Feedback: Talking Snakes And Mystical Trees?
Bodie
Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, August 26, 2025 (Donate)
Letter, unedited:
I've
noticed a lot of evolutionists will try to mock creationists and make our
beliefs seem ridiculous by saying things like "You creationists believe a
woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree."
How
should creationists respond to remarks like that?
Thanks
and God bless,
D.
Response:
Thank you for
contacting the ministry. Those making these sorts of comments are not likely
even looking for a response, but are primarily poking fun without even knowing
much about what they are ridiculing.
In cases like
this, sometimes it may be good to illuminate the humor of their own belief such
as:
“And evolutionists believe everyone in the world ultimately came
from rock.”
Then point
out that if they have trouble with talking animals then they mustn’t believe
parrots exist either!
In this case,
explain that, like the talking donkey that Balaam rode, the talking serpent was
a vessel enabled for another being to use or speak through—Satan, in the case
of the serpent. And nowhere does the Bible call the Tree of the Knowledge of
Good and Evil “magical.”
The curses
and repercussions came from God as a punishment because of Adam and Eve’s sin,
not the tree. I suggest that they are confusing the Tree of Knowledge of Good
and Evil with the Tree of Life, which one may mistake for having “magical”
properties to make one live forever (Genesis 3:22). The Book of Revelation does mention
that the leaves of the Tree will be used for healing (Revelation
22:2).
Humor aside
though, today we see people dying, which is exactly what God said would happen
because of Adam and Eve’s rebellion and sin. Today, we also see serpents
slithering (snakes) and reptiles with sprawling legs and their belly on the
ground, which was what Genesis says.
And yet, no
one sees people coming from rocks, algae, or even lemurs! The Bible explains the world we live in, and it is the evolutionary position that simply begins
with and ends with absurdity and irrationality.
When people
do begin asking serious questions indicating they are truly looking for
answers, I suggest you be prepared (I Peter 3:15) to give good, solid answers. Study the
Scriptures, first, and then read up on common questions and answers in relation
to challenges to the Bible. Keep in mind an important Scripture as well:
"If the
world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you (John 15:18,
NKJV).
I pray this
helps. God bless.
Bodie
Recommended Resources:
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Bodie Hodge,
Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various
churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers
in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding
news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight
Council.
Bodie
launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal
website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken
on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and
universities. He is married with four children.
Originally at Answers
in Genesis; Edited; Republished by permission.
