The Bible is the inerrant word of God. However, within the Bible, there are historical narratives about people. One thing we can count on with people is that we’re not always honest. Therefore, there are lies in the Bible. If you don’t believe me, consider these examples.

In the book of Genesis, the serpent asked Eve a question.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Genesis 3:1 (NIV)

What was Eve’s response?

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'”

Genesis 3:2-3 (NIV)

God told Adam they could eat from any tree in the Garden except the tree in the middle. That was it. God never told them they couldn’t touch it or they would die. Therefore, what Eve said wasn’t true. Did Eve lie on purpose? I don’t think so because lying is a sin. And since they hadn’t eaten from the tree of knowledge yet, Eve didn’t know about good and evil. 

In the book of Exodus, Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all of the newborn males. However, they didn’t do that, and when questioned why, what did they say?

The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”

Exodus 1:19 (NIV)

They lied. Why? 

The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live (emphasis added).

Exodus 1:17 (NIV)

The midwives feared God. However, they still lied, which is my point. 

The next set of lies, yes, set of lies. Comes from one of my favorite guys in the Bible, Moses.

After escaping Egypt, the Israelites were a handful. If you don’t believe me, read Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In one of the many times the Israelites got to grumbling, it was about water. Of course. Specifically, it was at Meribah where God gave Moses this instruction.

Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink” (emphasis added).

Numbers 20:8 (NIV)

Instead of doing what God told him to do, Moses did something else.

He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank (emphasis added).

Numbers 20:10-11 (NIV)

After Moses and Aaron disobeyed God, he wasn’t pleased.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (emphasis added).

Numbers 20:12 (NIV)

God banned Moses and Aaron from the Promised Land. Wow.

In the book of Deuteronomy, after having wandered in the wilderness for about 40 years, Moses recounts the Israelites’ journey after leaving Egypt and tells them.

Because of you the Lord became angry with me also and said, “You shall not enter it, either.

Deuteronomy 1:37 (NIV)

Hmmm. That contradicts what Moses wrote in Numbers 20:12. It’s a lie. What’s interesting about Deuteronomy 1:37 is that some commentators say it might have been added later. However, I don’t buy that because of this verse.

But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.

Deuteronomy 3:26 (NIV)

Once again, Moses blamed the Israelites for God denying him entrance into the Promised Land. But wait, Moses tells the Israelites a third time who’s to blame for God being angry with him.

The Lord was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance.

Deuteronomy 4:21 (NIV)

Three times Moses told the Israelites it was their fault he couldn’t enter the Promised Land! I get it. After 40 years of dealing with the Israelites and intervening with God to spare them when he wanted to wipe them all out, anyone would have been fed up with them. Moses was only human, after all. Still, Moses played the “blame game,” which is so familiar to us. 

The last lie I’m presenting is in the book of Acts.

Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

Acts 5:8 (NIV)

We know this is a lie because the text told us in Acts 5:2. However, it’s still a lie, and it’s in the Bible. 

I brought up this subject today because of Moses. We might miss Eve’s lie, and we know why the midwives lied, and Luke told us in Acts 5:2 that Ananias and Sapphira conspired to lie to the Holy Spirit. However, we might believe Moses in Deuteronomy. If you’re like me, you might read one of those three verses where Moses blamed the Israelites and think, “Wait a minute. I thought Moses disobeyed God? That’s why he couldn’t enter the Promised Land.” You could look it up, and maybe you won’t. Perhaps, in your honest confusion, you might tell someone, “God denied Moses entry into the Promised Land because of the Israelites.” Then you’d be the liar. 

Which is my point. Human beings tell lies, but God doesn’t. Because the Bible has historical narratives, there are lies in the Bible said by people. Yet, those verses I mentioned today, and others I did not, are still true because they tell us what a person said. Not God. 

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

Advertisement