The serpent in Genesis 3
I am following Billy Graham's "Hope for Each Day" Bible reading schedule. One of the first readings was the account of the fall in the Garden of Eden. In the NIV it states the serpent was more crafty than the other animals and that he spoke to Eve. How does this become "the devil tempted Eve"? Nowhere does it say the devil was behind this temptation, at least in Genesis. Thanks.
You are correct in noting that Moses, in Genesis, does not specifically identify the serpent as Satan. Other parts of Scripture provide clear identification of the creature who spoke to Eve.
John 8:44 – “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Revelation 12:9 – “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
Revelation 20:1-2 – “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.”
What is clear in Genesis is that the woman’s seed would crush the head of serpent (3:15). Jesus Christ did exactly that by destroying the devil’s work (1 John 3:8).