If you’ve ever wondered about the talking serpent in Genesis 3 or where in the universe Satan came from, I’ll answer these questions today.
(The post below is not a transcript of the video. It covers the same material but it’s a little different.)
Where Did SATAN Come From?
LUCIFER
Satan was once one of—if not the— most magnificent of angels. Originally, his name was Lucifer, which means Light Bearer or Morning Star.
Lucifer served God until pride rose up in his heart. He was no longer satisfied with his blessed position. Rather than serve God, he wanted to be God.
And he actually thought he could pull it off.
In his deluded mind, he believed he could kick God off of His throne.
Not even the brightest theologians in history have been able to determine how sin could be born in the heart of one who had once been so pure—so close to God. But it did.
This mystery belongs to God.
“The secret things belong to the LORD”
— Deuteronomy 29:29
Lucifer somehow managed to gather an army of angels to shift their allegiance from God to him—from life to death. From friends of God to enemies of God.
Satan and his band of demons attempted mutiny but soon found out an unchanging Truth: God is invincible. He can’t be overthrown.
“I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God.”
— Isaiah 45:5
Lucifer failed, and God flung him and his demons out of heaven to earth.
“How you are fallen from heaven,
— Isaiah 14:12-15
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
But you are brought down to Sheol,
to the far reaches of the pit.”
“And he [Jesus] said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’”
— Luke 10:18
LUCIFER BECOMES SATAN
This dark angel was no longer called Lucifer. He became known forever afterward as Satan ( “adversary”) and the devil (“false accuser” and “slanderer”).
He has a few other nicknames as well, like tempter, liar, and murderer.
After God cast Satan out of heaven, his heart remained hardened. He didn’t repent of his evil. Instead, he changed tactics.
Rather than going after God directly, he went after God’s most beloved creation—Adam and Eve.
Which is where the serpent comes in.
Who Was the SERPENT?
In Genesis 3, a talking serpent tempted Eve to rebel against God and eat the fruit He’d told them not to eat.
The Bible doesn’t tell us anything about the serpent in the text of Genesis, but Revelation 12:9 gives us a pretty strong clue to who he is.
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
— Revelation 12:9
Yep. The serpent in the garden was a real serpent that Satan had entered. As a spiritual being, Satan isn’t confined to the physical, thus he could enter individuals or animals.
Luke 22:3 tells us that Satan entered Jesus’ disciple Judas and influenced him to betray Jesus.
In Mark 5, a legion of demons had entered a man, and then Jesus sent them into a herd of pigs.
A TALKING SERPENT?
If you’re like me, you’ve wondered why Eve didn’t appear to think it strange that a serpent could talk. The Bible doesn’t tell us, but we do know that at this point in history, no animals were threatening.
We also know Eve was well aware that God can do anything. Why would she be surprised if He’d made a talking serpent? Neither fear nor suspicion had yet darkened her heart. She had no reason to be wary of this creature or anything.
But then Satan entered the serpent, and sin entered the world. (Details coming up in Genesis 3 post & video.)
TRUTHS TO KNOW ABOUT SATAN
Satan is God’s enemy—and ours.
He’s powerful, but he’s not omnipotent (all-powerful).
He’s clever, but he’s not omniscient (all-knowing).
He’s active, but he’s not omnipresent (all-everywhere). He can only be in one place at one time, and He can’t read our minds.
One day God will destroy Satan, but until then, God allows Satan to move and work his evil. But never outside of God’s good purposes.
God has Satan on a tight leash. He must have God’s permission to do anything.
The Bible warns us to be wary of the schemes of Satan and his fiery darts, but we are never to be consumed by him. He cannot possess Christians. The Holy Spirit lives in us. He’s not sharing space with Satan.
We are to be consumed with Jesus. Don’t look for Satan and his works under every rock. Look for God’s hand in all things.
THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT—NOT
We live in a world that wants to blame Satan for all evil. But most of the evil activity we see is actually a result of the sin in our own hearts.
We do evil because evil is in our hearts.
I hate to say that, but it’s true. Satan can tempt Christians, but he can’t make us do anything. And he can’t tempt us personally except one by one. He’s not omnipresent or omnipotent. Remember. Most temptation comes from our hearts.
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.”
— James 4:1-2
Satan is powerful, but his power is limited. Satan doesn’t determine the number of our days. God does.
He can’t steal our children’s lives or ours. No one can steal anything from God.
Yes, evil people commit murders and other atrocities under Satan’s influence or the influence of the sin in their own hearts. But nothing happens outside of God’s good purposes.
We can trust God’s character and rest in it when things happen in our lives or world that we don’t understand.
When evil seems to be winning, we can rest in the Truth that our good and loving God is in control, and He works all things for good. Only God can do this kind of work. And He does. Faithfully.
Do not fear Satan. Fear God.
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
— Matthew 10:28
This verse says that there are those who can kill the body, but remember: Satan doesn’t determine the number of our days. God does.
Satan is active and so are his demons, but Christians have no reason to fear Him. We are safe in Christ.
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
— Romans 8:38-39
SATAN IS GOD’S DEVIL
Satan may be the devil, but as Martin Luther declared, Satan is God’s devil. He obeys God against his own will, but he obeys him nonetheless.
For those who don’t belong to Christ, the Bible says they are enemies of God. But He offers friendship to those who will repent of their sin, trust in Christ, and surrender to Him as Lord.
We can trust Him always. Even with the things we don’t understand, like how Satan (or anyone) could prefer to be God’s enemy than his friend.
Your lessons are so engaging, Jean. I’m enjoying each one.
Thanks so much, Jeannie. I appreciate the encouragement. I pray that these videos will draw people into God’s Word. That they’ll see God’s Word isn’t dry and boring. It’s exciting and life-giving.