The Fall of the Serpent in Eden
Every person has an Influence and that influence affects everyone around them.
Rom 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
"The influence of every man's thoughts and actions surrounds him like an invisible atmosphere, which is unconsciously breathed in by all who come in contact with him. This atmosphere is frequently charged with poisonous influences, and when these are inhaled, moral degeneracy is the sure result." {5T 111.1}
This is especially true of our families
Matt 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
This principle goes right back to the Garden in Eden and affects not only human beings but also the animals under the dominon of man.
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent [H5175] was more subtil [H6175] than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Satan assumes the form of a serpent, and enters Eden. The serpent was a beautiful creature, with wings; and while flying through the air, his appearance was bright, resembling burnished gold. He did not go upon the ground, but went from place to place through the air, and ate fruit like man. Satan entered into the serpent, and took his position in the tree of knowledge, and commenced leisurely eating of the fruit. {1SP 35.1}
Satan assumed the form of a serpent - at the beginning of the paragraph and yet Satan entered into the serpent - at end of paragraph. On the next page we notice:
Eve's curiosity was aroused. Instead of fleeing from the spot, she listened to hear a serpent talk. It did not occur to her mind that it might be that fallen foe, using the serpent as a medium. 1SP 36.1
The serpent was cursed for being a medium.
As the serpent had been exalted above the beasts of the field, he should be degraded beneath them all, and be detested by man, inasmuch as he was the medium through which Satan acted. 1SP 43
The serpent was one of the wisest creatures in the garden.
Satan chose to employ as his medium the serpent--a disguise well adapted for his purpose of deception. The serpent was then one of the wisest and most beautiful creatures on the earth. PP 53
If a creature is described as wise what does this mean? Why was the serpent cursed? In our understanding of the character of God was this wisest of creatures cursed by God?
Something I pondered. Adam and Eve were given dominion over all the animals in the garden. Gen 1:26. What takes place in the Divine Pattern when Eve separates from her husband? Is there a Divine Pattern breach created?
The angels had cautioned Eve to beware of separating herself from her husband while occupied in their daily labor in the garden; with him she would be in less danger from temptation than if she were alone. But absorbed in her pleasing task, she [54] unconsciously wandered from his side. On perceiving that she was alone, she felt an apprehension of danger, but dismissed her fears, deciding that she had sufficient wisdom and strength to discern evil and to withstand it. PP 53,54
When Eve decided she had sufficient wisdom OUTSIDE what she was instructed by the angels did she place the animals in the garden in jeopardy? They were under her dominion.
Otherwise how is it possible for Satan to enter into the serpent and why was the serpent cursed as a result of being a medium for Satan? How could Satan take control of this beautiful creature that was under the dominion of righteous Adam? Is there a divine pattern issue here? Did the wise serpent have to give some kind of consent to Satan entering into it? To us the serpent has no such capacity to work on a level to allow such a thing. But why was this allowed to take place unless the divine pattern violation of Eve placed the serpent in danger. Her neglect to stay in the channel weakened the protection of the serpent from Lucifer. Is this possible. Otherwise Satan apparently has free access to creatures not under his dominion and God arbitrarily condemns the serpent for a lesson for us.
Notice this statement on animals:
If animals could speak, what deeds of horror would be revealed,--what tales of suffering, because of the perversity of man's temper! How often those creatures of God's care suffer pain, endure hunger and thirst, because they cannot make known their wants. And how often is it determined by the mercy or the caprice of man, whether they receive attention and kindness, or neglect and abuse. Punishment given in passion to an animal is frequently excessive, and is then absolute cruelty. Animals have a kind of dignity and self-respect, akin to that possessed by human beings. If abused, under the influence of blind passion, their spirits will be crushed, and they will become nervous, irritable, and ungovernable. ST Nov 25 1880
Animals were created with dignity and self-respect akin to humans.
Eve dismissed her fears and when she first discovered she was alone. She decided she had sufficient wisdom to deal with things. Did this same thing happen to the winged serpent? Did it feel it had sufficient wisdom and fell like Eve to be used as a medium even as Eve fell and was used as a medium to tempt Adam to fall?
A heavy curse rested upon the Serpent in Eden, because he was the medium Satan used to tempt our first parents to transgress. And whoever yields themselves to subvert others, a heavy curse from God will follow them. (Solemn Appeal) SA 77
What was Adam’s relationship to nature as the one who had dominion over nature?
The mysteries of the visible universe--"the wondrous works of Him which is [51] perfect in knowledge" (Job 37:16)--afforded them an exhaustless source of instruction and delight. The laws and operations of nature, which have engaged men's study for six thousand years, were opened to their minds by the infinite Framer and Upholder of all. They held converse with leaf and flower and tree, gathering from each the secrets of its life. With every living creature, from the mighty leviathan that playeth among the waters to the insect mote that floats in the sunbeam, Adam was familiar. He had given to each its name, and he was acquainted with the nature and habits of all. God's glory in the heavens, the innumerable worlds in their orderly revolutions, "the balancings of the clouds," the mysteries of light and sound, of day and night--all were open to the study of our first parents. PP 51.
Robe of light reflected helped Adam and Eve to see lessons in nature
A beautiful soft light, proceeding from God, enshrouded the holy pair, and was reflected from every object upon which they looked. God was their teacher, and in the beauties of nature around them his lessons were repeated. The invisible things of God were clearly seen and understood by the things which he had made. {ST, January 28, 1897 par. 1}
From the evidence collected it would appear that as Eve stepped outside of the divine pattern it created a breach in the hedge of protection for the animals in the garden. Satan assumed the form of a serpent and then through some form of communication with the serpent allowed itself to be possessed by Satan and be used by him. If Eve had stayed by her husband's side as the Angel's introduced her then Satan would not have been able to have the access to the serpent that he did. The implications of this are far reaching. Our thoughts and actions influence others and when we step from the divine pattern we have an influence on those under us to also be affected by that spirit.
