Wednesday: The Fate of the Serpent
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15, NIV). What did the Lord say to the serpent here, and what hope is implied in these verses?
God begins His judgment with the serpent because he is the one who initiated the whole drama. The serpent, too, is the only being who is cursed in this narrative.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
We reach here a kind of “reversal” of Creation. While Creation led to life, the appreciation of good, and blessings, judgment leads to death, evil, and curses — but also, to the hope and promise of salvation. Attached to the somber picture of the crushed serpent eating the dust (Genesis 3:14) shines the hope of the salvation of humankind, which appears in the form of a prophecy. Even before the condemnations of Adam and Eve, which will follow, the Lord gives them the hope of redemption (Genesis 3:15). Yes, they have sinned; yes, they will suffer because of their sin; and, yes, they will die, too, because of the sins. But despite all that, there is the ultimate hope, the hope of salvation.
Compare Genesis 3:15 with Romans 16:20, Hebrews 2:14, and Revelation 12:17. How is the plan of salvation, as well as the great controversy, revealed in these texts?
Notice the parallels between Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 12:17: the dragon (serpent), enraged (enmity); the seed (offspring); and the woman in Eden and the woman in Revelation 12:17. The battle (the great controversy) that moved to Eden, with the Fall, will continue to the end of time. However, the promise of Satan’s defeat was already given in Eden, in that his head will be crushed, a theme more explicitly revealed in Revelation, which depicts his final demise (Revelation 20:10). That is, right from the start, humanity was given hope that there will be a way out of the terrible mess that came from the knowledge of evil, a hope that we all can share in right now.
| Why is it so comforting to see that, in Eden itself, where sin and evil on earth began, the Lord started to reveal the plan of salvation? |
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I mentioned Australian snakes earlier this week and I still think there are a couple of lessons we can learn from them. If you listen to Australians you will often get the impression that our country is alive with dangerous snakes that sneak into houses or drop on your head while you are out walking in the bush. In actual fact (and don't tell other Australians that I told you this) we rarely encounter snakes. I am out in the bush 2-3 hours nearly every day and would be lucky to see more than 5 snakes in a year. Having said that, I am not complacent and when I know that I am walking in a snake habitat, I carry a compression bandage. The medical people tell us that the best thing to do if you are bitten by a snake is to carefully wrap the wound with a compression bandage. Don't even clean it, just wrap it firmly. Then call an ambulance or make your way to a hospital with as little movement as possible where they will administer antivenom. They reiterate, move as little as possible!
That is "Plan A" for anyone who works in a snake environment.
God had his "Plan A" for living in a snake environment. It was to rely on Jesus. During the exodus, the children to Israel found themselves in a snake environment and they too were dying from snake-bite. Moses was instructed to make a brazen snake and put it on a cross in the centre of the camp. "Plan A" was to look at the snake on the cross.
It is comforting to know that right from the begining God had a plan for the final solution and the elimination of snakes. But it is also wise to know that he has a plan for living with snakes while we are still in snake-land.
The Psalmist says is so succinctly:
Well said !
Thoughts .....
Since Christ is regarded as the source of all LIFE in creations (being the personified eternal life of God, 1 John 1:1-3, and the satan killed him by human agencies, it could be said that the satan killed the *source of his own existence/life* hence the snake lost all his power.
Oh what wisdom God's has !
Colossians 1:15-22 (CSB)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
We see the satan falling from the Sky (power and authority) as his power is dwindling as a chained dog on a leash ! Revelation 20, Romans 6:20
It's considered by some Christians that *ALL* entropy (death, decay) in creation was because of Adam and Eve's sin. Romans 8:19-30
Indeed it was the cause of their death, but they would NOT have known what death was, had they not seen it in ants, spiders, creatures, and decay in fruit (were seeds were readily available, you don't need seed if the tree does not decay...etc etc
Hi all
How can one explain this Great Controversy theme without sounding like a medieval SDA Christian.
That is a good question, and it would take a book to answer it fully. I suggest praying about it and share what you know, keeping in mind that the Law of Christ's Kingdom is the law of self-renouncing love. I suggest also getting really well acquainted with Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings. In the Sermon on the Mount Christ spells out the nature and law of His Kingdom), and the conflict/controversy is over God's Law. In Christ's Object Lessons and Steps to Christ you also become better acquainted with the Law of Christ's Kingdom.
You probably know that Ellen White spells out the conflict between Christ and Satan in the Conflict of the Ages series (Patriarchs and Prophets, Prophets and Kings, Desire of Ages, Acts of the Apostles and The Great Controversy), not just in the book, The Great Controversy. You can only share as much as you understand yourself, so keep praying as you read. Talk about the nature and Law of God's Kingdom - the Law of self-renouncing love -and contrast it with the law of Satan's kingdom - the law of the survival of the fittest, the law of self-seeking. The controversy/conflict will become obvious to any thoughtful listener.
If you would like a shorter version of the Conflict of the Ages, you can read the condensed modern-language version (It's quite good!)The Beginning of the End, Royalty and Ruin, Humble Hero [Unfortunately this one is not currently available in Kindle format], Unlikely Leaders and Love Under Fire. [Avoid the one-volume Conflict of the Ages book on Amazon, because customers report that it is incomplete and generally poorly executed.]
Remember, though, that you don't have to read all the books before sharing. Start with what you understand and pray that the Lord will give you wisdom. Always remember that God's character is love, and it is expressed in His law. Satan cannot understand God's character, and he attacks His law any way he can. He appeals to the selfishness in human nature since the fall and wins many converts that way. God is depending on us to show that His plan of salvation works - that it makes us loving and lovable Christians - the strongest argument in favor of Christianity.
You can read all these books for free at egwwritings.org. (I just prefer the Kindle versions.)
Hi Kaiser
Following on from what Inge has suggested, I offer the following.
I often ask people whether they believe there is a bigger picture to this world than just us. Depending on how they answer that question, I then say something along the lines of "what if there is more going on than we are aware of?" Again, depending on their response, I then often introduce the idea of a battle between good and evil using a movie the person might be familiar with. Many of the Hollywood 'blockbuster' movies have this theme - Star Wars being one from a while back that many people are at least somewhat familiar with. Depends on the local knowledge where you are.
I then ask the person, "what if there is actually truth to the idea that there is a bigger battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil?" Again, depending on their response, I then might unpack some details with them using the questions, "what if ...".
I don't lead a person any further than they want to go at that point it time - but they often go away and think about things a bit and then come back and want to explore/discuss a bit further. And it is not me doing the leading anyway - it is the Holy Spirit. So I rely heavily on the Holy Spirit to prepare and guide my exploration and sharing with others.
Good points, Phil. Thank you for the practical suggestions of passing on an understanding of the great controversy between Christ and Satan.
Amen, noted ! 🙏
I do not see the judgement of Adam and Eve as a condemnation. Had not God told Adam and Eve in no uncertain terms what the consequences would be if they ‘ate of this particular tree’?
To help me understand better, I looked up the definition of ‘condemnation’: 1. The expression of very strong disapproval, censure; 2. the action of condemning someone to a punishment, sentencing. (Oxford dictionary)
I do not see ‘condemnation’ or ‘sentencing’ in the response from our heavenly Father. In my opinion, Gen.3:15 does not imply anger. From that point forward, I only see compassioned but firm justice and long-suffering Mercy and Grace as the aspects of how the Creator dealt with the circumstances. The heavenly Father matter-of-factly states what the differences/signs will be of the way of life from now on - how man and women will experience life without the benefit of the direct, intimate, spiritual relationship with the father.
As I see it, mankind, from the very beginning, existed in an elevated state of awareness – able to receive revealed, spiritual truths. But these new circumstances required the implimentaion of the Plan of Salvation.
Praise and Thanks be to God, because this Plan of Salvation leads mankind to again trust the Father. Following Jesus’ Sprit of Truth, the believer can now again walk the path of life by faith in the Word of the heavenly Father.
I agree. I don't like the line in the lesson that says "judgment leads to death, evil and curses." This makes God seem arbitrary. In reality, death and evil were realities before God passed judgment on Adam and Eve. When they ate from the fruit, they were already beginning to die and had experienced a spiritual death, which is more significant. God did pass specific judgments on them, but this reflected the judgment that they had already brought on themselves by living apart from Him.
Christina - I appreciate your comment. I see it being helpful to view all of God's judgements first in the light of His established laws and the known relationship between 'cause and effect'. I view His Mercy and Grace as the mitigating factors which tunes/influences His Law to find the right place for our actions in His Plan of Salvation.
In the book of Revelation three different beasts are described as having seven heads and ten horns: first, the "great red dragon" (Rev. 12:3) ; next, the leopardlike beast which John saw rise out of the sea, having the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion, and drawing his power and authority from the dragon (Rev. 131, 2); and last, the scarlet-colored beast on which sat the woman, Babylon, "mother of harlots and abominations of the earth" (Rev. 17:3-5).
Each of these beasts, is represented as being at enmity with God and at war with the forces of righteousness. It was the great red dragon that had part in the "war in heaven," when 'Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels." Rev 12:7. It was this dragon which "stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." Rev. 12:4. And it was this same beast which with great wrath came down against the "inhabiters of the earth and of the sea" (Rev. 12:12); which "persecuted the woman," drove her into the wilderness, cast forth a flood of water against her, and made war with the remnant of her seed (Rev. 12:13-17).
In the struggle which the seven-headed beast carries on against the forces of righteousness, its doom is in each case foretold. In the war fought by the dragon in heaven, the dragon "prevailed not," but "was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Rev. 12:8,9. In his struggle against Christ and His saints, "the accuser of our brethren is cast down," while the saints "overcame him by the blood of the Lamb." Rev. 12:10. Of the leopard beast that made war with the saints and overcame them, the final doom is expressed in the words: "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword." Rev. 13:10. And of the heads of the scarlet beast of Revelation 17 it was said that five had already fallen, while the beast itself would finally "go into perdition." (Rev.17:8-11.)
This picture in Revelation of a serpent, beast, or dragon engaged in war against God and the forces of righteousness is not new, nor is it confined to the Holy Scriptures. In the early records of Genesis, where the first chapters of this struggle between Christ and Satan are recorded, the development and final issue of the battle is announced in the following words: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt-bruise his heel." Gen. 3:15.