Henry Law
Taken, with editing, from Law’s Beacons of the Bible.
Genesis 3:1. The serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field.
Evil is universally present. It lives in every clime, in every age, in every heart. No place is exempt. While great diversity marks the intellect and powers and characters of men, each and all breathe this common atmosphere.
The thought naturally arises, How could this monster first spring into life? Who is the author of its being? It is, however, the part of wisdom quickly to check enquiries which might exercise our search for ever, but answers must for ever elude us. The mystery of sin’s birth is shrouded in impenetrable clouds. It lies beneath unfathomable depths. It sits above heights inaccessible. The secret is not unveiled on earth. It is vain then to grope in darkness. It is folly to speculate, when the utmost gain must be disappointment. Thought and time are lost when we pursue a fleeting phantom. They who pass from guess to guess, on this subject, find that their progress is from ignorance to ignorance. How sin gained its first breath must be unknown until the day of larger revelations.
But while we give no heed to speculations, which only darken knowledge, it becomes us to ponder reverently the revelations of the Bible. We have a record of sin’s descent upon our world. Its introduction into man’s heart is told us. The story indeed is brief. Only a few black lines are drawn. The full portrait is not filled up. But the awful transaction is disclosed, and it affects us too closely to permit indifference. Let us then draw near, with solemn minds. And may the one great Spirit of eternal truth guide our feet into rich pastures of sanctifying wisdom!
Creation, springing from the Creator’s hand, was perfect. It was worthy of the all-good Maker. “God created man in His own image: in the image of God created He him” (Gen 1:27). “God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Gen 1:31). The wisdom, love and power of God could not have raised a fairer fabric.
Thus Eden’s garden was beyond improvement. Our first parents – pure in holiness, rich in every grace, the unsullied reflection of God’s own nature – moved amid perfect scenes. The glory of their state was this: they were the image of God. This was the glory of their dwelling: God pronounced it to be “very good”. Thus earth needed no accession of delight. Man joyed in all around him, all within him, all above him. Around was every charm; within was happy innocence; above was a kind Father. God was everywhere and in everything. But, believer, while you marvel at this dazzling brightness, remember there is something inconceivably better in store for you; bless God for this heavenly hope.
Eden’s sun is soon eclipsed. This bright day soon darkens, Into this Paradise the Serpent comes. Simple are the words which introduce the monster. “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.” He appears, and his work soon betrays him. The work is subtle evil. This fact alone establishes that he is more than his assumed form pretends. He resembles one of the beautiful creatures in this garden’s paths. Yet they are irrational, gifted only with limited powers of instinct. But here is one, who, seeming to be a serpent, uses speech, reasons with consummate skill, and evidences the depths of evil. He must be more than a mere serpent who has more than a serpent’s powers and wiles. Thus we must conclude that the devil, to accomplish his vile ends, hides himself beneath this mask, clothes himself with the unsuspected features of a creature of Paradise.
The Spirit of God attests this fact. Speaking of the devil, He names him “that old serpent”. Unveiling some of the terrific wonders of the last days, He says, “The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan” (Rev 12:9). And again, “I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand: and he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years” (Rev 20:1,2). The Spirit, foreshowing Satan’s ruin, names him as the creature in whose form he here appears. The old serpent which crept into Paradise is the devil. Paul adds his heaven-taught confirmation. Surely the devil is before his eye when he warns the Corinthians “lest, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety,” so their minds should be corrupted (2 Cor 11:3).
Thus the disguise drops; the mask falls; the veil is withdrawn; the deception is detected; the plot is discovered; the treachery is disclosed; the craft is visible. This is no innocuous creature. This is not one of a beautiful tribe, ignorant of evil. Here is the devil, that apostate spirit, that accursed being, that arch-rebel, that daring adversary of God, that merciless foe of man. Eden’s serpent truly is the devil. His work declares him. God’s Word denounces him. Taking our stand on this indisputable fact, let us humbly pray the great Teacher of the Church to impress upon our hearts the obvious warnings.
1. The devil is a real person.
This account is no myth, no dream, no vision, no fable, no allegory. It narrates the real conduct of a real person. It is not amusement for imaginative minds. All is historic truth and unvarnished fact. Here are the doings of an actual living being. As God truly is, and Christ truly is, and the Holy Spirit truly is, and we truly are, just so the devil truly is. Works prove a workman. Acts show an agent. So real performances stamp a real devil.
These are days in which proud reason sneers at ancient truths, and regards Bible statements as materials for the construction of airy palaces of conceit. Do not be deceived. As the serpent beguiled Eve, so now he beguiles unstable minds. As he persuaded her to view him as a friendly counsellor, so he persuades them to regard him as a shadowy semblance of some vague mystery. Do not listen to such dreams. The Bible does not begin with enigmas. It is not constructed to puzzle and perplex. Do not trifle with the faithful statement, but be assured that there is no truth more tremendously true than the existence of a personal devil. Watch then and pray. He is always personally near, for he “walketh about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet 5:8). Bar the doors of your heart. He seeks to make that heart his personal home. He is the “spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph 2:2).
2. The devil is a hater of God.
Who hates God most? Surely he who most contravenes His will. Of the devil’s original rebellion, nothing should be said, for nothing can be proved. But here a patent fact evidences his enmity. He aims directly to upset God’s plans. He arms himself in bold opposition. He sees God’s arrangement, and he sets himself to disarrange it. He views creation bright in every beauty, and he plots to soil it. He marks the birth of an eternity of pure delights, and he arises to infuse the element of misery. God had made man in His own likeness. Satan comes forward to destroy the holy image, and to transform the heavenly work into fuel for his hell. He seems to reason thus: Man is formed to show forth God’s praise and to be His delight. But this benevolence shall fail. Man shall be robbed of innocence; he shall be debased into a rebel as fallen as I am, an object meet only for abhorrence. Thus he schemes; thus he lifts up his arm boldly to fight against God. See then how he hates God.
Reader, if you profess to love God, where is your evidence? Do you abhor the fiend, who from the beginning has strained his every power to subvert God’s kingdom? Do the warm feelings of your heart respond: I hate him who hates my God; God’s foes are my foes; His friends my friends; I avow myself to be His soldier and His servant; I march beneath the banner of the God of heaven against the legions of the god of this world?
3. The devil is a hater of mankind.
Who hates them most? Surely he who most contrives their misery. In Eden there was sweet bliss. Every faculty was the inlet of God. Every thought was full of Him, was only joy. The morning dawned to bring God near. The day advanced to bring Him nearer. The closing evening closed not the communion. Sinless man lived in the raptures of heavenly converse. His breast was cloudless sunshine. Satan beholds and writhes. What, shall man share the peace which himself has lost, and joy in joys which never can be his again? Such bliss is torture to him. He will not rest till he uproots it. Such happiness stings him as a gnawing worm. He must destroy it. He dwells in wretchedness, and he now comes to drag others down to his level. Earth had never heard a sigh or seen a tear until this enemy of happiness appeared. Since that day pains and anguish have run a ceaseless course. His aim was to create misery, and mercilessly he succeeded.
Sad that the sons of men should lend their ears so gladly to their deadliest foe and drink so readily this viper’s poison! What madness to court the embrace of such an enemy, to admit this murderer to our abode, to open the door to the known robber! This is their madness who receive this hater of our race.
4. The devil is most daring.
Truly nothing daunts him. His case is hopeless; therefore he is reckless. Paradise was divinely pure, but he undaunted rushes in. When man was heavenly as heaven, boldly he addresses him. Is he more timid now? Far otherwise. There is no place so pure that his foot fears to tread it. There is no holiness so holy that he does not venture to touch. His hand will open the sacred gate; his foot will pass the boundary of every sacred enclosure. The sanctity of Jesus scared him not. No heaven-appointed ordinances repel his step. He whispers to the praying saint. He mounts the pulpit steps. He joins the worshippers in hallowed courts. He comes to sacramental feasts. Sacred is the saint’s dying chamber, but he shoots his arrows there. His daring cannot be exceeded.
Believer, labour to grow in grace. Each day put on more of the Lord Jesus. Agonise for nearer conformity to His image. Fly with quicker wing to the heights of holiness. But bear in mind that, as you rise, the tempter will pursue you still.
5. The devil is consummate in skill.
He watches for the fit opportunity, and then applies the fit snare. Eve is alone; then he is by her side. Mark the artfully-constructed snare. The object is to introduce sin. Sin is transgression of God’s command. Our parents had free permission for full enjoyment. In this permission there is no door for disobedience. But there is one – one only prohibition. If guilt can enter, it must be by this path. The trial shall be made. The seducing words are few; but they comprise all art.
A doubt is first insinuated: “Hath God said?” Is it truly so? There may be some mistake. A spark to kindle discontent next falls: “Ye shall not eat of every tree”; is this consistent with unbounded kindness? Why this arbitrary limit? A bold denial of danger follows: “Ye shall not surely die”; it is a futile threat. A promise of abundant gain completes the lure: “Your eyes shall be opened”. The skill is perfect.
Reader, beware. He who tempts you this day has not declined in subtlety. No, the experience of long age sharpens, if possible, his cunning. The school of incessant practice teaches him to cast the net more craftily. He ever has been, and ever will be, matchless in cunning.
6. The devil does not shrink from the blackest sin.
His first appearance shows that there is no iniquity so foul but he will handle it, no depth of evil so profound but he will fathom it. He commences with trampling down all truth: “Ye shall not surely die”. He rises upon earth the meridian orb of crime. He blushes not nor trembles nor pauses nor scruples. His earliest words are the lie of lies. So now he allures each victim to the extremity of evil. He never will forbear, while he can plunge them deeper in sin’s abyss. The vilest iniquities are most congenial to his nature. Do not go one step with him. There is no finality in his downward course.
7. The devil has awful power.
Weak agents fail. Difficulties baffle them. But he is not baffled. His first victory was hard to win. But he quickly won it. Eve had no inward proneness to yield. No inborn corruption betrayed the entrance of her heart. Her citadel was firm in walls and bars of innocence. But still he succeeded. He gained admission and set up his throne of conquest. Can there be clearer proof of his transcendent powers?
Reader, beware. All his mighty arts plot your destruction. The innocent fell when attacked only from without. How can you stand, when a legion of traitorous desires are ready to surrender? His outward solicitations are aided by your inward lusts. If you escape, a stronger than this strong one must befriend you.
Such is the Serpent’s aspect in Eden. Here the description ceases. Other Scriptures unfold a lengthened roll of his malignant might. As man’s history advances, his cruelty and wiles swell into more frightful form. His annals are a vast catalogue of his foul exploits. The first picture presents only this broad outline. But it is a clear display of Satan’s reality, his hatred to God and man, his daring, his skill, his deep iniquity and his tremendous power.
Believer, this conqueror is conquered. Captivity is led captive. The spoiler is spoiled. This strong one is bound. You are rescued. You are safe. True, he will oft assail, affright, roll you in the mire, and wound your peace; but he cannot destroy. His might is great, but your Almighty deliverer is far greater. His hosts are many; your one Jesus Himself is infinitely more. He indeed desires to have you and his efforts are terrible and incessant; but your Jesus ever lives to pray for you, and His prayers are ever heard.
Therefore, go forward, strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. “Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand” (Eph 6:13). Fear not. Christ is with you. Do not be dismayed; He is your God. Resist this foe and he will flee (Jas 4:7). Raise the banner of the cross and he will tremble. Wash in the blood and he cannot touch you. Cry to the Captain of Salvation and all heaven aids you. Thus go on your heavenward way rejoicing. “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Rom 16:20).
In Christ you may victoriously shout, “O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end”. Thou hast wounded, but Christ has healed. Death was brought in by thee, but eternal life brightens through Christ.