16 Mar The Serpent, the truth-teller

Post 1:

The Serpent, the truth-teller

The interpretation of the serpent in Genesis is a truth-teller to me. My view argues that the serpent played a pivotal role in enlightening Adam and Eve, providing them with knowledge and freeing them from ignorance. The truth-teller emphasizes the serpent's statement that by eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve would " be like God, knowing good and evil". The most powerful statement being, “ You will not die” This is seen as a promise of enlightenment and increased awareness rather than a deceitful temptation. The serpent's role as a truth-teller is a direct challenge to the authority of God. Rather than portraying the serpent as a malevolent tempter, I think that the serpent sought to liberate humanity from a restrictive existence, urging them to question and seek knowledge. I view the serpent as a symbol of wisdom and enlightenment. Instead of condemning the serpent's actions, I argue that the serpent facilitated a transformation for Adam and Eve, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of the world and themselves. The act of disobedience, to me, is reframed as a pursuit of knowledge and autonomy, challenging the notion that the serpent's influence was solely negative. I see the serpent as a catalyst for human intellectual and moral development.

The truth-teller perspective encourages a reevaluation of the narrative, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and individual choice. Rather than viewing the serpent as a deceiver, I think that Adam and Eve made a conscious decision to seek knowledge and challenge the established order. More traditional views, cast the serpent as a trickster or tempter. The trickster interpretation encourages individuals to question authority, emphasizing the serpent's subversion of God's command. This could lead to a societal shift where people are more inclined to challenge established norms and rules, fostering a culture of critical thinking and independent judgment. To me, this thought process can lead to authority challenge, and mutiny, especially in my military world. Viewing the serpent as a trickster challenges the traditional moral framework that condemns disobedience. Interpreting the serpent in Genesis as a tempter carries significant societal implications, as it influences perceptions of morality, personal responsibility, and the consequences of succumbing to temptation. When the serpent says “ Your eyes will be opened” the temptation to see all, know all, and be all, was too great. Adam and Eve succumbed to this temptation, but ONLY because of the reward of knowledge. Did they follow the instructions? No, but was it wrong to want to know the unknown?

The tempter interpretation reinforces the idea of moral boundaries and the importance of resisting temptation. Societal implications may include a reinforcement of ethical standards and a focus on personal accountability for one's actions. Both of these interpretations are credible when I think about it, however I believe we were created in HIS image. With that comes intelligence, resolve, common sense, and reasoning. To me, Adam and Eve were too smart to be tricked, tempted yes, but tricked, absolutely not!

Post 2:

In Genesis 1-2:2 we learn of all the creations of God, and at the end of each creation we read "God saw that it was good". In Genesis 1:31 it states, "God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good." We have to stop and think that the reoccurring phase through these verses is "good". God created everything the way HE intended them to be.

The Garden of Eden in many senses was a Heaven. Beautifully created for man who was pure, innocent, and learned from every creation of God. God told man he could eat and prosper from any tree in the garden. However, in Genesis 2:18 God told man "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."

The serpent told Eve " you will be like God, knowing good and evil" and ensured her that she would not die. What did the Serpent know? Did it know that the tree was just like all the other "seeds" God had planted for wisdom? Was Eve a pawn to show that man could be flawed and not "good"? Was the Serpent disguised as the Devil? Tempting one to go against God and his words. Nonetheless, when Eve saw the tree, she saw that it was good for food, saw that it was delightful to the eye, just like the other trees. She gave in to temptation caused by curiosity sparked by the Serpent and took fruit from the tree.

Once the fruit was eaten, Adam and Eve's eyes were open, and they learned of good and evil. While they did not physically die as they previously feared, their innocence and purity died.

The Serpent tempted Eve with curiosity and the knowledge of God. To have the knowledge of God. Temptation led Eve away from her creator, away from goodness and the life He had built for them. A life of purity, happiness, innocence became that of pain, struggle, and hardships.