposema, “Je, Mungu alisema msile matunda ya miti yote ya bustani?” Hawa angefikiria, “Sikulisikia hivyo.” Nyoka alijua jambo hilo; akapotosha ukweli kwa ujanja na kumfanya afikiri vibaya. Fikiria mfano huu. Mama na mwanawe wameenda kwenye bwawa la kuogelea. Mama anamwonya mwanawe asiwahi kuogelea sehemu yenye maji mengi. Mwana anamtii; haendi kwenye kina kirefu, bali anacheza kwenye maji mafupi. Mtu mwovu anataka kumdhuru mtoto na kujaribu kumshawishi aende kwenye kina kirefu. Akimwambia moja kwa moja, “Twende tuogelee kwenye kina kirefu,” je, mtoto atamfuata? Mtoto atasema, “Mama aliniambia nisiogelee kwenye kina kirefu.”
Hapo mtu huyo mwovu asingekuwa na la kusema zaidi. Lakini akimwuliza, “Je, mama yako alikuambia usiogelee majini kabisa?” mtoto angemjibu hapana, kwa sababu mama hakumkataza kuogelea majini yote. Huenda akaongeza mawazo yake mwenyewe, “Mama alisema ni sawa kuogelea sehemu yenye maji mafupi.” Kisha mtu mwovu angesema, “Basi ni sawa kuogelea kwenye kina kirefu. Mama yako alitaka tu uwe mwangalifu. Kina kirefu kinafurahisha zaidi kuliko maji mafupi.” Hivyo angeweza kumdanganya mtoto. Vivyo hivyo, nyoka alijua swali alilopaswa kumuuliza Hawa ili apate jibu alilotaka.
Miongoni mwa maneno ambayo watu hutumia kwa mazoea ni “wote” au “yoyote.” Hubeba maana ya “kila kitu, kila mtu.” Kwa kweli, si kila kitu au kila mtu, lakini watu hutumia “wote” au “kila” kusisitiza au kutia chumvi jambo. Kwa mfano, mtu akichelewa kufika chakulani na kukuta chakula kidogo kimebaki, anaweza kusema, “Mmekula vyote.” Anaweza kuongeza ili kusisitiza, “Hamkuniachia chochote.” Maneno hayo yanaweza kuonyesha kutoridhika na kuwafanya wengine wasijisikie vizuri.
Kwa sababu ya kauli ndogo kama hiyo, watu waliopo wanaweza kuchukiana. Watu wema na waaminifu hawatumii maneno hayo ovyo. Hata kama yanakaribia kutoka kinywani mwao, huyazuia moyoni. Badala yake wangesema, “Ingawa nimechelewa, mmeniachia chakula. Je, ninyi mmekula vya kutosha?” Hufikiria wengine. Kauli hiyo ina moyo wa kuomba radhi na kuwajali wengine, kwa hiyo huwafanya wajisikie vizuri. Sababu moja inayowafanya watu wasifuate njia iliyo sawa ni mawazo kama, “Wengine wote hawafuati njia iliyo sawa pia.”
“Wafanyabiashara wote hufanya mambo yasiyo halali na kutumia njia za mkato. Kuna faida gani nikifuata njia iliyo sawa peke yangu?” Shetani huweka mawazo ya namna hiyo ndani yao na kuwadanganya. Lakini kuna watu wanaoendesha biashara kwa haki na kufanikiwa; si wote wanaofanya uovu au kutumia njia za mkato. Mtu akikuambia, “Ni sawa kufanya hivyo kwa sababu watu wengine wote wanafanya,” tambua kwamba maneno hayo yanajaribu kukuongoza katika njia ya wenye dhambi. Pia watu huzungumzia kundi au shirika kwa kusema, “Wote wako hivyo.”
Huenda wakawa na kinyongo na baadhi ya watu wa chama fulani, lakini wakamwaga kinyongo hicho kwa wanachama wote. Wengine wa chama hicho wakisikia maneno hayo, wataumia sana moyoni. Hata kama baadhi yao wamefanya kosa, hawatakubali chama kizima kulaumiwa, na huenda wakajibu kwa hasira. Ugomvi wa watoto unaweza kwa urahisi kugeuka ugomvi wa wazazi; watu wanaweza kuanza kuchukiana na wakazi wa eneo au mji fulani.
Kila neno tunalosema linaonyesha moyo wa anayelisema. Neno moja linaweza kumfanya msikilizaji awe na mawazo tofauti, na mawazo hayo yakasababisha matendo tofauti. Ninaomba mkumbuke jambo hili vizuri na mseme maneno ya kweli na ya uaminifu daima.
