Be Careful in the Year of the Snake

A few days ago the people of China celebrated their New Year. For them it is the “Year of the Snake,” the sixth of 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac. It is believed by the Chinese that people born under this sign are thoughtful and wise and approach problems rationally and logically. They are often very clever, egotistical, and stingy. For everyone else in that culture it is important to consider the consequences of any planned action before engaging in it.

This “Year of the Snake” got me to thinking. It is always a good idea to consider the consequences of any planned action. Being careful is just good practice, especially around snakes.

Many of us in our western culture do not particularly like snakes. It doesn’t matter if they are venomous or non-venomous. It doesn’t matter if they are big or small. It’s a cultural thing.

The State of Florida is even having a python roundup. Because of python releases and an environment that is favorable to their prolific reproduction, state officials say there are too many of them in the Everglades. They are not a native species to the area. And these pythons can get large enough to take down deer, alligator and other large animals.

My parents didn’t care for snakes either, nor did my grandparents. Snakes stole eggs the chickens laid. They frightened farm animals. And I guess there was also the story that Satan was a serpent. You know the story. It’s written about in Genesis.

I know that when I was a little kid I was curious about snakes and I know that before most children grow up they want to pick them up or keep them as pets. Then some adults tell them they are dangerous and to avoid them.

Herpetologists recognize that snakes keep the number of mice and rats down. They eat insects, birds, small mammals and other snakes. Greg, one of my hiking friends always seems to be picking up a snake on the trail. He’s is one of just a few people I know who handles snakes.

On the other hand, I remember a time in early May 2004, in East Tennessee Greg, Luke, David and I were at a trailhead getting ready to hike when an elderly guy in an old truck came up to us to talk. Initially he talked about the weather and seeing folks get out into the woods and then he asked, “Have you seen any snakes?” He reminded us there are people in the backwoods who handle snakes in church, venomous ones. He might just be one of them. We told him we were just beginning our hike and hadn’t seen any. His question to us confirmed that handling snakes in some churches was still being practiced, even in 2004. It was late spring and he was hoping snakes were emerging from their dens.

This year for celebrating the snake also brought to mind my time in Brazil last September in the State of Amazonas, helping an indigenous group of people build a meeting facility for their church in their village. Some of us were digging holes to set large poles into when we heard the sound of an alarmed chicken. The squawking of the chicken finally stopped and that seemed to be that. A few minutes later, a local man produced a dead young chicken and a boa constrictor for all of us to see. As is customary with boa snakes, it strikes its pray and holds its victim with his mouth, wraps itself around its prey and strangles it. On releasing the snake we observed that this particular snake was no longer interested in feeding on its victim. Various other sources say boa will feed on rodents and rabbits that have been killed for them. Maybe this boa had second thoughts about the chicken he had killed. The chicken was large compared to the eggs in my bluebird box (Refer to my blogs dated June 13 and 28, 2009). I thought about how the snake would have appeared once the chicken was consumed.

Some cultures seem almost transfixed by snakes. The ancient Egyptians included Cobras into their art. In fact, I think Egyptians even worshipped some snakes.

In Judaism a snake on the top of a pole could save someone bitten by a snake from dying. The Book of Numbers (Chapter 21) provides details on that subject. One interpretation Christians make of this passage is that the bronze serpent on the pole helps us to recognize the source of our sin and that we must look to God to be healed spiritually.

In ancient Greece mythology Asclepius carried a rod with a serpent wound about it. Medical societies, ambulances and doctors use this as a symbol of medical healing today. The symbol is referred to as a “Rod of Asclepius.”

Maybe the year of the snake is a good thing. It seems a lot of different cultures have a good many takes on snakes. I’m not saying I am going to pick up snakes, especially venomous ones, but I am not necessarily afraid of them either. I am just going to remain cautious. I just know that even snakes that aren’t venomous can bite, and even little bites can lead to infections. In a world and in a time where so many things can go wrong, being careful is just a good practice. But I think that was said already.

Scripture

Genesis 3.1 - Now the serpent was craftier than any of the other beasts the LORD God had made.

Genesis 3.14 - The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

Exodus 7.9 – When Pharaoh says to you (Moses), “Prove your represent God by doing a miracle; say to Aaron, “Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.”

Numbers 21.8-9 - And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” Moses made a bronze1 serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

John 3.14 - And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Mark 16.17-18 - And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”