In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God created humanity for the sake of divine-human fellowship. Humans – male and female – were created in God’s image and were given dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-27). God’s breath gave life to humanity (Genesis 2:7). The first humans were clothed in God’s glory (Psalm 8:5). As God speaks, the divine breath continues to give life. As God conversed with the first humans God’s words were the source of life. So, why bother conversing with a snake?
The snake represents the antithesis to the life-giving words of God. In the Genesis narrative the snake was crafty, or shrewd. It was created by God and placed under the dominion of Adam and Eve. The snake approached Eve in a standing position. This doesn’t mean the snake had legs, but that the snake was assuming an aggressive posture.
Eve wasn’t looking for the snake, the snake came looking for her. The snake spoke deceitful words that challenged the words of God: “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?'” (Genesis 3:1). In fact, God had provided the Tree of Life – the knowledge of God. God restricted only one tree – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – knowledge without God. The fruit of this tree was poisonous and fatal. But the shrewd snake declared, “You surely will not die!” (Genesis 3:4). By eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Adam and Eve turned from the Tree of Life. When Adam and Eve followed the counsel of the snake they surrendered their dominion.
We should beware talking with snakes. Snakes are deceptively beautiful. Only poisonous snakes are aggressive. Only aggressive snakes stand. Snakes tickle our itching ears by suggesting that we can be like God. Or, we can be our own god and make our own rules (Romans 1:21-25).
Snakes offer a worldly wisdom – knowledge without God. But this kind of knowledge leaves us naked and ashamed – no longer clothed in the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Adam and Eve clothed themselves in garments of leaves. Snakes distort God’s word. Jesus called the Pharisees “a brood of vipers” because they had denied the Faith by misinterpreting the Holy Scriptures. We must beware false teachers that deconstruct the truth of God’s word.
Snakes appeal to our perceived needs – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. The greatest temptations are money, sex, and power. But lust and pride inevitably lead to destruction (Romans 1:18, 28ff).
Snakes seek to separate us from God. When God came looking for Adam and Eve they hid in shame (Genesis 3:10). When we are no longer clothed in God’s glory we can no longer dwell in God’s presence. Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden.
Snakes separate us from one another. The snake caused a relational rift between Adam and Eve. They were no longer equal, but broken. The brokenness of the human family is further demonstrated in Cain’s murder of his brother, Abel.
Snakes destroy God’s world. As we continue to read the prehistoric narrative we discover that as a result of humanity’s flirtation with the snake the earth is filled with evil and violence.
Jesus crushed the head of the snake! (Romans 16:20). God promised that the snake would be reduced to crawling on its belly (Genesis 3:14). The snake no longer assumes the aggressive posture of standing, but now assumes the posture of submission and surrender. A snake on its belly is in retreat and harmless. God promised that human salvation would come from the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15). In the opening scene of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Jesus (the seed of Mary) prays in the garden as the snake slithers through the bushes. Then suddenly Jesus stands and crushes the head of the snake with the heal of his foot. By standing Jesus is making the aggressive move. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
Spirit-filled believers have authority over snakes! Jesus said that one of signs of baptized believers is that they will “pick up serpents” (Mark 16:18). The Greek word translated as “pick up” (ἀροῦσιν) can also be translated a “take away.” Jesus declared, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you” (Luke 10:19). Those who have been baptized into Christ are clothed with the Holy Spirit – the glory of God. Christians have authority over snakes, that is, evil powers. When the Apostle Paul was ship-wrecked on the Isle of Malta he was attacked by a viper. The natives assumed this was the judgement of the gods. But Paul “shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm” (Acts 28:5). In the end, the serpent, and all those who continue to abide his counsel, will be condemned to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:2, 10). And, all who are in Christ will be glorified and will reign with Christ forever.
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