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Biblical Problems
 
Should We Tread on Snakes and Scorpions?
 
Dr Paul Kariamadom V C

In St. Luke's gospel, when the seventy two disciples return after their missionary activity, Jesus says:"I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning . See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you" (Lk 10:18-19). A similar idea is also seen in St. Mark's gospel. "They will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mk 16:18). Many wonder what this authority to tread on snakes and scorpions means and some ask questions about it. What we see in these sentences is the authority the disciples received over demons and the powers of evil. Jesus uses such language several times. (for example, in Jn 2:19:21 "Destroy this temple; in three days I will raise it up). Poisonous creatures, specially snakes are seen as the image of Satan in the Bible. We first read about the demons being subject to the disciples and the great fall of Satan before the reference is made to the authority given to tread on snakes (Lk 10:17-19). After this comes the reference to the power given to tread on snakes and scorpions. This actually means the authority over Satan the enemy of man.

In the book of Revelation 12:9 we read about the great dragon thrown down on the earth and the ancient serpent called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. In this same book 20:2 there is a reference to the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan. In Rev 12:3-17 the description of the woman and the dragon shows the defeat of Satan. The battle between Satan and St Michael with his angels can be seen in Revelations 12:7-9. In Genesis 3:15 we have the prophecy that the Messiah to come will crush the head of the serpent. This is called "Proto-Evangile". The Christ who crushes the head of the serpent is victorious over the devil and evil. This authority he gives to his disciples too. (In Gen 3:1 Satan who deceived the first parents is pictured as the cunning serpent). Israel viewed as diabolic the snake-worship prevalent in snake groves in Rome, Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia (In India there still exists snake-worship as a vestige of superstitious practices. The people of the Middle East considered the goddess of hell as a terrible serpent. The Israelites identified the serpent (Nahash) with evil. The book of Job presents Yahweh as crushing the head of Satan, evil represented by the serpent (Job 26:13). In Isaiah 17:1 we see the Lord destroying the dragon of the sea. The infant who will not be attacked by the serpent or scorpion stands as the symbol of peace in the Messianic age (Is 11:8). In Amos 9:3 we see the serpent which is the symbol of evil. In Psalm 91:13 the treading on the lion and the serpent is mentioned and this indicates the protection of God.

We here see that the expression "treading on the scorpion" is used as figurative language symbolising the protection of God. Ezekiel states that opposition of enemies is like being seated on scorpions (2:6). Sirach speaks of accepting a wicked woman being equivalent to holding a scorpion (27:7). Satan contaminates the human mind by sin. He inflicts fatal wounds on man. Therefore Satan is figuratively compared to poisonous creatures. God has some times saved certain people from deadly snake bites and poisonous creatures. Paul being preserved from the viper's bite is an example in point (Acts 28:3-6) Here too the snake is associated with evil.

In the book of Acts we read how St John and Barsabas were saved from being poisoned. When Antony of Padua drank the poison enemies had treacherously given him, he was saved from death. So says tradition. But these are rare instances. They need not occur always.

When Jesus told the disciples that they would be preserved from death when bitten by snakes and scorpions, he did not mean that they necessarily would not be poisoned. It meant that they would be victorious over Satan and evil. St Paul writes to the Romans, "The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet"(16:20). "All things work together for good for those who love God" (Rom 8:28). The Baptist calls the wicked, "You brood of vipers!" (Lk 3:7).

Today there are several people who spread the poison of evil in individuals and in society like snakes and scorpions (Do we not call a wicked person a viper ?) Our Lord Jesus gives every Christian filled with the Holy Spirit the power to fight against such people. When the water of life which is the Holy Spirit fills a person, when it breaks forth from him, nothing deadly will destroy him. The disciple of Christ will, by the power of the Spirit, gain victory over the wicked and go forth daily from strength to strength.