Most people react to seeing a snake by wanting to kill it even if the snake is small or harmless. This fear began in the first reference to the serpent in the Bible, when it was employed by the enemy to trick Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Ever since then, the snake has been linked to danger, deception, and curses. No wonder, then, that to this day we automatically treat snakes as dangerous animals despite their true level of threat.

The curse on the snakes in Genesis shows why we tend to respond this way. Following the fall of man, God spoke to the serpent and told it that it would go on its belly and there would be enmity between it and man. That enmity is responsible for the instant hostilities between man and snakes why they attack when they smell us, and why men attack them without thinking first. The snake then served as a physical reminder of the ruptured relationship between man and God.

Yet, not all snakes are a real threat. Most are harmless, but humans still destroy them because they are afraid. The question is: must we always kill them, or can we just chase them off and send them back into the wild? Safety is prudent, but senseless killing may prove only to show how fear continues to control us. At times, wisdom is discernment when to act for safety, and when to hold back.

Snakes, by nature, are often seen as treacherous creatures—silent, deceptive, and ready to strike without warning. This very behavior has made them a universal symbol of betrayal and danger. In the same way, some humans can reflect this trait: they may appear harmless or friendly on the surface, yet their actions reveal deceit and hidden malice. Just as one must be cautious with snakes, we must also be discerning in dealing with people whose true intentions are concealed behind false appearances.

In the end, the snake reminds us of the spiritual struggle between good and evil. It is a symbol of temptation and sin, but Scripture also says that Christ conquered that curse. Rather than being controlled by fear, we can react with faith and prudence, knowing that not everything that appears to be danger actually is dangerous. Likewise, not all trials are to hurt us—sometimes, it is simply teaching us to have more faith in God's protection and judgment.

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." – Genesis 3:15