# 32 Peer Pressure

The Book of Genesis Day 32 Ge 3:6b, “ She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. So, how did Adam get sucked into this? The Bible doesn’t say much about Adam’s involvement. We are told here that he merely was “with her and he ate.” We get a little more of the story in Ge 3:17a: “ Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': Here we find that Eve audibly asked Adam to partake of the fruit. And in 1Ti 2:14, we see that Adam was not tempted one on one by the serpent, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” Perhaps we can say that even Eve didn’t try to delude, deceive, or trick Adam into eating it. She just invited him to try it, and he did. Was Adam with Eve when the serpent tempted her? Was he Evesdropping? (Pun intended) We really don’t know, the timing of this event is not included in the narrative, and it would be foolish on our part to speculate. One thing we do know, Eve had already “fallen into transgression.” She was up to her nostrils in sin, and have you ever noticed that people caught up in sin, will try to get you caught up in it as well? Call it peer pressure if you will, but you’ll see it in the bars and at parties where alcohol and drugs are available. You’ll see it in sexual promiscuity, you’ll experience it when filling out your taxes, or pilfering supplies at work, “C’mon, everyone else is doing it!” It’s like, if we can get others to sin with us, it won’t be so bad. This “peer pressure” is as old as the hills. The writer of Proverbs tells us in the very first chapter, “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.”(verse 1) ; “Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse" –“ (verse 14) “My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;” (Verse 15) And in Ps 1:1 we read, “ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,” How about that! The first words of the Psalms, and the first chapter of the Book of Proverbs, deal with this subject and warn us against yielding to the social pressure to sin. Seems to me, this is rather important stuff. Knowing the pressure to sin will come from all quarters, (even your closest friends) and knowing the place God gives this topic in His Word will help you to resist when the pressure is applied to you! Pray the Holy Spirit will give you the will to resist when those temptations come your way. Reflect: Give some examples of peer pressure that you experienced when you were young. Give some examples of peer pressure that you have recently experienced. What are some ways to handle peer pressure? Memorize Pr 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. Pray: God, forgive me for the times I have put the pressure on others to join in my sin, and give me the strength to resist the temptations of society whenever they come my way. Thank You for forgiving me when I fail.