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Satan the Serpent

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field
that Yahuwah 'Elohiym had made - Genesis 3:1

The word "serpent", mentioned here, is translated from the word
nachash. This word can mean in the sense of a verb: to whisper,

prognosticate or enchant. As a noun it can mean an incantation,

an enchantment or a snake.It is of interest and importance to also

note that the same root is used to mean "copper" : nechuwshah

and the Chaldean word for "copper" (nechash)are virtually identical

to the word which is used for "serpent" in Genesis 3:1.

Was an actual snake involved in the temptation of Eve?

I have encountered, recently, quite a bit of material which supposes that

there was no involvement of any reptile in the events of Genesis 3. This view is

often closely associated with the idea that the method of temptation also

did not involve a literal tree nor any literal fruit. It is noted in this view that

the definition of the word "nachash" only associates serpents with the

meaning by way of attributing the primary definition to its character,

such as hissing and a sneaky, crafty nature.

Without going off topic and delving into the literal or non-literal meaning of

trees and fruit, the use of the word nachash can be found throughout

scripture in reference to instances where anything But a literal snake would

be quite odd. An example would be Exodus 4:3 when Moses cast a rod upon

the ground and it became a serpent. YHWH commands him to then put forth

his hand and take the serpent by its tail. It's a logical conclusion, then,

that the word nachash is, at least at times, used to mean an actual,

physical reptile.

Another source to examine for evidence of the presence of an actual

serpent in the garden of Eden is what history and archeology have to say

about serpents throughout a wide array of cultures. Serpents, are perhaps,

the most heavily dealt with beasts in religious and mythological records.

They are seen as embodiments of evil, wisdom, luck, power, knowledge

and enchantment. Depicted in ancient art countless numbers of times,

they are often shown as an evil to be defeated or feared..as if mankind

had learned to associate their misfortune in life with this beast. Other

depictions actually portray a serpent with a tree and human beings

nearby....a scene very reminiscent of the description of events in

Genesis 3.

Some even depict serpents as having legs. Recall the curse put on the

serpent - "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all

cattle and more than every beast of the field. You shall go on your belly

and you shall eat dust all the days of your life." Genesis 3:14

So then if we have the involvement of a real beast...how did this beast

come to be used as Satan's tool and why a serpent rather than some

other animal or why did Satan himself not appear instead of using

a creature as his medium?

First we can look at what is unique about the serpent as opposed to

other animals. " Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast

of the field..." You might look at a modern snake crawling through your

own garden and not associate it with a great degree of intelligence, and

such is the case now with this animal who has been debased from its

original created form both in appearance and brain power, but not only

did the serpent once have a very different form, it also had great intellect.

Though most might be accustomed to considering humans the only earthly

creatures with sentient intelligence and feel that this is directly connected

to mankind being created in YHWH's image...there is not an actual parallel

between human monopoly on intelligence and their unique design in His

image.

Humans are designed in His image in the sense that they literally resemble

the form of their Maker, both in appearance and in having an imperishable

and individual spirit. The serpent was not made in the image of YHWH

but it was created with great intelligence and even a sentient will that

could yield to Satan.

This brings us to another point about why the serpent as opposed to some

other animal. YHWH created man in His image, but is man the only creature

who had a "model" they were created to resemble? Consider a particular

classification of angelic being called a Seraph. Seraphim are mentioned in

the English translation of the Bible in Isaiah: "Above it stood seraphim, each

one had six wings, with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet,

and with two he flew." Isaiah 6:2.

The word in Hebrew - saraph means a fiery, burning creature identified with

a serpent and interestingly...copper. (refer back to the words nachash and

nechuwshah). The word saraph occurs also in Numbers 21:8 and is

translated "fiery serpent" and again in Isaiah 14 and 30 also translated

a "fiery serpent". In Revelation, Satan is referred to as "that old serpent,

called the Devil and Satan" Revelation 12:9. If the animal known as a

serpent was modeled or "made in the image" of the class of angelic beings

to which Satan himself belongs, it is quite logical that he chose this beast

as the most suitable physical housing for himself.

Why didn't Satan himself manifest physically to Eve? Because he couldn't.

Satan had no physical presence and as a rebellious spirit outside of

YHWH's will, he had no authority to breach the divide between the

spiritual and physical realms without the explicit consent to inhabit

a native, physical resident of earth.

Satan: The Originator of Sin

Satan is most often connected to the individual called "Lucifer" spoken of

in Isaiah 14...i do not agree that these are the same individuals, but that

subject is for a different discussion. The bible does, however, provide an

understanding of his goals, his motives and when he initiated his rebellion.

He is described inJob as an opponent of both the Creator and those who

serve Him...attempting to lay accusation against YHWH's servants in order

to destroy them.

He behaves like a malicious prosecuting attorney, he can't supersede his

Creator's law so instead he attempts to work it to his ends...knowing that

the wages of sin are death, he seeks to demand the full penalty of breaking

the law when a person stumbles...and is not above tempting you to stumble

so he can. (Thank Yahushua for Mercy!)

In Revelation are these verses about him :

"And war broke out in the heaven. Miyka'el and his angels fought with the

dragon.And the dragon and his angels fought but they did not prevail nor was a

place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out,

that serpent of old, called the Diablos and Satan, who deceives the whole world.

He was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a

loud voice saying in the sky, "At this moment salvation and strength and the

kingdom of our 'Eloah and the power of His Anointed have come, for the accuser

of our brothers who accused them before our 'Eloah day and night, has been

cast down. " Revelation 12:7-10

This future event shows some of Satan's goals...he has a desire

to literally overthrow YHWH, His law and His will, to the (insane) point

he will even storm the "gates of heaven" and engage His faithful angels in battle.

Some will see this as a description of a past event, however it is clear by looking

throughout scripture that until this point, he brings before YHWH accusation

against believers and is denoted as the "prince of the power of the air"...

still having access to heavenly realms.

Satan was the original sinner...having been created (as were all creatures)

good, he conceived the antithesis of creation...destruction, in that he willfully

began to oppose the sovereign will of YHWH which by its very nature upholds

all creation...the natural consequence of that opposition is destruction...

the wages of sin were always death. In his dissent, he successfully lured

legions of other angelic beings into his vision of a universe without YHWH.

This event occurred before mankind existed, as obviously he was already in

a sinful state when he tempted Eve. This is the rebellion most believers are

familiar with, and it was the one which would set in course all other instances

of willful sin for all of time...but it might not be as well known that it wasn't

the last angelic rebellion. That's another discussion.

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