Satan a Serpent in Genesis? (Page 2)

ghostgeek: The problem isn't with the text but with those who want it to say something it clearly doesn't.

ghostgeek: The Serpent was guilty of tempting Eve, not Satan. That is the only conclusion that can be drawn if God is good.

Zanjan: Ghost: “If it was Satan that tricked Eve into taking a nibble of the forbidden fruit, then God is guilty of committing a great injustice”

That would only work if GOD is Satan.

“If God is just He doesn't punish the innocent.”

Hmmm, well, some things might seem like punishment but they’re not – they’re tests. One is strong in God because they’ve passed the tests. Virtue is their armor from the spears of the wrong-doers.

“If that is so then the Serpent or snake was guilty of a crime”

Pass the buck tactic already!

Zanjan: "The problem isn't with the text but with those who want it to say something it clearly doesn't. "

That's true. However, I think the difficulty is in being observant - looking at the details rather than the dynamics. That's the bigger problem.

How many people have noted that Eve's perspective had become bent, warped and twisted BEFORE she ate the forbidden fruit? Reminds me of looking into a moving pool of water to see one's own reflection.

Captain Nemo1: 2 corthinans 11:14..for Satan himself changes himself into an angel of Light to deceive people into believing. so it's late and can change himself into an angel of Light are an angel he could certainly change himself into the appearance of a serpent

Zanjan: Curiosity is a good thing, yet there are some things that one shouldn't be curious about - like other people's private business. Everything needs regulation and moderation - there are some places science shouldn't go either.

There has to be certain safety mechanisms in place to keep witless people on the straight and narrow. It was already too late when Eve bit into that fruit.

Zanjan: Smith, if one has spent a lot of time with their father, they'll easily recognize their father's voice. It's unique. There can be no mistaking who's talking.

What his voice means to you depends on whether you like/ love him or not.

Captain Nemo1: I know..Satan talking..glad you agree...

Cenababy: Why do we connect Genesis with Revelation in the case of the serpent?

Go read both, you might understand.

Zanjan: Why would that be important to you? Genesis is the ancient past - so lost in time, you can't prove it; and, most Christians don't believe anything in Revelations has happened yet. Some accept they're living in the latter days of Christianity - duh, it ain't the beginning or middle.

You can't know or prove anything that hasn't occurred.

Cenababy: I'll wait til I'm on a computer to respond.

ghostgeek: If God is all seeing then He would know if Satan had taken on the appearance of a serpent. Then He would have no cause to punish innocent snakes.

ghostgeek: What really gets to me is why so-called "believers" aren't prepared to believe the story that's written on the page. The text states plainly enough what the Serpent was:

Genesis 3:1 The snake was the most clever of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. The snake spoke to the woman and said, “Woman, did God really tell you that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” [ Easy-to-Read Version ]

It was a wild animal, not somebody in disguise. What the story is telling the world is the reason why snakes slither about on their bellies.

ghostgeek: If you read Kipling you will discover why elephants have long trunks. If you read the Old Testament you will discover why snakes slide across the ground. In both instances the animal in question could talk.

Captain Nemo1: Well Satan can enter into people and animals..in the book of Luke the herd of swine had the demon or demons named legion...many ppl demon possessed.true it does not say it was Satan in Genesis but there are many verses giving his attributes..I still hold to the belief it was him

Zanjan: Cena, while the cat's away, the mice will play - you might be interested in Ghost's topic about the Devil - we were just talking about where Satan is mentioned in the OT.

Zanjan: Ghost, ancient writings do appear like fairy tales for children. Still, all fairy tales have a moral that the child is supposed to understand - that's the whole point of the story. If the child doesn't get the punch line, why would they dicker over the opening paragraphs?

God doesn't use talking animals, action figures and pictuuuuur books anymore because we're all gown up.

Captain Nemo1: Speaking of talking animals..the account of baalams ass, as in donkey is a good one...that guy could not see the angel standing in the middle of the road,promping the donkey to take to the ditch..then when the owner starting beating him with out mercy,he spoke..with all the animal cruelty in the world today would it not be nice if God opened their mouths to speak...

ghostgeek: Somehow, I feel a few people have a misguided notion of who Satan is and what his role in the scheme of things might be. They see him as evil. This is not so:

In the Old Testament, then, Satan is not an evil principle opposing God. In Job "the Satan" is not God's adversary, but Job's. He Acts as one of God's subordinates/courtiers to follow his directives. (This view is premised on the idea that there is a difference in this being while he is still in heaven, rather than being cast out and being assigned to the realm of earth.) He does not seem, at this point, to be an adversary of all humans, but rather, of selected people. In Zechariah 3:1, he is a potential accuser; in 1 Chronicles 21:1, one inciting David to evil. Within the Job narrative, Satan Acts at God's directive. While 1:12; 2:6-7 point to Satan's causal role in Job's life, later texts like 6:4; 7:14; 9:17 appear to lay blame on God. Thus Satan carries out divine directives.

[ https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/satan/ ]

He's just putting in an honest day's work for the boss man.

ghostgeek: Has anyone wondered if ALL the animals could talk before the fall? Eve sure wasn't fazed by a talking snake, which suggests she was used to animals chatting to her.

Captain Nemo1: Well maybe not to all humans..but to most..there is alot in the Bible that is not mentioned..as in the gospel of John it says if all the works and miracles of Jesus had been told the books of the world could not contain them..so I'm sure there must be alot of Satan's works not mentioned in old testament

Captain Nemo1: Ty hydro...appreciate it

Zanjan: Smith: "with all the animal cruelty in the world today would it not be nice if God opened their mouths to speak..."

Er, no........just talking to a cruel person doesn't change them. A hefty fine and 10 years in prison, maybe. Everybody knows you don't friggin' beat an animal unless it's attacking you.

In both cases where I saw someone beating a defenseless animal, God intervened, saving me the effort of having to beat the crap out the abuser if necessary. That's one thing I can't walk away from, not ever. Yes, even a little old lady like me can leave a mark.

Zanjan: Ghost, animals CAN talk - you just have to learn their language. It's not difficult if you share affinity with them. Not everybody has that aptitude.

I've met dogs and elephants that are bilingual and some who aren't. They understand us. Even my bird understands me. Animal lovers have no problem communicating with any animal. Have you ever heard the story of Temple Grandin? It's a good one, trust me.

Eve wasn't communicating with an animal because animals don't know God.

By the way, there is no Satan in heaven. Heaven is the dwelling place of holy people, the true believers, those with divine virtues, the angels. Whereas, the garden of Eden is the garden of God = God's religion. Not many in religion are holy - religion is a school for people to learn how to be holy. Some graduate; some don't.

ghostgeek: The Book of Job tells us that Satan came strutting into God's divine council. So if Satan cannot be in heaven, where was the council being held?