Insight: Numbers 21:4-9, A Bronze Snake on a Pole

I just wanted to write a quick post today about something I just realized, while watching Season 1 Episode 7 of "The Chosen", and it blew my mind. 

When I was a teenager, I was really into Greek and Roman mythology, so I learned about the "Rod of Asclepius". Asclepius was the Greek god of medicine and healing, and his symbol was a snake on a pole. 

This is the symbol seen on ambulances and at hospitals, and it is still a symbol of healing and medicine. 

However, I just realized that it must have originated from the bronze snake that Moses put up on a pole in Number 21, when snakes went throughout the Israelite camp. Many people died from snake bites, until God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and put it up on a pole for everyone to see. Then, anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed. 

I can't believe it's taken me this long to figure it out. This revelation carries so much weight for me, since I'm going to start medical school here in July.


~

Numbers 21:4-9

They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 

So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

~

(image made using Microsoft Copilot)

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