But remember that in His story, He establishes Himself as God of all the omnis \u2014 He is omnipotent (all-powerful), He is omnipresent (everywhere), He is omniscient (all-knowing), He is omni-benevolent (all-loving). Thus, since He is all these things, He knew from the beginning how all of history would play out, and for reasons known only to Him, He chose to reveal His story to us in the places, time, and manner that He has. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, this certainly doesn\u2019t make all the weird stuff go away, but if we believe in the God of all the omnis, we will have to decide to trust Him and dive headfirst into His omni-amazing story. The sooner that we do so, the sooner we will begin to get a grip on where we might fit into His great story<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That brings us to remembering my second suggestion<\/strong> from the last article \u2014 the Bible was written for you, not to you<\/em><\/strong>. It\u2019s His story<\/a>, written to particular people groups, in particular cultural contexts, over a period of, at least, 1,500 years<\/a>. It was written by<\/a> prophets, farmers, doctors, tentmakers, shepherds, royalty and commoners; written in the genres<\/a> of narrative, prophecy, wisdom literature, gospel, pastoral letters, and mind-blowing apocalyptic literature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of these books will make perfect sense, some will make some sense, and some will leave you in a quandary for days, months, years, and maybe a lifetime \u2014 and I can\u2019t help but think that\u2019s by design. If we understood everything about reality, God, and His story, we would have no need for Him. The path would be paved for us to live on our own power, make our own decisions, and establish little kingdoms all to ourselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the beginning of God\u2019s story, from Genesis 1:1-2:4<\/a>, we have a picture of God establishing His kingdom on earth. He speaks matter into existence by divine fiat \u2014 from nothing to something. He establishes a rhythm that is both powerful and beautiful at the same time. He says something, it is so, and it is \u201cgood.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n This rhythm happens six times over six days, and then God interjects in it a higher level revealed through a woman mysteriously taken from the side of man, declaring that with her it was now \u201cvery\u201d <\/em>good. Adam and Eve, created by God Himself in His image<\/a>, placed into His garden to tend it for Him \u2014 and it was very good. Chapter 2 ends with a beautiful marriage declaration from Adam to his newly formed bride and then a blissful pronouncement from the narrator about the shamelessness in which they existed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then the man said, What a beautiful setting: Man, woman, God\u2019s perfect rhythm, and no shame to be found. Within His order, He provided for their sustenance via a multitude of trees in the garden. There was only one prohibition: to stay away from one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, into this rhythmic, shameless, euphoric setting, walks the incarnation of shame himself \u2014 the shiny, crafty, talking Dragon-Snake:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the\u00a0Lord\u00a0God had made. He said to the woman, \u201cDid God say, \u2018You shall not eat from any tree in the garden\u2019?\u201d\u00a0(Genesis 3:1<\/a> NRSVue)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWalking, shiny, crafty, talking, Dragon-Snake,\u201d you ask? To each of these I reply with a hearty \u201cYes<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Very WEIRD STUFF<\/em><\/strong> here. On so many levels. Let\u2019s address them in reverse order. <\/p>\n\n\n\n First, the \u201cDragon-Snake\u201d terminology. The term \u201cserpent\u201d in the original text is known in Hebrew<\/a> as the nahash <\/em>and can refer to something that is more of a dragon, angelic, shiny, flying, and\/or walking creature. That\u2019s why I prefer to call it a Dragon-Snake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Obviously, Adam and Eve weren\u2019t afraid of it and seemed to be captivated by its appearance and abilities. In my opinion, the Dragon-Snake wasn\u2019t slithering on the ground like a typical serpent \u2014 yet. It walked, strolled with them, and became their friend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, it\u2019s obvious that the Dragon-Snake was able to speak. Many have asked me whether the Dragon-Snake was really speaking, and I am convinced that the text is asserting that it was. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s also a major problem for Adam and Eve here. Why would they speak with a being without getting permission from the Creator? I think they were taken aback by the Dragon-Snake, his shiny, angel-of-light-esque appearance, and his smooth, alluring speech. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Third, the Dragon-Snake was\/is crafty. This term, arum<\/em>, can mean shrewd, cunning, and discerning. The Dragon-Snake was able to shrewdly, verbally call into question the rules established by the Creator for His creation and His garden that they were tending on His behalf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dragon-Snake was shiny, beautiful, and cunning. In my opinion, he was jealous of Adam and Eve\u2019s position in the Creator\u2019s Kingdom and was staging a coup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Genesis 3:2-13<\/a> records the terrible seduction perpetrated upon Adam and Eve known as the Fall. The Dragon-Snake seduced them into believing they would not die after choosing to eat fruit from the forbidden tree.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a fall so cataclysmic and deadly that it has been perpetrated upon every human ever born on the planet since that dreadful day. However, since He is God of all the omnis, the Creator had a plan to set everything back in order \u2014 yet not without a price and not without an epic, eternal battle. Here are the verses in Genesis 3 that record in God\u2019s own words the results of the Fall and a precursor to the battle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\u00a0Lord\u00a0God said to the serpent, The word of God, setting things in order. The Dragon-Snake is now cursed to slither and eat dust for his crimes against the Creator and all of humanity. His angelic, dragon wings had been clipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Verse 15b of Genesis 3 is what has come to be known as the \u201cProto-Evangelium<\/a>\u201d or the first evangelistic proclamation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026He<\/strong> will strike your head, Yes, there they are in the third chapter of the first book of the Bible \u2014 evangelism and grace. Two terms that are typically associated with the New Testament and the work of Jesus recorded in that testament. But remember, He is God of all the omnis, and He had\/has a plan for the gracious redemption of the mess that the Dragon-Snake, Adam, and Eve perpetrated upon the entirety of humanity and the planet they inhabit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That plan has to do with a certain \u201cHe,\u201d and yes, I have capitalized it here, because it is none other than Jesus Himself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many Bible students don\u2019t know that Jesus is prophesied in Genesis 3<\/a>. You don\u2019t have to wait until the New Testament to hear the Gospel; it\u2019s right there. Jesus, Seed of the woman, Eve, will come and ultimately crush the head of the Serpent, the Nahash. The rest of the Bible, every remaining book of the Old Testament, culminating in the New Testament, will emphasize this fact and declare it repeatedly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He is undoubtedly the point of, or thesis <\/strong>of, the entire Biblical narrative, and you will want to dive into my next article as I highlight those heroes of the faith who engaged in this epic battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Join Dr. Jeff Voth and Dr. Nathan French for Weird Stuff in the Bible<\/a>, a unique video series from Cavetime and Study Gateway! Try it free for 7 days!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Dragon-Snake Makes Its Entrance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Weird](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/staticblog.bgcdn.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26162952\/Banner-Ad-Cavetime.jpg?resize=696%2C86&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis at last is bone of my bones
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and flesh of my flesh;
this one shall be called Woman,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0for out of Man this one was taken.\u201d
Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.\u00a0And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
\u2014 Genesis 2:23-25<\/a> (NRSVue)<\/p>\n\n\n\nWeird Stuff in Genesis 3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. The Term \u2018Dragon-Snake\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. The Dragon-Snake Talks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. The Dragon-Snake Is Crafty<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Adam and Eve Seduced<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause you have done this,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0cursed are you among all animals
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and dust you shall eat
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and between your offspring [seed] and hers;
he will strike your head,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and you will strike his heel.\u201d
\u2014 Genesis 3:14-15<\/a> (NRSVue)<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Battle Between the Seeds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
and you will strike his heel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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