As wise counsel to the Christian believer, to actually apprehend being "more than conquerors", being the "head and not the tail" in our journey to eternal life, we are admonished to be "as harmless as a "dove", and as "wise" as a "serpent", but have we really stopped to consider the depth of such an allegory? What "wisdom" could a snake possibly possess,seeing as how he didn't have the "mother wit" or the "common sense" to maintain his rent-free, "full benefits" package "in the garden? How could such a one who has been cursed to eat the dust of the earth, and to be in constant danger of being "under the feet" of every living creature that walks in an upright position? be "up on it"? We know that the Bible says that he would bruise the "heel" of man, and "man" would bruise his "head", but what about finding one's self, as a serpent, under the "feet/hooves" of an elephant, gorilla, rhinoceros, an ox, or some other heavy duty creature? Perhaps the serpent's wisdom is measured by his ability to stay alive. and avoid being "road kill" by stampeding buffalo, or a herd of bull elephants, and perhaps it's based on it's ability to live out it's life in the "dust", crawling on it's belly, and yet, being able to "take down" other creatures and men thousands of times it's size. The truth is that a serpent has to be quite cunning and resourceful,just to exist as a serpent, one of the most feared and hated creatures on God's earth. Men don't have to even know a thing about a serpent, of any size, color or personal snake habits, but pity the snake that runs across a man's path, if he has any kind of weapon in his hand or near by, because that's guaranteed to be a serpent with a "past", but not a "future"! In spite of these, apparently unbalanced :odds", snakes have always been abundantly plentiful, and will probably never be in danger of extinction, so, considering the present genocide of men, the serpent, does, indeed, possess some level of intelligence and wit! Even though, men, with all the intellect, knowledge, and advanced skills and understanding they possess, have always systematically worked against themselves to extinguish the life of the human race, very few of those deaths were from "serpent bites", but rather, at the hands of other "humans" or men! I've yet to hear of a snake "biting" another snake, or going out of it's way to "jack" another snake for their "scales, "extra venom", or out of simple jealousy! Therein lies "great wisdom"!

Part of a serpent's wisdom is acknowledging, and working within the confines of that knowledge, that he is a serpent,no more or no less, and they recognize that they can't fly, sprint, hop, gallop, or drive a car,because they were created to "crawl", and to slither, and so they mastered "staying in their lane",and 'staying on their given "square"! Wisdom is the principle thing, here! They so mastered their limitations, and made them great assets and even parlayed them into brilliant "weapons", that many serpents can blend into their environment, and you'll never know that they're there, until you trespass, and find yourself in "biting" distance. This is contrary to the nature of men, because, typically, "man" is going to be "loud", "flamboyant", and obvious, making sure that his presence is announced and known, and often to his own detriment! Serpents don't run amongst alligators, and lions, because they recognize that these are not environments conducive to their "health" , well-being, or productivity, so they usually hang out amongst other serpents, if not alone.There's some "WISDOM" for you! Serpents don't, generally go seeking trouble, but they will fight when need be, and they will stand their ground, and guard what's important to them. Herein lies wisdom! There are some breeds that are simply not going to "run" because an "impostor" has trespassed their territory, no matter the size of the adversary! Because they don't randomly, or haphazardly, engage in battle, when it's necessary to handle their little "snake's business", they have a reservoir of strength, and reservoirs of venom, and they know when to strike, and when to retreat, and bide their time, so that their next "strike" will hit it's mark!! Herein lieth wisdom! Serpent's don't bite a "lion", because a "bear" crossed them, but they concentrate their attention on their immediate enemy, and don't allow environmental activities, no matter how loud the "monkeys" are chattering, or how chaotic the atmosphere of the other "wild life", to distract them from engaging their adversary in battle. They're not distracted by the battles of yesterday, when there's a more imminent danger, right now, right there before them! Therein is great wisdom!

One of a serpent's greatest traits of revealed wisdom, is his posture of subtility, and cleverness. Many an "alleged' "snake charmer" have found themselves on the deadly end of a snake, by making the mistake of thinking that their serpent was being seduced, and beguiled by them and their flute, when they fatefully discovered who or what was really in charge! Serpent's know how to give the appearance of looking like logs, vegetation, or playing dead, and many beguile humans into believing that they are nice, safe, "pet" material, and tamable, when the very notion of a pet snake" is an "oxymoron"! How cunning can a serpent be, to convince a rational human being into bringing home a boa constrictor, or any other kind of serpent, and considering them to be a part of the household? As tragic and unfortunate as it is when someone's child, poodle, or the pet owner, themselves, become snake attack victims, the fact is, it was born a snake, it was a snake when you brought it home, and it's still a snake! The fact that they know how to lie perfectly still, patiently wait and watch,and strike in timely, synchronized fashions is a demonstration, of wisdom, discipline, and a determination to survive, in a hostile and ruthless environment. Serpents operate hanging from trees, around bodies of water, and moving along the ground, but they don't allow the absence of feet with "Nikes" prevent them from moving at lightning fast rates of speed, or their small size hinder them from swallowing whole, animals, much larger than them.There's something to be learned from everything God formed and created, and the very nature of the serpent reveals God's sovereignty in the creation of all creatures, because he made the serpent a formidable foe, and opponent, from the "garden" to the "grave"! If you want proof of this, observe the ones that sing in the choir, and preach 'em under the church house floor!

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