Contemplative Bible Reading

Genesis 3:1 (New Living Translation)

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

Consider the language used at the start of this passage. The serpent was credited with being more shrewd than all the other wild animals. The serpent was not noted as being better or more advanced than all the other animals in any other way.

In a matter-of-fact manner, the serpent asks the woman a question and she answers. They have a conversation. Note that the woman wasn’t surprised by the serpent talking to her.

Given this description, it seems that the serpent had spoken with the man and woman before. It seems that all the animals had spoken with the man and woman before. Conversations among all God’s creations were common.

There was no wall stopping communication between mankind and the animals in the Garden of Eden. Outside the garden, there was a wall and conversation ceased.

What would we learn by conversations with the animals? Were the animals in the garden superior to those outside the garden? I have no answers. Just a few “I wonder what?” (actually many “I wonder what?”).