There is evidence that serpents could fly before they were cursed (Isaiah 30:6, 14:29), so they went from being above other creatures to being beneath their feet. Satan, formerly Lucifer, also lost his exalted position as the covering cherub next to the throne of God (Ezekiel 28:12-15, Isaiah 14:12-15). The curse on the serpent is a promise that Satan’s sphere of influence would be weakened and limited. His wings were to be clipped. A downpayment of that promise was given immediately (See commentary on Genesis 3:15), but when Christ died and rose from the grave, the Devil's fate was sealed. “And I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven…” and “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan […] the accuser of our brethren is cast down” (Luke 10:18, Revelation 12:9-10).
Most beasts have legs to walk on, but the snake’s punishment is to slither on its belly. The Devil too, will not be left a leg to stand on: all his self-justifying arguments, all his lies about God’s holy character and law will be stripped away with the rotten fruit of his own doings. From “going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it,” he will end up as “a carcass trodden under feet” and as “ashes upon the earth” (Job 1:7, Isaiah 14:19, Ezequiel 28:18).
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