Snakes.....why do people say they are evil.

[GrannieAnnie]

I always hear people say....snakes are evil because of the one in the garden that tempted Eve. But I'm sure there's a part in the OT about Moses and he went to visit a king, and the kings men had staffs that all turned into snakes. And Moses had a staff, and his staff turned into a snake too and ate or killed all the bad guys snakes......so if Moses snake was a good one....then way does everyone concentrate on the one in the Garden of Eden ?

Personally I think snakes are magnificent, beautiful creatures.

Annie

 

[NostalgicGranny]

It's not just the one in the garden of Eden. But snakes/serpents are cursed by God.

[bible]Genesis 3:14[/bible]

[bible]Leviticus 11:41[/bible]
[bible]Leviticus 11:42[/bible]
[bible]Leviticus 11:43[/bible]
[bible]Leviticus 11:44[/bible]

It was actually Aaron Moses brother. Aarons staff was a MORE POWERFUL one that consumed the other serpents. If you read the whole chapter and take it in context Moses brought a whole host of plagues upon them. This serpent was the beginning - heralding the first of the plagues. Read Exodus Chapter 7

 

[NorrinRadd]

I like snakes. I was really pleased when I came across a cute little striped garter snake (or something similar) in the blackberry patch last summer, and was sad to find it had departed by the next day.

 

[TimRout]

There is nothing inherently "evil" about snakes. They are animals, created by God like any other. But snakes have a symbolic role in the Bible. They are sometimes used as a metaphor for evil. The same is true of yeast, which is often used as a metaphor for sin [Matthew 16:6], but is not inherently sinful.

Indeed, some snake passages are actually quite positive in nature. For example, the image of a bronze snake was used to bring healing [Numbers 21:9], and foreshadowed Christ's death on the cross [John 3:14-15]. Additionally, Jesus cautioned His disciples to behave with the sly wisdom exhibited by snakes [Matthew 10:16]. It is crucial that we always examine a text in its context and not presume to extend that context beyond the author's intent.

Hope this helps.

 

[blessedhusband]

I always hear people say....snakes are evil because of the one in the garden that tempted Eve. But I'm sure there's a part in the OT about Moses and he went to visit a king, and the kings men had staffs that all turned into snakes. And Moses had a staff, and his staff turned into a snake too and ate or killed all the bad guys snakes......so if Moses snake was a good one....then way does everyone concentrate on the one in the Garden of Eden ?

Personally I think snakes are magnificent, beautiful creatures.

Annie

GrannieAnnie if some christians want to say that snakes are evil then they ought to look at the ones with 2 legs. It's not the reptile slithering around on its belly that is evil. It is the man or woman that allows themselves to be controled by satan. All animals including snakes bring glory to God. And i think that you probably agree.

I know that there will be those who will say that i'm wrong and that's ok. But common sense should tell them that snakes arn't to blame.

 

[GrannieAnnie]

There is nothing inherently "evil" about snakes. They are animals, created by God like any other. But snakes have a symbolic role in the Bible. They are sometimes used as a metaphor for evil. The same is true of yeast, which is often used as a metaphor for sin [Matthew 16:6], but is not inherently sinful.

Indeed, some snake passages are actually quite positive in nature. For example, the image of a bronze snake was used to bring healing [Numbers 21:9], and foreshadowed Christ's death on the cross [John 3:14-15]. Additionally, Jesus cautioned His disciples to behave with the sly wisdom exhibited by snakes [Matthew 10:16]. It is crucial that we always examine a text in its context and not presume to extend that context beyond the author's intent.

Hope this helps.

Yes it does help ...a lot...thank you.

 

[GrannieAnnie]

GrannieAnnie if some christians want to say that snakes are evil then they ought to look at the ones with 2 legs. It's not the reptile slithering around on its belly that is evil. It is the man or woman that allows themselves to be controled by satan. All animals including snakes bring glory to God. And i think that you probably agree.

I know that there will be those who will say that i'm wrong and that's ok. But common sense should tell them that snakes arn't to blame.

Yes, I do agree with you...totally...thanks..

 

[Steve Petersen]

We hate them because when we lived in trees, they were our most dangerous enemies.

 

[GrannieAnnie]

We hate them because when we lived in trees, they were our most dangerous enemies.

Gee, I must have slept through my tree living days......I can't remember it

 

[Casslanpepci]

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. (Numbers 21:8-9)

 

[beamishboy]

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. (Numbers 21:8-9)

I remember reading somewhere that this serpent is in fact a type of Christ. The raising of the serpent for the healing of the people on a pole represents the raising of Jesus on the cross for the healing of the world.

 

[Casslanpepci]

I remember reading somewhere that this serpent is in fact a type of Christ. The raising of the serpent for the healing of the people on a pole represents the raising of Jesus on the cross for the healing of the world.

Yes, that is right.

If serpents are evil, then it was rather a strange choice for God to chose one as a symbol for Jesus. He could have asked Moses to make an image of a lamb which would have been more fitting! So I think that serpents aren't inheritantly evil. In today's idiom, serpents [or snakes if you will] have been given a bad press.

 

[ebia]

I always hear people say....snakes are evil because of the one in the garden that tempted Eve. But I'm sure there's a part in the OT about Moses and he went to visit a king, and the kings men had staffs that all turned into snakes. And Moses had a staff, and his staff turned into a snake too and ate or killed all the bad guys snakes......so if Moses snake was a good one....then way does everyone concentrate on the one in the Garden of Eden ?

Not only that, as Moses held the serpent up in the desert, Jesus was held up on the cross.

Personally I think snakes are magnificent, beautiful creatures.

Me too. And they eat rats. Anything that eats rats is good in my book.

Mind you, most of the snakes around here are pretty dangerous, so I don't especially want them in the house, thanks.

 

[Yuyuchan]

Interesting. The snake was raised upon a stick and whoever looked upon it after being bitten were saved. Could it also be viewed as when Jesus came He took away the curse that was on man and woman that was brought on them because of the sin of Adam and Eve. You all tell me what you think. Also, I agree serpents are not evil. They are beautiful creatures that God created.