The comment I get from one of my viewers was “Test is legit with YHVH (God); Tempt is not, it’s of the subtle serpent.” A good point, we are dealing with facts of God’s sovereignty over creation, including the serpent’s nature:
God Authored the Serpent's Nature (Including Its "Subtlety") Genesis 3:1 is Foundational: The Hebrew word describing the serpent is עָרוּם (arum) - meaning "subtle," "crafty," "prudent," or "shrewd." This is a neutral descriptive term applied by the biblical narrator, not a value judgment imposed later. It describes the creature as God created it.
Was he created directly by God? Yes indeed! Scripture states unequivocally that "the Lord God had made" (Genesis 3:1) the serpent. Its "arum" nature was part of its created essence. God intentionally created this being with this specific characteristic.
"Good" Includes Potentiality: My original argument and Romans 8:20 (cited) emphasize that God's declaration of "good" (Genesis 1:31) encompassed the entire system, including elements whose potential for interaction would lead to vanity and testing. The serpent's arum nature was part of this "exceedingly good" creation in its initial, unfallen state, designed for a purpose within God's plan from the beginning.Let’s examine Divine Testing vs. Diabolical Temptation:
Testing (God): A legitimate act of sovereignty within God's plan. Its purpose is revelation, refinement, faith-building, or demonstrating reliance on God (e.g., God testing Abraham - Genesis 22:1; Israel in the wilderness - Deuteronomy 8:2). It may involve hardship or moral choice, but its ultimate intent aligns with God's righteous purpose and the good of His creation (even if painful). God uses circumstances, including the existence of evil, to test.
Temptation (Serpent/Satan): The illegitimate, malicious exploitation of creation's potential and human weakness to entice to sin and rebellion against God (James 1:13-14). The serpent's arum nature, created by God, became the instrument through which this temptation was delivered. Its purpose is destruction, deception, and separation from God (John 8:44). Temptation appeals directly to the "lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life" (1 John 2:16), as seen in Eden.
What is God's Sovereignty & Responsibility in all this?
Ultimate Cause, Not Direct Temptation: The argument is that God, as Creator, is the ultimate cause and sovereign author of the entire framework, including the creation of the serpent with its arum nature and the placement of the Tree. He ordained the possibility and potentiality for temptation and sin as part of His plan to subject creation to vanity "in hope" (Romans 8:20). He is responsible for the system.
Not the Author of Sin: However, God Himself does not tempt (James 1:13). He is not the proximate cause or the active agent performing the enticement to evil. That role belongs to the creature (the serpent/Satan) exercising its created nature against God's command and to the human (Adam/Eve) yielding to the appeal of their own desires. God created the vessel; the vessel chose its corrupt use.
So, what is the Purpose of the Plan? The fall was not an accident but part of the "dynamic divine plan" (as per my original text). God used the temptation orchestrated by the serpent (His creation) as the means to initiate the process leading to the revelation of His glory in redemption through Christ (Ephesians 1:9-12, 3:9-11). The serpent's subtlety served God's ultimate purpose, even while the serpent acted wickedly.
Answering the Core Assertion to your comment:
"Test is legit with YHVH (God)": True. Testing is an inherent right and action of the Sovereign God within His plan for His creation and His people.
"Tempt is not, it’s of the subtle serpent": True in agency, but incomplete regarding origin.
The act of tempting (enticing to sin) is indeed performed by the serpent/Satan and flows from its corrupted will.
However, the serpent's very nature (arum/subtle), which made it capable of being the agent of temptation, was created by God. God is sovereignly responsible for creating the being with the inherent characteristics that allowed it to fulfill that adversarial role in His grand design. The potential for temptation existed because God created a being with arum and placed it in proximity to humanity with a command and a forbidden tree.
God is the sole Creator of all things, including the serpent and its inherent subtle (arum) nature.
This creation, including elements with adversarial potential, was declared "good" as part of God's perfect initial system designed for a greater purpose.
God is sovereignly responsible for the entire framework (the garden, the command, the tree, the serpent's nature) which made the Fall possible and, according to His plan, inevitable.
Distinction of Action: While God tests as a legitimate function of His sovereignty and authorship of the plan, He does not tempt. The act of tempting is carried out by His creature (the serpent/Satan), using the nature God gave it, appealing to desires God placed within humanity.
Ultimate Purpose: Even the evil act of temptation serves God's ultimate, pre-ordained purpose to subject creation to vanity "in hope" (Rom 8:20) and to reveal His glory through redemption. Because the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Rom 8:21Therefore, the statement “Test is legit with YHVH; Tempt is not, it’s of the subtle serpent” is biblically supportable when understood within this framework of absolute sovereignty. It correctly identifies the agent of temptation (the serpent) while the deeper truth: the serpent, including its subtle nature essential for temptation, was created by God as part of His “exceedingly good” design to fulfill His ultimate redemptive plan. God is sovereignly responsible for the existence and nature of the tempter, while the tempter remains culpable for its wicked actions.
Remember, Many people assert that Satan was originally created as a holy being but later fell from that exalted state. However, Jesus clearly states in the Gospel of John, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a MURDERER (not an angel) from the BEGINNING and did not abide in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).
In our studies, our goal is to gain insight into the magnificent and glorious purposes set forth by our omnipotent and omniscient heavenly Father, purposes that have been established from the very foundation of the world.
It is compelling how decisively Jesus reveals that, long before humanity’s creation, at the very beginning of all things, Satan was characterized not as an angelic being but as a murderer. This understanding frames the nature of evil and the cosmic battle that unfolds throughout Scripture, providing a deeper awareness of the spiritual realities at play from the outset of history.
“Did God Frame Adam’s Fall? The Truth About Free Will”
