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The Blue Letter Bible
Study Resources :: Text Commentaries :: F.E. Marsh :: Readings 301-350 (Peace - Service)
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F.E. Marsh :: 340. Satan, a Serpent

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GENESIS 3:1-15

THERE are five things we notice in relation to Satan-

  1. Those who are down themselves will often seek to drag others to the same level. We read of the serpent, the devil, and as suggestive of his character, that it “was more subtle,” (Gen. 3:1). The question naturally arises, how had the serpent become more subtle? It seems to suggest that Satan had become subtle through sin, for the words “was more subtle” would be more correctly translated, “had become more subtle.” Having sinned, Satan seeks to lead others to act in a like manner.
  2. Satan often uses the creatures of God to carry out his own purpose. He used the hands of Achan to take the wedge of gold (Joshua 7:1), the lips of Ananias and his wife to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3), the mind of Judas to conceive the betrayal of Christ (John 13:27), the eyes of Lot to look towards Sodom (Gen. 13:10, 12), the feet of Abram to go down into Egypt (Gen. 12:10), the words of Peter to deny Christ (Luke 22:57), and the serpent to deceive Eve.
  3. Satan’s policy is to get men to doubt the truth of God’s word. Notice Satan’s question in Gen. 3:1, as suggesting a doubt; and then ponder his boldness as seen in his words in Gen. 3:4, contrasting his words with God’s plain command in Gen. 2:17, as understood according to the woman’s statement in Gen. 3:3; and the wicked, lying imputation of Satan upon God’s goodness in Gen. 3:5.
  4. Satan’s character is symbolized in the serpent. The serpent is crooked (Isaiah 27:1), poisonous (Psalm 58:4), bites (Prov. 23:32; Eccles. 10:8, 11; Amos 5:19; 9:3); has a divided tongue (Psalm 140:3), has a gliding motion (Prov. 30:19), conceals itself (Ecclesiastes 10:8; Amos 5:19), and its sound is threatening (Jeremiah 46:22). That “old serpent” is one of the devil’s names (Revelation 20:2).
  5. Satan and the serpent are both punished. The former by having his head bruised (Gen. 3:15), and the latter by crawling upon the ground, and eating dust (Gen. 3:14). As the receiver of stolen goods is punished as well as he that stole them, so the one who allows himself to be led into sin by Satan, is punished as well as he who leads into sin.
339. “Sanctify Yourselves” ← Prior Section
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