Sky Serpents

[allodial]

The dark eyed woman - rising - those who looked upon the Serpent that Moses RAISED up in the wilderness did not die!

Num 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
...
that of course would be the lower carnal meaning. The higher meaning of Serpent is Wisdom.

In context: the people were murmuring and speaking ill of God and Moses. The serpents bit them in judgment for PUNISHMENT. The reason they were healed upon looking at the brazen serpent IS BECAUSE OF FAITH--has nothing to do with the serpent representing wisdom. The non-living serpent put to death on the pole would more likely represent something like putting carnal mind or carnality to death or in check rather than wisdom coming from the serpent. The serpent as wisdom is error. The serpent's venom led to death even in the Garden of Eden ... it led to death in the wilderness. What isn't super obvious that serpents' venom can cause death. Forbidden knowledge is perhaps forbidden because it can be poisonous?

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Numbers 21:6-9

1. LORD says do something.
2. Moses obeys and in faith does it.
3. Moses' faith and obedience has the desired effect.

Seems to me that they are all under Moses' trusteeship. It was ALWAYS FAITH from Abraham through to Jesus Christ. The faith of the high priest can be powerful even when others might lack it.

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Acts 26:18 (Jesus)

It was Moses' faith or the faith of the onlooker who believed that looking at the brazen serpent would have that effect if they were told. ALWAYS FAITH. The serpents that bit them seem to have been used for JUDGEMENT/DAMNATION rather than wisdom. God in his providence showed that he had power of recall the judgment (left hand). That is what that arrangement was. If you read the whole story, you'll see it was all about faith from end to end. It was FAITH rather than gnosis that saved them! The Brazen serpent was inanimate..so in a sense a 'dead snake' rather than a live one.

For those who don't quite get the point:

1. God said or promised something to Noah.
2. Noah believed it, obeyed, had faith.
3. Noah and others were saved through Noah's faith.

Reiterating:
1. God said or promised something to Moses.
2. Moses believed it, obeyed, had faith.
3. Many were saved through Moses' faith.

Further:
Did gnosis or knowledge save Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve were told about tree of knowledge of good and evil and its side-effects. Did they beileve? Did they have faith in God? Did knowing/Gnosis save Adam and Eve or did it cause death of some kind? They knew right? The Serpent came with a lie contrary to God's promise, statement or warning. Who did they have faith in God or the Serpent? Serpent as wisdom is not found in the Bible. How can poison to your mind or soul or affairs be wisdom? While wisdom can be gleaned as an after effect playing with snakes, who in a sane mind can attribute wisdom to a snake, to snake venom or to a snakebite?

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

Behold , I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19

Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions,.... Which may be literally understood, as in Mark 16:18, or figuratively of the devil, and his principalities and powers, and all his emissaries, who, for their craft and cunning, and for their poisonous and hurtful nature and influence, may be compared to serpents and scorpions.

...and nothing shall by any means hurt you. not the most hurtful and poisonous animals, nor the most malicious persecutors on earth, nor all the devils in hell: as the former venomous creatures, when took up in their hands, should not hurt, their bodies; so the other, whatever they might be permitted to do with respect to their lives, and outward estate, should never hurt their souls, and the eternal welfare of them; nor even hinder the work of God prospering in their hands (From Gill's commentaries)

If serpents and scorpions represent wisdom, of what use would be the power to tread or trample on wisdom?

They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:18

Hmm seems very, very familiar (see Numbers 21:6-9 above) for some reason.

Related commentaries re: serpents:

...shall be enabled to give, when such a proof may be serviceable to the cause of truth, this evidence of their being continually under the power and protection of God, and that all nature is subject to him.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for.