The Crafty Serpent

Genesis 3:1–5 ESV

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Thesis/ Central Idea:

The serpent is shrewd, deceitful and schemes evil for and against the people of God and His Will.

Introduction:

(Discuss the Hebrew interpretation of the text)

Crafty 6874 “a-rum” > Naked 6873 “a-rom”

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 6874 עָרוּם

6874 עָרוּם (ʿā·rûm): adj.; ≡ Str 6175; TWOT 1698c—1. LN 32.24–32.41 prudent, shrewd, crafty, discerning, sensible, i.e., pertaining to wisdom and shrewdness in the management of affairs, showing a capacity for understanding (Pr 12:16, 23; 13:16; 14:8, 15, 18; 22:3; 27:12+), note: often referring to prudent, wise persons; 2. LN 88.262–88.270 crafty, clever, i.e., pertaining to being tricky and cunning, with a focus on evil treachery (Ge 3:1; Job 5:12; 15:5+)

Job 15:5 ESV

5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 6873 עָרוֹם

6873 עָרוֹם (ʿā·rôm): adj.; ≡ Str 6174; TWOT 1588c—1. LN 49 naked, i.e., pertaining to being unclothed and bare-skinned, in some contexts implying shame, others as destitution (Ge 2:25; 1Sa 19:24; Job 1:21; 22:6; 24:7, 10; Ecc 5:14[EB 15]; Isa 20:2, 3, 4; 58:7; Hos 2:5[EB 3]; Am 2:16; Mic 1:8+), note: in some contexts “inadequately clothed” is a possible meaning; 2. LN 83.23–83.32 have no barrier, near, formally, naked, i.e., be in a close proximity to something, implying a dominance over that thing (Job 26:6+)

Job 26:6 ESV

6 Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.

The serpent played with Eve by insinuating you’re not that special, you are an animal like me

God wants us to trust Him, there is no need to bother the tree in the midst of the garden while you have everything else you need

Once again self-control will need to be demonstrated by humankind

[Let’s discuss the devices of our enemy…]

The Serpent is Shrewd

5948 shrewdness

Astuteness or craftiness in dealings with others, especially in using one’s understanding and judgment to one’s own advantage. Scripture commends it when it is seen in wise words and actions directed towards a worthy goal, but condemns it when it takes the form of cunning and deceitful scheming for sinful and selfish ends.

Shrewdness as crafty and deceitful scheming

Human sinfulness is often crafty

Acts 13:10 ESV

10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?

Those opposed to the ways of God, do so through scheming and craftiness...

The craftiness of Jesus Christ’s enemies

Matthew 22:15–17 ESV

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

[Next we’ll see another, yet similar tactic of the serpent…]

The Serpent is Deceitful

6145 deceit

Behaviour, in words or actions, which is deliberately intended to make people believe things that are not true.

6146 deceit, and God’s nature

Deceit is totally contrary to the nature and purposes of God. The gospel is grounded in the complete truthfulness and trustworthiness of God, whereas sin is based upon self-deception.

Satan’s power rests on deception

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The human race in it’s fallen state follows closely the ways of it’s tempter

We have to get out of ourselves, resist our selfishness along with it’s desires, and pursue truth which is outside of us and comes from God

False prophets and false teachers rely on deception

2 Corinthians 11:11–13 ESV

11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

[Earthly plots are darkened by temporal thinking which oppose God’s will for us…]

The Serpent Schemes Evil

6186 imagination, evil scheming

Human thinking, darkened by sin, expressed in plans which are in opposition to God and which seek to take advantage of others.

Human thought is darkened by sin

Rejecting God’s revelation leads to sin

Romans 1:21 ESV

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Man basest instinct is to honor himself, this leads to foolish and futile thinking

We place in the role of honor other men and worldly gain and power, pursuing these things at our spiritual peril

Satan’s activity leads to sin

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The first born nature of men has has difficulty seeing the light of the gospel

Jesus example is so contrary to basic human instinct that it stands out like a sore thumb for all of us to witness and event pricking our hearts and curiosity

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

We once followed those devised schemes but now an escape from our natural wrath is available through Jesus

Conclusion:

Let’s not fall for the devices of the one who opposes us

Understand that the enemy is

Shrewd

Deceitful/ Crafty

Ever Scheming

Resist the craftiness of the tongue and operate with self-control

Self-Control will lead us into righteousness and will hold off the evil one

Look to the oddity that is the suffering servant who died for our sins

Trust Him and obey His commands

His sacrifice on Calvary’s cross can be your cure for sin as it was for Moses and Isreal in the wilderness

Invitation: