PROGRESS-INDEX (Petersburg, Virginia) 26 April 08 Satan and the serpent (Dr. Tom Lovorn is a retired Baptist pastor who writes a weekly column on religion)
Q. Why did God curse the serpent in the Garden if it were Satan who was using its body? – Geebo, Alexandria, Egypt
A. Genesis 3 tells the story of a serpent who tempted our mother, Eve. We’re never told in Genesis that the serpent was Satan, nor are we told that Satan possessed a serpent. Oral tradition identified the serpent with Satan. However, we have a written identification in the last book of the Bible.
Twice, in Revelation 12:9 and 20:2, we’re told that the serpent is the Devil, or Satan. He was further identified by Jesus in John 8:44 as the Devil, the father of lies. By deduction, since the serpent spoke the first lie he must be the Devil.
The Hebrew word, nachash, translated serpent or snake, seems to mean “a shining upright being.” As such, it may have been the form Satan chose rather than a particular animal he possessed.
In the original language, Genesis 3:1 literally says it was more crafty than any “living thing of the ground,” or earth - not more than any other living thing, or beast. Note, then, that we’re not told specifically that it was an animal God had created in the Garden, but rather that it was more crafty than any of those living things around it.
Further, when God cursed the serpent in verse 14 we’re not told that he cursed all snakes. Proof of that is seen in verse 15 where the serpent is addressed in the singular. This particular serpent of verse 15 would have “seed,” or posterity, that would battle the woman’s child.
Note the amazing prophecy of Genesis 3:15. A future woman would have a child without reference to a father. The child would be male. There would be a battle. The serpent would wound the child but it wouldn’t be a mortal wound; whereas, the child would deal the serpent a deadly blow.
The curse that made the serpent crawl on his belly changed his form from an “upright one” to a crawling dragon as he is also called in the Revelation. By the way, tanniyn, most often translated dragon, may also mean serpent.
In summary, and to answer your question, my opinion is that Satan did not possess a serpent, but rather he was the Garden serpent. Therefore, I find no Biblical reason for hating snakes; but I still dislike them! Of course, along with other animals, snakes are referenced in many scriptures as being potentially harmful to mankind, thus giving us reason to fear those that are poisonous.
Satan and the serpent