Suffering persists, yet it finds a means to mend.
In the biblical story of Chukat, a remarkable event unfolds as the Israelites, wandering in the desert, are visited by venomous snakes. This episode, filled with profound symbolism, offers a powerful message about healing, faith, and redemption.
Moses, following God's instruction, sculpted a snake of copper and placed it on top of a pole. Those who had been afflicted by snake bites would gaze on the serpentine image on the pole and be cured. This act, rooted in faith and trust in divine intervention, signified that healing came not from the serpent's venom itself, but from trusting in God's mercy and grace.
The bronze serpent represented more than just a physical remedy; it was a symbol of faith and divine healing. It served as an outward sign of repentance, a plea for forgiveness, and a turning back to God, who alone could provide salvation and restoration.
In the Bible, snakes were often associated with evil and danger, so using the image of a serpent as a means of healing was a powerful reversal. It conveyed that God could redeem even what is harmful and turn it into an instrument of life and hope. This transformation of a symbol of evil into a symbol of salvation was a poignant reminder that God's power extends even to the most challenging situations.
Moreover, the bronze serpent foreshadowed the ultimate healing available through Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to this event, comparing His being lifted up on the cross to the bronze serpent lifted on a pole. Just as looking at the serpent brought physical healing, looking in faith to Jesus brings spiritual healing and eternal life.
The story of the bronze serpent also emphasizes the importance of individual faith. Each person bitten had to look upon the bronze serpent individually to be healed, underscoring that healing and salvation require personal faith, not just collective acknowledgment.
Meanwhile, in a different context, Boris, a burly immigrant from Moscow, stepped off a plane in Israel after seventy years of communist oppression and seven hours of flying. When asked about his life in Russia, he replied, "I couldn't complain." Like the Israelites who looked upon the bronze serpent, Boris' journey to Israel signified a turning point, a search for healing and a new beginning.
In the face of agonising turmoil, finding clarity requires looking upwards and seeing the challenge from a more sublime vantage point. It is in this upward gaze that one might find a new sense of healing, as problems may become solutions and venom may become the cure.
[1] Exodus 21:4-9 [2] Numbers 21:4-9 [3] John 3:14-15 (New Testament)
Science and health-and-wellness research could explore the psychological impact of symbolic objects, such as the bronze serpent, on mental health. For instance, therapies-and-treatments may be developed to help patients faced with challenges visualize symbols of hope and find spiritual healing.
In the context of faith-based practices and mental health, the story of the bronze serpent provides insight into individual resilience and healing, offering a metaphorical approach for coping mechanisms in health-and-wellness interventions.
