Copperhead Crossing

by Macy Johnson

“Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them;

they bit the people and many Israelites died.”

(Number 21:6 NIV)

 

On one of my recent walks in my neighborhood I came across an injured copperhead snake. It was curled up on the centerline of the road. I had passed that way four times earlier during my walk, but didn’t notice it until now. Was I so focused or distracted that I didn’t see it? The snake reared its head and looked at me as if to say, “Help!” I noticed a deep cut in its side, but no other injuries.

 

I asked God to guide me safely past the dangerous creature. He did and I went to find my husband. Soon the snake was dead and off the road. I was relieved, but reminded that Mr. Snake came from somewhere nearby. I had passed a dead copperhead snake a few feet from that spot before.

 

The Israelites spent forty years wandering in the desert of testing. Their former masters, the Egyptians, worshipped idols in the form of snakes. God sent snakes to torture and remind His children how dangerous their enemies were.

 

Moses made an image of a snake and put it on a pole so anyone who had been bitten could look at the snake and live. That took a lot of faith, like looking up at Jesus on the cross takes great faith.

 

I have venomous snakes living all around me. Some are camped out in my mind and some appear suddenly on my path, seemingly from out of nowhere. I must be alert when I walk on the road or on the grounds near my house. Spiritual snakes are equally as dangerous as physical ones.

 

I will avoid all snakes in my path, especially the ones crossing my mind. I hope you will, too!