Now God pronounces judgment.
The serpent is cursed above all cattle and beasts of the field. Where it once stood in some form, now it would go upon its belly.
The serpent would become a despised and repulsive creature. The phrase about eating dust also speaks of humiliation.
Snakes do, in a literal sense, interact with dust through their tongues. A snake has an organ in the roof of its mouth called Jacobson’s organ, which helps it smell. Its forked tongue samples particles from the ground and brings them back to those sensory organs.
But beyond the physical picture, “dust shalt thou eat” speaks of humiliation and defeat. Psalm 72:9 says, “They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.”
It is important to notice that God cursed the serpent, but He did not curse Adam and Eve directly. Adam and Eve received consequences for their sin, but they did not become repulsive to God. Even in judgment, God was moving toward redemption.
God passes sentence; and he begins where the sin began, with the serpent. The devil's instruments must share in the devil's punishments. Under the cover of the serpent, the devil is sentenced to be degraded and accursed of God; detested and abhorred of all mankind: also to be destroyed and ruined at last by the great Redeemer, signified by the breaking of his head. War is proclaimed between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. It is the fruit of this enmity, that there
is a continual warfare between grace and corruption, in the hearts of God's people. Satan, by their corruptions, buffets them, sifts them, and seeks to devour them. Heaven and hell can never be reconciled, nor light and darkness; no more can Satan and a sanctified soul. Also, there is a continual struggle between the wicked and the godly in this world. A gracious promise is here made of Christ, as the Deliverer of fallen man from the power of Satan. Here was the drawn of the gospel day: no
sooner was the wound given, than the remedy was provided and revealed. This gracious revelation of a Saviour came unasked, and unlooked for. Without a revelation of mercy, giving some hope of forgiveness, the convinced sinner would sink into despair, and be hardened. By faith in this promise, our first parents, and the patriarchs before the flood, were justified and saved. Notice is given concerning Christ. 1. His incarnation, or coming in the flesh. It speaks great encouragement to sinners,
that their Saviour is the Seed of the woman, bone of our bone, , . 2. His sufferings and death; pointed at in Satan's bruising his heel, that is, his human nature. And Christ's sufferings are continued in the sufferings of the saints for his name. The devil tempts them, persecutes and slays them; and so bruises the heel of Christ, who is afflicted in their afflictions. But while the heel is bruised on
earth, the Head is in heaven. 3. His victory over Satan thereby. Christ baffled Satan's temptations, rescued souls out of his hands. By his death he gave a fatal blow to the devil's kingdom, a wound to the head of this serpent that cannot be healed. As the gospel gains ground, Satan falls.
Now God pronounces judgment.
The serpent is cursed above all cattle and beasts of the field. Where it once stood in some form, now it would go upon its belly.
The serpent would become a despised and repulsive creature. The phrase about eating dust also speaks of humiliation.
Snakes do, in a literal sense, interact with dust through their tongues. A snake has an organ in the roof of its mouth called Jacobson’s organ, which helps it smell. Its forked tongue samples particles from the ground and brings them back to those sensory organs.
But beyond the physical picture, “dust shalt thou eat” speaks of humiliation and defeat. Psalm 72:9 says, “They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.”
It is important to notice that God cursed the serpent, but He did not curse Adam and Eve directly. Adam and Eve received consequences for their sin, but they did not become repulsive to God. Even in judgment, God was moving toward redemption.
God passes sentence; and he begins where the sin began, with the serpent. The devil's instruments must share in the devil's punishments. Under the cover of the serpent, the devil is sentenced to be degraded and accursed of God; detested and abhorred of all mankind: also to be destroyed and ruined at last by the great Redeemer, signified by the breaking of his head. War is proclaimed between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. It is the fruit of this enmity, that there
is a continual warfare between grace and corruption, in the hearts of God's people. Satan, by their corruptions, buffets them, sifts them, and seeks to devour them. Heaven and hell can never be reconciled, nor light and darkness; no more can Satan and a sanctified soul. Also, there is a continual struggle between the wicked and the godly in this world. A gracious promise is here made of Christ, as the Deliverer of fallen man from the power of Satan. Here was the drawn of the gospel day: no
sooner was the wound given, than the remedy was provided and revealed. This gracious revelation of a Saviour came unasked, and unlooked for. Without a revelation of mercy, giving some hope of forgiveness, the convinced sinner would sink into despair, and be hardened. By faith in this promise, our first parents, and the patriarchs before the flood, were justified and saved. Notice is given concerning Christ. 1. His incarnation, or coming in the flesh. It speaks great encouragement to sinners,
that their Saviour is the Seed of the woman, bone of our bone, , . 2. His sufferings and death; pointed at in Satan's bruising his heel, that is, his human nature. And Christ's sufferings are continued in the sufferings of the saints for his name. The devil tempts them, persecutes and slays them; and so bruises the heel of Christ, who is afflicted in their afflictions. But while the heel is bruised on
earth, the Head is in heaven. 3. His victory over Satan thereby. Christ baffled Satan's temptations, rescued souls out of his hands. By his death he gave a fatal blow to the devil's kingdom, a wound to the head of this serpent that cannot be healed. As the gospel gains ground, Satan falls.