Thank you for the question on the identification of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, “What if the serpent in the garden of Adam and Eve wasn’t Satan?”
The question is a hypothetical one. If the serpent is not Satan, then one has to define or describe the “serpent” as well as define or describe “Satan.” The question then becomes are there any similarities or differences between those two entities.
Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration:
A. There is the narrative statement of the serpent and its condition.
- The serpent is described as one who tempts Eve by manipulation. He phrases the question as to cause her to focus on the forbidden fruit than on all the other fruits in the Garden. Genesis 3 says, “He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (NIV). This serpent acts contrary to the revealed will of God.
- The serpent is described as his seed is combative with the seed of the woman. There will be humans who now follow the serpent and there will be humans who follow God’s words. Genesis 3 says, “ 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers” (NIV). The serpent has influence over the humans in this world.
- The serpent hurts the seed of the woman while that person will crush his head. There will rise a person from the woman who will defeat the serpent, not just his followers. Genesis 3 says this, “15 he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (NIV). This event will happen in the future when that seed comes into this world.
- The serpent seeks to destroy the seed of the woman, starting with the death of Abel by Cain. The serpent will attempt to keep the prophetic word of God from happening to him. Genesis 4 says this, “Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him” (NIV). Rev. 12 says this, “The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter” (NIV).
- The serpent is called the devil or Satan. Revelation 12 says this, “9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him” (NIV). The Apostle John the ancient serpent is being the devil or Satan. The serpent or Satan seek the same things as destroying the seed of the child of the woman when Herod sent soldiers to kill the infants under two years old.
In Job 1–2, Satan used the same tactic as the serpent did with Eve on questioning the integrity of Job. He wanted Job to focus on his losses rather than on God. Job’s wife said this in Job 2, “9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said” (NIV).
SUMMARY: The character and the actions of the serpent and Satan are the same even as the serpent is called Satan.