Desire was created by God. It is inborn in every human baby from the moment he or she enters the outside world. We all have them. However, just like everything else God created, natural and healthy desires imbedded within sinful human flesh, living in a fallen world can easily become perverted. In fact any healthy desire can become bad if we choose to fulfill those desires in ways outside of those ordained by the God of perfect wisdom. Verses 12-22 at first glance seems to be an admonishment addressed primarily to the hearts of men; however, we as women are not exempt from trying to fulfill healthy desires in ungodly ways, and we too can be weak in this area.
It all started back in Genesis 3 with the very first woman, Eve and the serpent. Now keep in mind that the first couple, Adam and Eve up until this time lived in a perfect world, were lacking nothing, and lived in perfect harmony with their Creator. One would think that living in such an environment would be so fulfilling that there would be absolutely no room for dissatisfaction. But it says in Genesis 3:1 that the serpent was more shrewd than any other animal that God had created. Thus he became the perfect vessel for Satan's deceptive scheme. Taking advantage of the fact that God had created man with free will and the power of choice, the serpent introduced a weapon so powerful that it spoiled the once perfect environment and changed the course of history in an instant. The weapon of choice that was introduced that day... doubt. It started with one question concerning the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which God had forbidden them to eat. The question began with the words, "Did God really say....?" And suddenly, Eve began to wonder if what they had was all there was and if maybe God was withholding something from them. The serpent fed into those doubts further by stirring pride and self righteousness into the mix, causing her to question God's integrity, credibility, and even his goodness. "You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. "God knows that your eyes will be opened as you eat it (the fruit) and you will be like God, Knowing both good and evil." The rest is history. The sad thing is, that this tactic still works just as effectively here where we live in the 21st century.
As women we are wired with the desire to be loved and cherished. The serpent asks, "Did God really say to keep yourself pure until marriage and to wait on him to bring the right husband?" or "Can God really give you the desires of your heart and bring you fulfillment with or without a husband? After all, you are lonely, the supply of marriageable men is dwindling, you are almost 25, 30, 40, etc. and the clock is ticking." Do we choose to trust God or do we doubt Gods' goodness and give in causing the desire for love to degenerate into lust and desperation? I know what I am talking about here. I did not marry until I was 41 so I have lived this.
As women, we also have a need for friendship and wholesome conversation. The serpent asks, "Did God really say, you would have to give an account for every idle word that comes out of your mouth? Spreading that rumor is only speaking the truth and besides, it is really a prayer request and will ultimately help that person;" or "Sure that joke is a little off color but it is all in good fun and you are among friends. God knows your heart." Are we willing to take a stand and just say NO or do we give in, potentially destroy friendships, and cause wholesome conversation to become negative and slanderous speech, poisonous to ourselves and to those around us?
We as women also have a need to be needed and to feel a sense of significance. The serpent will ask, "Did God really say that you are created in his image and that he delights in you? If God really loves you why did he allow all of this to happen to you and why does everyone else at your age seem to have their life together except for you?" Do we trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God and choose to believe that our significance as well as our identity is in him despite our circumstances? Or do we give in, wallow in self pity, become angry at the whole world, or manipulate things and people to try and force significance? There are many things we as women want and need that the serpent seeks to pervert and use against us, and I could go on and on, but you get the picture
I find it interesting that the first desire that the serpent appealed to in Eve was the desire for wisdom. By using her sense of beauty and her appreciation for good food (She saw that the tree was beautiful and the fruit looked delicious. Gen 3;6b) he was able to lure her into thinking that God was somehow withholding his wisdom from them and that eating the fruit would give them the wisdom what they were lacking. I also find it interesting that her husband Adam also partook of the forbidden fruit without question when he was the one who was close enough to her to have gently reminded her of all the wonderful things that God had already provided for them and of her significance in their Creator. But that is a different topic for a different time.
The bottom line of verses 12-22 of Proverbs 2 is that since the very first sin in the garden of Eden the tank of our needs and desires has become an empty place in our souls that must be filled. A tank that is daily filled with the Spirit of God and godly wisdom will guide us in the paths of righteousness and keep us out of the arms of evil twisted men and immoral promiscuous women. But a tank that is not filled with with God and godly wisdom will be filled by default with mere human wisdom, futile thinking, and ungodly pursuits, leaving us open prey to the serpent and his minions. It is a road that ultimately leads to death and destruction. The good news is that as long as we are breathing earth's air, we have a choice. Even if we have already given in to the serpent's lies and are headed down the wrong road, we still have a choice. We can turn around (repent) be filled with the Spirit and godly wisdom and get on the right road. Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." I don't know about you but I like the idea of a rich and satisfying (abundant) life much better. Selah.
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