Many interpret serpent in the garden of Eden as the Satan hence miss the whole point because Satan himself does not exist. He is a fictional character [For example, in the temptation account, Satan is shown as reflecting the erroneous belief of ancient time that shape of earth is flat, thus taking Jesus to the top of “a very high mountain” and showed him “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.” (Mathew 4:8, 9) The fact that Jesus did not correct the mistaken view of Satan shows the account of temptation is allegorical. Further, Jesus knew that Satan was only a personification of evil (Mathew 16:23; John 6:70) and categorically declared that “all evil thoughts proceed from one’s heart,” not from Satan. (Mark 7:21; James 1:14). There is nothing unusual with personification as Bible personifies even material riches. (Mathew 6:24)] Hence one has to look for the truth behind the Edenic details. Truth is that for a period, there was no sin; then sin entered. Sin means to wander away from God. Sin would invite trouble (as though bruising of the heel) which would ultimately motivate the practitioner to crush the head of serpent (sin). This sequence is nicely brought out by Jesus in the illustration of prodigal son who sought sin which resulted in misery (as though bruising the heel) which in turn motivated him to return to his father (as though head of the sin crushed).
Interestingly, Ecclesiasticus 21:2, 3 present serpent as the ‘symbol of sin and as two-edged sword’ because effect of sin is like venom of the serpent, and again effect is on two people—on the doer and the recipient of the action (as in theft, lie, rape ….you weaken your own soul first and make other person suffer too). Sin happens when one forgets the truth that all are children of God. Hence antidote to sin is remembering the truth that all are children of God, hence to be treated accordingly. Such a remembrance is within everyone’s power. Hence we find expression such as ‘conquer sin and earn your inheritance.’ (Ecclesiasticus 15:15; Proverbs 11:18; Revelation 22:11, 12, 14, 15; Mathew 7:21-23) Thus original idea is all about earning the right—not grace (Habakuk 2:4; Hebrews 10:38; Luke 18:14; Revelation 21:7) by being “meek” which means imitation of God’s attitude of treating everyone alike. (Mathew 5:5, 44-48; 1 Pet 5:6) To be meek, one doesn’t have to possess a perfect body—even when one is bodily weak, he can be perfect in manifesting unconditional love because many have done that in history.