The answer is: Serpent

Num 21:8-9

In the wilderness, the Israelites faced not just physical hardships but also spiritual crises. When venomous snakes invaded due to their complaints about the journey, Moses, directed by God, crafted a bronze serpent and lifted it up on a pole. This act is both peculiar and deeply symbolic. Looking upon the serpent became the remedy for those bitten—an image of acceptance, healing, and the need to confront one's fears.

It's fascinating to note that this incident is echoed later in the New Testament when Jesus speaks of being "lifted up" like the serpent (John 3:14-15). This parallel serves as a reflection on the themes of salvation and transformation through fate encountered and overcome. So, what was seemingly a face-off with a mere snake evolved into a profound message of redemption.

Moreover, the bronze serpent, Nehushtan, later became something to be honored, which led the Israelites once again into misunderstanding and distraction (2 Kings 18:4). This speaks to our tendency to elevate symbols above their intended purpose, much like societal idols today.

Fun Fact: The symbol of the snake wrapped around a pole has permeated cultures, seen very often in medicine as the Staff of Asclepius! So next time you see that emblem, you'll recognize it as a vibrant testament to a wild journey through the desert and the redemptive power of individual reckoning and healing found within community wisdom. Everyone in a spiritual journey knows taking a good long look at what challenges or frightens us can lead to profound healing.