THE SERPENT

On Wednesday morning, just before VBS started for the day, we had quite a commotion behind the church. The boys were all excited and wanted to see … many of the girls ran the other way, not wanting to see … a garter snake! I’m told that one boy picked it up. Another boy came around the church carrying part of an old snake skin. Needless to say, there were a variety of responses, and a lot of noise.

Now, I don’t mean to make your skin crawl. What I do mean to do is to draw attention to a conception that we have of Satan, who is often described as a serpent in the Bible. When we hear this, we may picture any variety of snakes we see today, and are instantly repulsed. We may even ask, as some have, “what was Eve doing talking to the serpent in the first place” in reference to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-5).

However, the serpent (Satan) in the Garden of Eden, must have been an attractive creature. As unimaginable as it may seem, the conversation was probably very natural, right up until the time the Serpent (Satan) twisted God’s instruction. Further, there was no fear between man and animal, as the Fall was only beginning to happen. Ezekiel 28:11-19 compares the king of Tyre to Satan, and describes both as beautiful creatures, before their respective (and paralleled) falls:

11 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me: 12 "Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. (Eze 28:11-13 ESV)

While we are right to think of Satan as a roaring lion, or any other threatening images, we would be wise to remember that he can present himself in a rather attractive manner. He is a master of disguises: “...Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2Co 11:14 ESV)

So, today’s encouragement (exhortation, really) comes from 1 Peter 5:8; 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker