Not A Small Favor
A short story about the Serpent of Eden
Something that I’m sure will become apparent quite soon is my constant use of the angel Gabriel. This is for a few reasons. First off, I don’t want to portray God. I don't think God can be portrayed well, so I’m just not going to attempt (but guest writers are more than welcome to try). It’s always weird for me when I see a depiction of God, and everything can be said by someone else in the types of stories I write anyway. Gabriel is famously the messenger of God, so I think he fits the role adequately.
Secondly, Gabriel feels to me like an archetype for all of the protagonists in the Bible; he’s someone who spends his whole existence doing what God tells him to do and can’t object. The only differences between him and the humans in the story are that he can’t die and he understands why everything must go as it does.
Anyway, here’s a somewhat comical story about the problems of death and suffering.
Not A Small Favor
Snake was having a wonderful day. Day Six was the best day yet, with the animals settling into the Garden, the humans having been formed (and apparently a real pleasure to have around), and God calling for the next day to be a Universal day of rest and relaxation. As far as Snake was concerned, God hadn’t invented anything to be concerned about. Life was good.
Snake basked on a perfectly smooth rock, luxuriously warmed by the sun. This is existence. Snake lazily rolled over for his back to enjoy some of the rock’s heat as well. Wow. God really outdid Himself. Snake heard the sound of footsteps, but ignored them. He kept his eyes closed and took in the sounds of the Garden, determined to sleep. Until something blocked out the sun.
Snake opened his eyes to see the angel Gabriel standing over him. “Hey, Gabriel.”
Gabriel’s face looked odd. Like he wasn’t having an amazing time for some reason. He smiled, but it looked unnatural. “Hey, Snake. How’s it going, buddy?”
Snake rolled over and squinted at Gabriel. Although confused, Snake decided to let it slide. Perhaps Heaven was working something out, and it was rude to ask. “It’s perfect,” Snake replied. “It’s all absolutely perfect. All of the animals are in harmony, the Garden is just beautiful, and the new humans are apparently very kind. This world really is perfect, just like God. I couldn’t be more happy.”
Gabriel smiled, though it looked painful for him. “That’s really great to hear. Hey, remember when you were created and you said to God that you would do anything to serve Him?”
Snake laughed. “Of course! Who wouldn’t? After He made this perfect universe just for us, it would be the utmost honor!”
Gabriel laughed weakly along with Snake. “Great! I have excellent news for you, Snake—the time has come.”
Snake spiraled joyfully around on his rock. “Wonderful! Oh, wonderful! What can I do?”
“Well, you see, the world is almost complete. Today was the penultimate step in finalizing existence. As you know, God’s whole model for creation was form through duality. First light and darkness, then sea and sky, and today we just got man and woman! Big progress, we’re very excited all around.”
“I’ll say!” Snake nodded. “I can’t wait to see what comes next!”
“I love your spirit,” Gabriel said, clapping his hands together. “Because you have been tasked with ushering it in.”
Snake couldn’t believe his luck. “Just name the job and you’ve got it!”
“We need right and wrong,” Gabriel said flatly. “Good and evil. Nothing meaningful can happen until we bring that differentiation into existence.”
Snake stared at Gabriel for a solid minute, which was a considerably long while considering how few minutes had ever transpired up to this point. “I don’t follow. What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to convince the humans to eat from the Tree of Knowledge.”
“...But what will that do?”
“It will make them eat from the tree.”
“No,” Snake insisted, “what will that do?”
Gabriel swirled his hand in the air. “You know. They’ll know good from evil. Right from wrong. Only then will humanity be able to act meaningfully, and God’s plan can unfold.”
Snake stared. “Why can’t God do it? Why can’t you?”
“Because this is bad. It can’t come from us.”
He stared harder. “So why do it?”
“Because it’s good.”
Snake squirmed himself into a figurative and literal knot of confusion. “Wait. Is it bad or good? I’m sorry, I’m losing you, here. Isn’t this next step supposed to separate the two?”
Gabriel let out a low groan and looked towards the nearby riverbed. He closed his eyes; it was another long minute before he answered. “It’s good that God’s plan develops, but it’s a ‘bad’ action that will create the dualism in the first place. Therefore, it has to come from Earthly beings.”
Snake considered.“It doesn’t really sound like good and bad are exactly…real? Or will be?”
“They’ll be real and they won’t be, “ said Gabriel patiently. “Just like in Heaven there’s no grass, but down here,” he gestured to the ground, “it’s real. It’s absolutely a reality, it’s just not absolute reality. Dualism is necessary in order to translate over the concepts of Divine reality into a physical, less real but still real, representation of ultimate truth.”
“So…” Snake said slowly. “I get the humans to eat the fruit.” Gabriel nodded, smiling thinly. “And then what?”
“Then we banish them from the Garden for a life of suffering and death.”
Snake was starting to suspect he had misjudged this whole ‘existence’ thing. “Okay, you’re losing me, here. Isn’t that all bad?”
Gabriel massaged his temples. “Look. You’re right that it doesn’t seem ideal, but that’s how this works. They are faced with the ability to choose good and bad. Some choose good, others choose bad. Those who choose bad create more opportunity for good, through mending and healing.”
“Um,” said Snake. “I know my input probably isn’t what God is looking for, but that sounds worse than just staying in the Garden.”
Gabriel shrugged. “Existence needs meaning. The creation of suffering is accompanied by the creation of joy. Dualism isn’t merely the creation of two opposites, but a complete, underlying element to the universe with a built-in potential for either side. There are consolations for everything.”
“I guess. And what about this death business?” Snake pressed on.
“It’s how they return home,” Gabriel said matter-of-factly.
That sounded good, at least. “How does it work?”
“The body must be destroyed enough that it can no longer operate as a vehicle for the soul, releasing it back to God.”
Snake’s jaw unhinged. “That’s horrible! At least they can feel better knowing what comes next, but still…”
Gabriel grimaced.
“What’s that face?”
“What face?” Gabriel straightened up and shifted from foot to foot.
“Gabriel, they know what comes next, right?”
Another long minute of silence. They were starting to feel like extra days of creation.
“No,” the angel admitted, “they will have no idea. They’ll just hope that something positive follows.”
Nothing was adding up. “What happened to this being the Tree of Knowledge?!”
“Not all knowledge! Just the knowledge of good and evil.”
“I think I might need a bite from that tree,” Snake said. “My head is spinning.”
Gabriel inhaled deeply, put his hands together, and softened his voice. “Snake. God is asking you to do this. Is that not definitionally good?”
“It’s funny you should ask that,” Snake said through a panic-rattled laugh. “Because it feels really bad! Maybe you should get someone else to do this. I don’t think I’m your guy.”
“That’s not the way this world works. I’m sorry, Snake.” The angel seemed genuine. “We all have our particular roles to play. Some beings in this world will be sinners, some will be saints, but it all fits into the Divine Plan. A plan,” he said firmly, “that starts with you.”
“Give me a minute,” Snake muttered. “This is a lot to…just give me a minute.”
He gazed across the Garden. It was so peaceful, so harmonious. A nearby butterfly caught his attention as it rested upon a flower. Wasn’t this the point of it all? The tranquility? He’d thought it was perfect. But he wasn’t so sure what perfect meant anymore.
If he said yes, he would be helping God plant the final seed in the field of creation. The King Himself was inviting Snake to finish the job…but the job itself seemed almost cruel. Sure there would be children who could laugh and play, but there would also be children who could get hurt and die. There would be love and kindness, but that also meant hate and violence. Was it worth it? Was life worth the rays of sun if the fear of incoming darkness was too much to bear? Would he really be helping to create something good? Well, it would be good. And bad. So…what would that make it?
“It would be beautiful,” said Gabriel.
Snake looked up from his contemplation. “I beg your pardon?”
“You’re wondering what the world would be if you brought good and bad into it. I’m telling you it will be beautiful.”
“Please don’t listen to my thoughts.”
“Sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t need to hear your thoughts to understand what you’re going through. It’s not a small favor God is asking.”
Snake took a shaky breath.
“It will be beautiful,” Gabriel continued. “A place full of generosity and ingenuity, of people creating their own light from darkness. If you do this, you will allow souls to blossom into their full glory—God’s image.”
Snake met the angel’s eyes. It was clear Gabriel had meant every word. “Alright,” Snake said. “I’ll do it.
“I’m sure in time the humans will come to understand and forgive me.”
Snake is my spirit animal.