3529. And I shall be in his eyes as a misleader. That this signifies rejection because apparently contrary to order, is evident from the signification of “being in his eyes,” as being to be observed as to quality; for by the “eye” is signified the observation of the internal sight (n. 212, 2701, 2789, 2829, 3198, 3202); and from the signification of “misleading” or of “a misleader,” as being contrary to order; here, apparently (all misleading is nothing else); and from this there would be rejection. But what is signified by “apparently contrary to order,” will appear from what follows.

245. That “He said to the serpent, Thou art cursed above every beast, and above every wild animal of the field” signifies that the sensuous part averted itself from that which is heavenly, turned itself to that which is of the body, and thus cursed itself, may be clearly shown from the internal sense of the Word. Jehovah God or the Lord never curses anyone. He is never angry with anyone, never leads anyone into temptation, never punishes anyone, and still less does He curse anyone. All this is done by the infernal crew, for such things can never proceed from the Fountain of mercy, peace, and goodness. The reason of its being said, both here and in other parts of the Word, that Jehovah God not only turns away His face, is angry, punishes, and tempts, but also kills and even curses, is that men may believe that the Lord governs and disposes all and everything in the universe, even evil itself, punishments, and temptations; and when they have received this most general idea, may afterwards learn how He governs and disposes all things by turning the evil of punishment and of temptation into good. In teaching and learning the Word, the most general truths must come first; and therefore the literal sense is full of such things.