Snake Conversations
Genesis 3:1-6 [READ]
Introduction: Iron Eyes Cody was the Native American who appeared in the old “Keep America Beautiful” TV commercials. He told an Indian legend from many years ago. Indian youths would go away in solitude to prepare for manhood. One such youth hiked into a beautiful valley, green with trees & bright with flowers. There he looked up at the surrounding mountains, and noticed one tall rugged peak, capped with dazzling white snow. “I will test myself against that mountain,” he thought. He put on his buffalo-hide shirt, threw his blanket over his shoulders and set off to climb the peak. When he reached the top he stood on the rim of the world. He could see forever, and his heart swelled with pride. Then he heard a rustle at his feet, and looking down, saw a snake. Before he could move, the snake spoke. “I am about to die,” said the snake. “It is too cold for me up here, and I am freezing. There is no food, and I am starving. Please, put me under your shirt and take me down into the valley.” “No,” said the youth. “I am forewarned. I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite, and your bite will kill me.” “Not so,” said the snake. “I will treat you differently. If you do this for me, you will be special. I will not harm you.” The youth resisted for awhile, but this was a very persuasive snake, with beautiful markings. At last the youth took pity on the reptile, picked it up, tucked it under his shirt, and carried it down into the valley. There he laid it gently on the grass, when suddenly the snake coiled, rattled, and struck—biting him on the leg. “But you promised!” cried the youth. “You knew what I was when you picked me up” said the snake as he slithered away.
>>What would you do if you were out minding your own business, and a snake spoke to you? Most people hate snakes. 51% of Americans admit to fearing them. They don’t even like to get near them, much less chat with one. If I encountered a snake that spoke to me, I think my reaction would be to hand someone my car keys and ask them to drive me home. But if one spoke to you, what would you do? That’s assuming that you’d recognize it as a snake, as something to be avoided or resisted. Snakes come in many forms. Out in the jungle, you’re on the lookout for snakes, but not so much in more familiar environs—like your church, your family, or your TV. Many people welcome snakes into their lives, listen to them, take their advice, and pay for having done so:
Ex: The harried executive just has a few drinks at night to relax and unwind from his stress-filled days. At least, that’s how it starts. Then there are a few more drinks, a little earlier in the day. Then there is the chronic addiction called alcoholism that begins choking out his relationships, his career, even his life.
Ex: The attractive young wife is neglected by her husband and begins to dabble with little “innocent” flirtations. Then one gets out of hand, explodes into a full-blown affair, and becomes adultery that takes her marriage by the throat to kill it.
Ex: The accountant is in a bind and uses a few dollars that don’t belong to him. The intent is to replace the money in just a few days—what’s the harm? No one will ever know. But the “few” become a “few more” and become embezzlement.
Many aspects of this famous passage are mysterious and intriguing: we aren’t told how the snake is able to speak, for example, nor the reasons for its malevolent agenda. What the author wants us to see is that Eve talks to this serpent, and as a result succumbs to temptation. A temptation isn’t really a temptation if you don’t talk with it. Snakes that we’ve always avoided when we’ve seen them coming don’t really tempt us—it’s the ones we’ll talk to, that engage us in conversation, that can poison or constrict us if we accept what they say. So the question for us is how to avoid getting snakebitten—how can we as God’s people successfully resist temptation? This passage provides us with a temptation test case. We can’t blame Eve’s actions on her environment, and certainly not on her heredity! We see in this story the clear working of temptation, and so can learn how better to resist the snake when it speaks to us. In II Corinthians 11:3 Paul expresses his concern to the Corinthian Christ followers: “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” By examining the snake’s tactics, we might learn something about resisting temptation. So here’s how those snakes like to operate:
I. Snakes raise questions about God’s Word (1-3)
A. The snake questions Eve about God’s commandment (1)
1. It asks a seemingly innocent question
a. Overtones of criticism of God for being unfair
b. Original account emphasizes God’s generosity (2:16)
c. Suggests God has placed unreasonable restrictions
2. APP: What snake conversation have you had that suggests that God (or life) was being unfair to you? That you’re getting the short end of the stick? That you deserve better?
B. Eve misremembers what God had said (2-3)
1. She disparages the privileges God had given (2-3a)
2. She expanded the prohibition God had given (3b)
3. She minimized the penalty God had given (3c)
>>Having questioned God’s Word, it’s a short step to then question God’s integrity.
II. Snakes question God’s integrity (4-5)
A. The snake accuses God of lying (4)
1. Having planted seeds of doubt, the snake flatly denies God’s Word, attacking both God’s truthfulness & His trustworthiness
2. Here is the lie that has allured humanity from the beginning—that sin has no consequences. We all buy that from time to time, but so says the snake.
3. APP: What snake conversation have you had that led you to minimize the consequences of sin? Remember, your most trivial sin is the reason Jesus had to suffer.
B. The snake attributes bad motives to God (5)
1. It holds out the prospect of becoming like God, and so follow it in usurping the created order. The temptation isn’t so much about eating fruit as it is acknowledging God as God.
2. It says, in effect, “you can trust me more than you can trust God.”
3. ILLUS: Kaa the Snake, from Disney’s cartoon version of The Jungle Book:
Trust in me, just in me
Shut your eyes, and trust in me
You can sleep safe and sound knowing I am around
Slip into silent slumber, sail on a silver mist
Slowly and surely your senses will cease to resist
Trust in me, just in me
Shut your eyes, and trust in me
>>The tempter’s work is now done. The snake slithers off, having removed the barrier to eating—Eve was no longer convinced God would punish them for it—and having given a rationalization—Eve thought God was holding out on them. The snake had spoken.
III. Snakes win when we appeal to our sensual desires (6)
A. Note that the snake does not invite Eve to eat the fruit.
1. Provided an alternative to what God had said
2. Implied that Eve should judge for herself what is right.
B. Snakes conversations do not involve compulsion. When Eve & Adam rebel against God, they do so of their own volition, and accordingly are responsible for their actions.
C. When we appeal to our sensual desires, the snake wins.
1. James 1:14-15 says we are tempted when we are
"dragged away & enticed by our own evil desires."
2. Example of beautiful, attractive, available woman— seeing is fine, but the snake enters the conversation when you say to yourself, “I want her.”
3. ILLUS: Drew Anderson was shopping with his wife at a mall kiosk, when a shapely young woman in a short, form-fitting dress strolled by. His eyes followed her. When he looked back at his wife, she asked, “Was that worth the trouble you’re in?”
D. APP: Be encouraged! We can silence the snakes!
1. James 4:7 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
2. I Cor. 10:13 “God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. When you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
>>So how do we silence the snakes? (BIG IDEA) By knowing God’s Word, trusting God’s goodness, and guarding our hearts for God.
I. We can silence the snakes by knowing God’s Word
A. Scripture is filled with exhortations to know and use God’s Word
B. Survey of Discipleship Journal readers: 81% said temptations were more potent when they had neglected time with God.
C. APP: Get into God’s Word, and the snakes will fall silent
II. We can silence the snakes by trusting God’s goodness
A. Saying “no” to temptation is saying “yes” to something far better
B. Many temptations come packaged as something good.
C. ILLUS: Lord of the Rings: temptation to use the ring against evil, but it cannot be wielded
III. We can silence the snakes by guarding our hearts for God
A. Prov 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”
B. APP: 3 good ways to guard your heart
1. Prayer (84% of Discipleship Journal respondents)
2. Avoiding compromising situations (76%)
a. Hee Haw: Doc Campbell confronted by patient who says he broke his arm in two places. Doc replies, “Well then, stay out of them places!” Good advice, actually.
b. You cannot be caught someplace you’ve never been.
c. Flee temptation (pay at the pump, turn monitor around)
3. Accountability (52%)
a. Archibald Hart: “Accountability to another is the only way to safeguard against poor judgment, unconscious motives, and self-deception.”
b. Get into some life-changing relationships in a Hope Group
Conclusion: Grant Williams chose an unusual pet. The 19-year-old from the Bronx bought a python for $300. It turned out to be a bad decision. Williams was found dead of asphyxiation in the hallway outside his apartment. A neighbor found him lying in a pool of blood, with the 13-foot snake wrapped around his neck. It had turned on him, taking his life. Williams had decided to feed his pet a live chicken. Experts say the 44-pound python must have gone wild over the scent, attacked its owner, and mistaken his master for his meal.
We take certain “pet vices” to ourselves—that’s even what we call them—and dare them to hurt us. Too often, that’s exactly what they do. Here’s our challenge for this week: stop tolerating snake conversations. Be honest, face up to the snakes, name them for what they are, and silence them. Silence the snakes by knowing God’s Word, trusting God’s goodness, and guarding our hearts. Snakes are designed and programmed to kill. Keep talking to them, and one will get through.
