Question
Moses puts up a copper serpent on a pole to prevent those bitten from dying (Numbers 21:4-9). Is this not idol worship?
Answer
The serpent was certainly not idol worship. They were not told to pray to the serpent, just to look at it. It was an unusual type of cure, but in essence no different than any other. Idol worship has to do with the attitude as much as with the image; remember, there were images in the Holy of holies, on top of the ark!
I’ll mention that Chizkiyahu (Hezekiah) the king got rid of this serpent. The reason was that he was afraid that people would begin to worship it, since it had healing properties. Apparently, people’s spiritual level had declined, and this had become a danger.
Best wishes,
Michoel Reach