In the previous postings in this series we have spoken of the various animals that are used to describe certain people who antagonize and afflict the people of God. Paul said he had "fought with beasts at Ephesus" (I Cor. 15: 32) and we have suggested that he meant human beings who are beasts, some being compared to dogs, or wolves, or foxes, or lions. But, we cannot leave this subject without mentioning snakes. In the passage above Jesus speaks of his opposers being snakes or vipers. So too did John the Baptist, as Matthew records:
"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" (Matt. 3: 7 nkjv)
In one topical Bible we have these words about snakes, vipers, or serpents. (See here)
"Snakes, often referred to as serpents or vipers in the Bible, hold significant symbolic and literal roles throughout the Scriptures. They are frequently associated with deception, sin, and judgment, yet also serve as instruments of God's will and symbols of wisdom. The imagery of snakes is woven into the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation, reflecting their complex role in the spiritual and physical realms."
People today will say of someone that "he is a snake" or "he is a snake in the grass." By that they mean that such persons are sneaky, deceitful, and dangerous. You must be on the lookout for such. We also hear it said: "snakes can't be friends, but friends can be snakes." Sometimes we say of someone that he has "snake eyes," meaning an evil, sinister, devilish, or devious look. Sometimes we hear it said of someone or something that he or it is "lower than a snake's belly." The native American Indians often would say that a person speaks "with tongue of snake" or with "forked tongue," meaning they tell lies or speak out of both sides of their mouths. Not only that, but similarly we use the word "venom" metaphorically for people who "spew" or "spit" venom, as do cobras. By this is meant the words of hate that come forth from people's mouths, of their venting their anger through verbal attacks. These are words that are intended to "sting" or cause pain to others to whom they are addressed, sharp or cutting remarks that are "biting." We also see this usage in scripture.
Snakes as symbols are frequent and numerous throughout history as well as in scripture. They are symbols of wisdom and is why Jesus said --
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." (Matt. 10: 16 nkjv)
Vipers (poisonous snakes) are not "harmless." So, Jesus wants his people to emulate one aspect of serpents or snakes, but not the aspect of being harmful to souls. Most often in scripture the symbol of the serpent or viper is a symbol of devilish wisdom. James wrote of this in his letter, saying:
"But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." (James 3: 14-17 nkjv)
When Christ says "be wise as serpents" he means to be cunning, but not for evil ends. He also advises that his disciples be wise about carnal things, about handling money, about making good decisions, about being ingenious, clever, skilled, creative, inventive, in things dealing with life. The Lord spoke to Jeremiah about those "who are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge." (Jer. 4: 22 NKJV)
Wrote Dr. Barnes in his commentary on Matthew 10: 16:
"Probably the thing in which Christ directed his followers to imitate the serpent was in its caution in avoiding danger. No animal equals them in the rapidity and skill which they evince in escaping danger. So said Christ to his disciples, You need caution and wisdom in the midst of a world that will seek your lives."
John Gill in his commentary wrote:
"The serpent is a very sharp sighted, cunning creature, and uses various arts and stratagems for its own preservation, and especially of its head; and is so far to be imitated by the followers of Christ, as to make use of all proper methods to preserve themselves from the insults and rage of men, and not expose themselves to unnecessary dangers: and, as much as in them lies, they should be careful to give no just occasion of offence, or irritate, and provoke them to use them ill, and to avoid all snares and traps that are laid for them; and, at the same time, maintain the innocence and harmlessness of the dove..."
Serpents have historically symbolized wisdom and medical knowledge and healing primarily due to their association with Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. Their ability to shed their skin represents renewal and rebirth. The single serpent on a staff, known as the Rod of Asclepius, is the correct medical symbol, while the double-serpent caduceus is mistakenly used as a medical symbol, originally representing commerce and communication.
Snakes, like the other animals we have discussed, are creatures that prey on other creatures, seeking to catch and devour them. In doing this they can be crafty and subtle, sly, sneaky, creepy. Their chief danger lies in their poison and venomous nature. So we read of "the poison of serpents of the dust" (Deut. 32: 24 kjv); And citing Psalm 140: 3, Paul writes: "Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips." (Rom. 3: 13 kjv) By "asps" means venomous snakes. Paul connects asps or vipers with deceivers and their poison or venom with deception and harmful things that come out of the mouths of such.
In describing the wicked enemies of Israel, the Lord's people, Moses gave us this oracle: "Their wine is the poison of serpents, And the cruel venom of cobras." (Deut. 32: 33 nkjv) The Psalmist wrote: "Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear, Which will not heed the voice of charmers, Charming ever so skillfully." (Psa. 58: 4-5 nkjv) Isaiah wrote: "They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web; He who eats of their eggs dies, And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out." (Isa. 59: 5 nkjv) Isaiah uses the imagery of vipers to describe the wickedness and deceit of Israel's leaders. In Isaiah 14:29 he warns the Philistines of a future judgment, stating, "From the root of the snake will spring up a viper, and its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent." In Genesis we also read: "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward." (Gen. 49: 17 kjv)
We have also seen how these various animals, in depicting evil men who are enemies of God and his people, also depict the chief leader of such men, i.e. Satan. We have seen how he is the Alpha dog, the leader of the pack of wolves, or foxes, and the lion king of his evil pride of lions. So too is he the chief serpent or snake. He is called "that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world" (Rev. 12: 9). This alludes to the first mention of a serpent in Genesis chapter three where the serpent is described as "more cunning (or subtil kjv) than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made" (Genesis 3:1). This serpent tempts, beguiles, allures, baits, traps, deceives, fools, cons, etc., Eve, leading to the fall of man, but who is later cursed by God. Paul refers to this when he writes:
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”" (II Cor. 11: 3 kjv)
There are lots of these kinds of deceivers who have slithered into the midst of the church of God. Peter speaks of them saying that they are constantly "beguiling unstable souls" (II Peter 2: 14). Sadly the church has had many of these snake preachers, or "snake oil merchants," who have crept in among them. Not only in the church, but in life every Christian will face men who are snakes, scorpions, lions, wolves, foxes, etc. So we read how the Lord, speaking to his covenant people, was the one “who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions" (Deut. 8: 15 nkjv) The wilderness journey pictures the life of believers. People who hike through the woods, or grasslands, or jungles, are ever on the lookout for snakes and other venomous creatures. So too do we all need to watch out for such as we walk through life.
Serpents of Divine Judgment
In the wilderness, the Israelites encounter serpents as a form of divine judgment. Numbers 21:6-9 recounts how the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and many Israelites died. In response, God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole, so that anyone bitten could look at it and live. This event foreshadows the redemptive work of Christ, as referenced in John 3:14-15.
“For behold, I will send serpents among you,
Vipers which cannot be charmed,
And they shall bite you,” says the LORD." (Jer. 8: 17 nkjv)
Though this is literally true as regards literal snakes, yet it is also true of people who are snake-like in their behavior. These snakes and other harmful creatures are sent as punishments, but they are also at times sent as tests to try people's profession and to uncover the hypocrites. So we read:
“If there arises among you a prophet or a a dreamer of dreams, band he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deut. 13: 1-3 nkjv)
It was in order to test our first parents that Lord God permitted Satan to appear as a serpent to tempt them to disobey the commandment given to them. Likewise, he permits Satan's brood of vipers, in the form of deceivers, to endanger his people as they journey through the desert wilderness of this world.
Victory Over Serpents
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10: 19 nkjv)
This promise was given to seventy evangelists who Christ Jesus sent to go out to all the cities of Israel. He said this to them upon their return from their mission, wherein they were able to heal the sick and to work miracles and to cast out demons. This same power and authority was given to the apostles. Though there is some questions about the authenticity of the following verses, yet they do relate to the above promise.
"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16: 17-18 nkjv)
Though we cannot know for sure what "they will take up serpents" in the name of Christ means, yet I think it has several areas where it may have been fulfilled. The promise was not made to the apostles only, but to all "those who believe." This passage has been used by certain Pentecostal cults who handle vipers in order to demonstrate that they are those believers Christ referenced to in that passage. However, nearly all of them who do so end up being bitten, and many of them die, which shows that they were not the believers of the text, or that the promise of the text was limited to the early church.
We know that Moses, when he appeared before Pharaoh, turned his staff into a serpent to demonstrate the power of the Hebrew God who had sent him. When Pharaoh's magicians appeared to do the same, the snake serpent of Moses ate those of the magicians. In the early days of the apostles and church, many of the saints "worked miracles" in order to give proof of their divine authority. So we read of the martyr Stephen who "did great wonders and miracles among the people" (Acts 6: 8). So too with Philip the evangelist. (Acts 8: 13) "God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul" (Acts 19: 11). To some in the church God gave the gift of "working of miracles" (I Cor. 121: 10). See also Gal. 3: 5 and Heb. 2: 4. So, it is quite probable that these miracle workers imitated Moses. This would be a case where they "took up serpents" by an act of choice. Most of us would run from such venomous serpents! But, when confronted with them, perhaps they simply picked them up and moved them out of harm's way. However, sometimes the vipers would not be picked up, but would bite a servant of the Lord without warning. This was the case with the apostle Paul.
"But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand." (Acts 28: 3 nkjv)
However, though this is true in a literal sense, it is also true as respects human snakes and other dangerous creatures. Just as dogs, wolves, lions, etc., are applied to the enemies of the Lord's people, so too are serpents, snakes, asps, and vipers. God has promised that his people will not be so harmed by these deceivers so as to be forever destroyed by them. They too are given power over serpents and scorpions, lions, wolves, etc.
The following texts of scripture point to the final destruction of Satan the chief serpent, and of all other snakes who have invaded and attacked the people of God.
"In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea." (Isa. 27: 1 kjv)
"And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." (Rom. 16: 20 nkjv)
The end time second coming of Christ Jesus the Lord will completely fulfill this promise. The crushing of the ancient evil serpent was prophesied by God himself in the protoevangelium.
"So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life. And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.” (Gen. 3: 14-15 niv)
We see how this promise of making serpents harmless will be fulfilled for the people of God and the sheep nations in the coming millennial age, and in the ages of the ages, and is described by Isaiah the prophet in these two instances.
"The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” Says the LORD." (Isa. 65: 25 nkjv)
"The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest." (Isa. 11: 8 niv)
Prior to the time when the Lord fulfills these promises, we will once again see him send serpents among the world's population as he did to the Israelites when they departed from the Lord (Jer. 8: 17), but not only serpents, but demonic locusts too (Rev. chpt. 9) in conjunction with the day of judgment and great Tribulation. We also read the following words from the Apocalypse describing those years when terrible judgments from God are sent into the world for punishment, just as he did to the Egyptians prior to the redemption of his chosen people.
"So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth." (Rev. 6: 8 nkjv)
For now the fear of man has restrained the animals to some degree, but the day is coming when they (the beasts of the earth) will be moved to attack humans in a gigantic way and be one of the ways God kills the impenitent haters of God during that awful time.
So, let us walk carefully and circumspectly (Eph. 5: 15) and be on the look out for the snakes, wolves, lions, etc. Let us also be "wise as serpents" in the way Christ intended. Let us beware of the poison of false doctrine spewed from the mouths of false teachers.
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