The Serpant in the Garden
By Joe Keim
September 1, 2025
According to Genesis, it appears that when God created the serpent, He went above and beyond other animals. The serpent was more subtle (crafty, cunning, deceitful) than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. Unlike other beasts of the field, the serpent could talk—carrying on conversations with both God and humans. It also had legs and could walk like humans.
For some reason, Satan chose the serpent as his puppet. It was through the serpent that Satan zeroed in on Eve in the garden, asking, “Has God said?”
Jesus often used questions to penetrate religious mindsets. I do the same when speaking with those entrenched in religious systems. It is the best way to challenge men and women to question their false beliefs.
Back to the serpent.
While I do not like to touch or even be around snakes, I have come to understand that they are just like any other beast of the field. The snake is not the devil, as I once thought. It was merely a tool or puppet Satan worked through. Because the serpent allowed itself to be used by Satan to bring destruction to our world, God cursed it. He said:
“And the LORD God said unto the serpent, ‘Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life’” (Gen 3:14).
The meaning here goes far beyond the physical serpent that Satan used to speak his lies. It applies directly to the devil himself. Satan is cursed, and there is enmity between him and mankind. Even those who partake in the devil’s schemes despise him.
« Back to Articles
Comments