Serpent Removal

Do you have ophidiophobia? Nothing strikes fear in the heart of many Americans like snakes (51 percent to be exact). It’s even greater than the fear of public speaking (40 percent). So what do you do if you find a snake inside your house? Never fear—call a snake-removal professional! Animal control people suggest you don’t drive the snake into hiding but try to open a door and use a broom to gently herd it outside. Or you can put a bucket over it until someone removes it for you.

The devil actually presented himself as a snake in the Garden of Eden when he deceived Eve and led the world into sin and death. Jesus called him “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). In fact, the first gospel promise is illustrated with a snake. The Lord promised to put into the heart of the woman (the church) and her Seed (Christ) a hatred for the snake (Satan) and his seed (his followers).

The “Seed” was not clearly explained when first given to Adam and Eve. After this cryptic picture of salvation was presented, humanity looked for a coming Savior to rescue them from the venomous attacks of their enemy. The Old Testament Scriptures constantly pointed forward to the Messiah. Isaiah said a “virgin shall conceive and bear a Son” (Isaiah 7:14). Micah predicted, “You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, … out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2).

When Christ came, He forever sealed Satan’s doom. On Calvary, the head of the serpent was crushed. Someday Satan “who deceived them” will be “cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:10) and be forever destroyed. We will never have to fear this snake again.

Apply It:

Read another snake story in the Bible in Numbers 21:4–9. How is it that the Israelites were to look at a serpent and live?

Dig Deeper:

John 3:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Revelation 12:9

Key Bible Texts

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15 KJV)