Page 79 - Foundations

This Native American expression is befitting of the being that appears in the opening chapters of
Genesis in the form of a serpent. Of this being the Son of God declared:

John 8:44
Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.

We can understand by these statements the unrighteous nature of Satan, yet the question that remains
to be answered is “What kind of being is Satan?” Certainly he is much more than a lowly snake. The
beast we recognize as a serpent typifies Satan’s character in the same way that a lamb is used as a
symbol for the Son of God, but it would be error to conclude that Satan is an actual snake even as it
would be error to conclude that Christ is a literal lamb.

There is much disagreement, and many diverse opinions, as to the relationship of the serpent of
Genesis 3 and Satan. Are we to understand that Satan took upon the form of a serpent when he
appeared to Eve? Is he able to alter his appearance to that of a beast? Or did Satan enter into this beast
in a similar manner as is indicated in the gospels where we are told that Satan entered into Judas, the
betrayer of God’s Son?

Luke 22:3-4
And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And
he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them.

That Satan is able to place very specific thoughts into men’s minds is very evident. In the Scripture
above we see him leading Judas to a very specific course of action which included speaking words
that were in harmony with his own wicked desires. We see a similar profound manifestation of
Satan’s ability to control men in the book of Job. Once Yahweh granted Satan permission to afflict
Job, we are informed of the awesome power of this angelic being to control precisely the thoughts
and actions of various groups of men.

Job 1:12-19
Then Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand
on him." So Satan departed from the presence of Yahweh. Now it happened on the day when his sons
and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, that a messenger came
to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans
attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have
escaped to tell you. " While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell
from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped
to tell you." While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three
bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword;
and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your
sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and behold,
a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on
the young people and they died; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

In a single moment of time, in a perfectly choreographed series of events, Satan was able to stir up