Old Testament Studies

The Serpent’s First Words

By Robert C. Crowder

Revelation 12:19 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

 I find a very interesting passage in Genesis 2:15-17,  The LORD God is communing with Adam (Eve has not been “formed”’ yet) and the LORD God is showing Adam his new living and work place, the Garden of Eden.  The Bible says that the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden.  As he is showing Adam around he gave him a rule to live by.  The Bible says the LORD God “commanded the man saying...”  

As I was growing up there were times when my dad would take me aside to talk to me about something.  In a house with just the four of us, these times were rare and few.  But when he was very seriously telling me a “command” I knew that something special was happening and I should listen up.  Many times I truly didn’t grasp the importance or even understand the total meaning of what he was saying or the reasons behind it, but I did know it was important.  I knew that if I didn’t comply with his wishes, I was in for big trouble.

The story goes like this.  We pick it up in verse fifteen.  “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The LORD God simply said, eat all you want, anytime you want of any tree you want except one.  If you eat from that tree, you will die.  The directions are very straight forward and don’t leave a lot to the imagination.  Here the LORD God was giving the boundaries of where he was to work, “dress the garden”, to where he was to eat “of every tree but one.”  I wonder if Adam was as awed by the LORD God talking to him in earnest, as I was when my dad spoke to me?  My dad was bigger than life.  He left to go to work everyday to make sure that his family was taken care of.  He had big worries and concerns and took every step he could to ensure that his family survived and grew.  I remember holidays a little different than most people.  When I talk to others about their memories of their childhood holidays, I would learn of the family being together for the day.  In our small family, my dad worked the holidays so he could make the “time and a half” or on those special occasions when he would make the “double time.”  Those times were seen as very special times in the Crowder household.  We would all anxiously be waiting for dad to get home and then our holiday would begin.  As I am writing this I have a smile on my face concerning those joyous times.

The first time we see the word serpent is the beginning verse of chapter 3.  It is used in the description of Satan.  We pick up the story in verse one.  “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  And 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.” 

As I look at this passage, several things about the statements of the devil to Eve come to mind.

The first word out of the devil’s mouth is “’yea.”  Satan wants us to agree with him so he starts out the conversation starting with yes.  This is for the positive thinkers.

Then he questions God’s authority and credibility with “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"  Satan is casting doubt on the word of God here by preparing the listener that there is a question concerning what has been said.  Down through the ages, the enlightened have continued to question the words, authority, presence and divinity of God.  And we see that all this started in the garden with just one question.

Notice that the devil

• Questions God's Word
• Slips in a lie in the midst of the truth.  “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hat said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”  I do not find that God said he couldn’t touch it.
• Denies God’s Word  “And the serpent said unto the woman. “Ye shall not surely die.”  He denies God’s word with a mixing of the truth.  They would not die the instant they eat of the tree, but the death of everyone that follows would now see death.
• Adds to God’s Word  “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.”  Wow what an ego trip Satan just laid on Eve.  Why the very reason God doesn’t want you to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you will be the same as god (little “g”).  Satan is saying “If you eat of this tree, you will have knowledge, you will be like god.  You will have the power and knowledge.  As a cobra rears its head and prepares to strike, Satan helps Eve rear up the ugly side of man with her ego, self-worth, self-esteem questioned.

In chapter 2 we find that the teaching of the trees was given to Adam.  But when Satan wants to deceive man, we find that Satan speaks to Eve not to Adam.  We find a true “nugget in the scriptures,” a very valuable teaching.  What we have gained by knowledge from God, we are held accountable.  Here we see that Adam was being held accountable for the instruction he gave to Eve and Satan was challenging not only the word of God, but also the authority and teaching of her husband.  For surely Adam told Eve about all that he had seen and done before her creation.  He surely discussed his naming of all the animals and of his communing with GOD in the cool of the garden.  Now with just one short conversation with Satan, the doubt is cast not only with his challenge of the authority of God’s word, we see he is challenging the very premise of the family.  Is it any wonder that one of Satan’s targets today is to destroy the family unit as God instructed in chapter 2:24-25?

I Timothy 2:9-14 “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;  But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.  For Adam was first formed, then Eve.  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

These verses clearly show that Eve was deceived.  But before we put all the blame on her look closely at verse 6 in chapter 3.  Notice that as soon as she took a bite out of the fruit, she “gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”  How is it that man cannot maintain a steady course?  He can have sweet communion with Jesus and in the next moment commit heinous sins.  It is because of the sin nature of man.  From the beginning God’s plan was to send his son “in the fullness of time.”  His plan was always to have a way to redeem man.

I find written in the margin of my study Bible the statement “The Devil tried to persuade Adam and Eve to his side, so that their decedents would all follow him.  The “crown” of God’s creation in the devil’s treasure chest."  I write in my Bible all the time.  I make notes of things that are said by teachers and preachers as well as my own Bible study.  Of all the many fine preachers I have heard, and the many teachings I have made, I don’t know if this is an original statement or not, but it is a good one.

Christ died for Adam who sinned and we who follow.  I Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."  Also I Corinthians 15:45-47 “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven."

Satan has his eternal destination sealed.  His fate was cast from the very beginning.  While he approaches us with a smile and strokes our ego, he views his end and searches for as many as he can take with him.  In1 Peter 5:8 we are admonished, " Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 

ã 2002 bobsbiblestudies