THE BRAZEN SERPENT

She had been out gathering manna for their food for Friday and for Sabbath when he heard her scream. “Benjamin! Sna-a-a-ake!” He thought that he had checked the area behind their tent, but somehow one of those wretched things had slithered up to her and bitten her on the calf. Running around the enclosure where he tied the sheep that would be their next few meals, he was drawing his sword as he approached. 

Rebecca was cringing and backing away from the viper, it was just sitting there watching her, its head swaying slightly. As Benjamin approached it pulled back into an attack pose, mouth wide open, fangs poised to bite again. One swipe and Benjamin removed its head. Then with Rebecca’s agonized cries roaring thru his brain, he hacked the squirming body of the beast to pieces.

“Benji, it burns, O LORD, it burns, Ooooo…”

Giving a quick glance around in case there was another one close, Ben shuddered. Pulling Becky into his arms he cradled her, rocking slightly, and patting her back. “It burns! Oooo!”

There was nothing he could say. It had been three days since Moses had sent runners thru the camp telling everyone that the LORD had heard their complaining and was sending a judgment on them for their ungrateful whining.

When the first people had been bitten and it was obvious that this was not just a couple of snakes coming out of hibernation, the whining complaints changed to pleading for relief. The word came down via the messengers that the LORD had, in what seemed an ironic and almost cruel response, told Moses to make a brass — or was it bronze? Whatever, from a distance it all looks the same — snake and put it on a pole in front of The Tent.

Seriously, LORD? Make a bronze snake? You have GOT to be kidding me! Do you have any idea how long that takes? Oh, sure, everyone who had any bronze was quick to make it available so the cure could be implemented. But, someone had to make a mold for the liquid bronze to be poured into. Someone had to build a furnace that would melt the bronze. Then, before the thing could be put up on the darn pole it had to cool enough so it didn’t set the pole on fire. 

Won-der-ful! Meanwhile, LORD, people are getting worse out here. Finally, this morning, the stupid snake was up there for everyone to see. As if anybody wanted to look at a snake! Zeesh!

Rebecca had been bitten two days ago. She was burning up with fever and barely able to mumble. And she was weak. So weak. It was terrifying! Grrr! All it was, was a little complaining. Yeah, we liked the foods we had in Egypt. Yeah, we wish we had some water wells that we could count on. Yeah, we want to grow our own crops instead of having to eat this manna garbage every day. And for a little mouthing off, I’m watching my bride suffer? LORD, couldn’t you have had that reptile bite me instead of her?

When the runners came thru the camp, shouting ‘Look and live!’ he had explained that the cure for the snake bite poison was to look at the brass snake on the pole. Becky didn’t have much strength left. When she tried to speak, her voice was a breathy whisper, but her words were clear, “I’m not going to look at another snake. I don’t ever want to see a snake again. Living or brass.”

That was two hours ago. A cold chill swept over Benjamin as he was pouring some cool water on a rag to wipe Rebecca’s face. She wasn’t moaning. She wasn’t moaning! O LORD, no! Where is that blasted snake we’re supposed to look at?”

“Rebecca! Open your eyes! Honey, please! Darling, look! It’s right there! I’ll lift you up so you can see it. No, baby, don’t look at me, look at the brass snake!”

Benjamin gently slid his arm under his wife’s shoulders, raising her limp form so that she was propped up against him. Her left leg was swollen and hot to the touch. 

He saw the moment she left. For a split second she was looking into her husband’s eyes, and then the light left her eyes. He was alone.