In the Bible is the familiar account of Moses' appearance before Pharaoh and of Moses' demand that the children of Israel be released from the slavery to which they had been subjected for many years. Moses had been reluctant to undertake this mission but had been divinely shown that he must do it and that he could do it. One of the signs given him was that of seeing his shepherd's rod, which he had cast on the ground, become a serpent. We read in the fourth chapter of the book of Exodus that "Moses fled from before it" (verse 3). The account continues: "And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand."
In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy gives the definition of "serpent," a part of which reads (p. 594), "Subtlety; a lie; the opposite of Truth, named error; the first statement of mythology and idolatry; the belief in more than one God; animal magnetism." The definition ends with the words, "The first audible claim that God was not omnipotent and that there was another power, named evil, which was as real and eternal as God, good."
In the allegory of Adam and Eve, the serpent tempted Eve in the garden of Eden with its subtle talk of other gods besides the one God. Foolishly Eve listened to its blandishments, disobeyed the commandment of God, and lost her paradise. On the other hand, Moses handled the serpent. He overcame his fear of it, stopped running away from it, and saw it for what it was— an illusion or delusion.
