When we read the Bible, some stories stay with us because they carry both danger and deliverance. One such story is about being bitten by a snake. It’s not just a dramatic moment it’s a mirror that shows how faith, fear, and God’s protection play out in real life.
The Bible mentions snake bites in a few powerful moments, each carrying a deep message. They remind us that life can strike unexpectedly, but those who trust God stand unharmed, even in the most frightening trials.
Let’s walk through these stories, see what really happened, and understand what they mean for us today.
The Apostle Paul and the Snake on Malta
After surviving a terrifying shipwreck, the Apostle Paul and his companions washed ashore on the island of Malta. The Book of Acts paints the scene vividly:
“Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.’ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.”
Acts 28:3–5 (NIV)
Imagine the moment. Cold, exhausted, and drenched, Paul was simply helping to keep the fire alive. Then, out of the wood, a snake struck. The islanders immediately assumed divine judgment had found him. They expected him to swell up or fall dead within minutes.
But nothing happened.
Paul shook off the creature as if it were nothing more than a spark from the fire. His calmness told a story far louder than words.
The people watched in silence, waiting for the poison to take effect. When Paul didn’t die, their fear turned to awe. They began calling him a god, though Paul would quickly point them back to the true source of his protection God Himself.
This event wasn’t about proving Paul’s toughness. It was about showing that when God has a purpose for your life, no harm can interrupt His plan.
Why Did Snakes Bite the Israelites in the Wilderness?
The second great snake story comes from the Old Testament. The Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Though God had provided food, water, and direction, their hearts turned bitter.
“The people spoke against God and against Moses, saying, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!’ Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.”
Numbers 21:5–6 (NIV)
Their words were poisoned with ingratitude. So came the serpents an image of what happens when rebellion grows unchecked. The very creatures they feared became a mirror of their inner state: venom spreading through hearts that had forgotten to trust.
But even here, God’s mercy outshined His judgment. When the people cried out in repentance, God gave them a symbol of hope.
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.’ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.”
Numbers 21:8–9 (NIV)
It wasn’t magic. The healing didn’t come from the bronze figure itself. It came from faith believing that God’s word was enough to save. One glance upward brought life back to those who looked in trust.
That’s the deeper message here: looking toward God brings healing. Even when sin’s venom runs deep, God’s mercy runs deeper.
What Is the Spiritual Meaning of Being Bitten by a Snake?
In Scripture, snakes are more than reptiles. They’re symbols of deception, danger, and the testing of faith. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent was the voice of temptation. In the wilderness, the serpent was the image of disobedience. But in Malta, the serpent became a symbol of victory through faith.
To be “bitten by a snake” spiritually means facing something that threatens your peace, your trust, or your calling. It might be fear that sneaks in when life feels uncertain. It might be doubt when prayers seem unanswered. It might be the sting of betrayal or loss.
But every snake bite in Scripture points to a truth stronger than the poison: God delivers those who turn to Him.
Paul’s story on Malta shows that faith neutralizes fear. The Israelites’ story in Numbers shows that repentance opens the door to healing. Together, they teach us this when we’re struck by life’s venom, we must lift our eyes toward the Healer, not the wound.
Which Prophet or Man of God Faced the Snake’s Strike and Lived?
Of all the figures in Scripture, Paul’s encounter stands out because of how ordinary the moment was. He wasn’t in a temple or preaching before kings. He was just gathering sticks.
That’s often how faith works it’s proven in the quiet, daily acts of obedience. The snake’s strike came suddenly, but Paul didn’t panic or question God. He trusted that no weapon formed against him would prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
In that instant, Paul showed what it means to live completely surrendered to God’s protection. He didn’t need to pray for deliverance; he was already living in it.
The same God who spared Paul’s life on Malta had once protected Daniel in the lions’ den and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Whether it’s beasts, flames, or storms, God’s power remains constant.
The point isn’t that believers will never face harm, but that no harm can separate them from God’s purpose. A snake might bite, but it can’t cancel the promise.
The Bronze Serpent and the Cross of Christ
Jesus Himself referred to Moses’ bronze serpent when explaining the purpose of His own sacrifice.
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.”
John 3:14–15 (NIV)
This comparison is no accident. The bronze serpent symbolized deliverance from physical death; the cross symbolizes deliverance from spiritual death.
The Israelites looked up and lived. We look up to Christ and receive life everlasting.
The parallel runs deep:
- The serpent was raised high on a pole; Christ was lifted on the cross.
- The people were dying from venom; humanity suffers under sin.
- Healing came not from effort, but from faith in what God provided.
In both cases, the cure was found not in fighting harder, but in trusting deeper.
Jesus turned a symbol of judgment into a sign of mercy. What once represented curse became the image of salvation. That’s the heart of the Gospel: God brings life out of death and redemption out of pain.
Lessons From the Snake Bite Stories
These stories carry lessons that still matter for every believer.
1. Faith Protects Us When Fear Strikes.
Paul didn’t flinch when the snake bit him. His peace came from knowing who held his life. When fear attacks, the only cure is trust in God’s sovereignty.
2. Complaining Invites Trouble, But Gratitude Invites Grace.
The Israelites’ complaints poisoned their hearts long before the snakes appeared. Gratitude is more than good manners it’s a shield against spiritual decay.
3. God’s Mercy Always Provides a Way Out.
Even when the Israelites rebelled, God gave them a solution. He never leaves His people without a path to healing.
4. Trials Reveal the Strength of Our Faith.
Paul’s bite became a testimony. What looked like a disaster became proof of divine protection. The same can happen in our lives.
5. Every Strike Is an Opportunity to Grow Closer to God.
Sometimes, the “bite” we fear is the very moment that pushes us to trust Him more. Pain has a way of refining faith like fire refines gold.
What This Teaches Us About God’s Protection
Paul’s story didn’t end with the snake. After the miracle, he went on to heal many on the island, including the father of Publius, the island’s chief official (Acts 28:7–9). The same hand that was bitten became the hand that healed.
That’s the beauty of redemption God can turn every attack into ministry. The place of your pain can become the platform of your purpose.
God’s protection doesn’t always mean prevention. It means preservation. He may allow the storm, but He will not let it drown you. He may allow the fire, but He will not let it consume you.
The venom of life’s trials cannot overpower the blood of Christ. Paul lived that truth, and so can we.
The key is remembering that protection often feels invisible. It’s not always about angels blocking danger or miracles stopping pain. Sometimes it’s about the quiet peace that holds you steady when everything around you shakes.
When you face hardship when fear bites, when bitterness spreads, when faith feels faint remember Paul on Malta. Remember the Israelites looking up to the bronze serpent. Remember that God’s healing is always within reach.
Faith in Action: How to “Shake Off the Snake” Today
If you’re walking through something that feels like venom in your soul a betrayal, an illness, a failure there’s a lesson for you here.
1. Don’t Panic.
Fear gives power to the problem. Paul didn’t shout or run. He stayed calm because he knew who was in control.
2. Shake It Off.
Paul didn’t let the snake stay attached. That’s what we must do with worry, guilt, and doubt. Let them fall into the fire of faith.
3. Trust God’s Word Over People’s Assumptions.
The islanders judged Paul wrongly. People will misread your struggle too. But their opinion doesn’t define your outcome God’s promise does.
4. Let Your Deliverance Speak for Itself.
When Paul didn’t die, no argument was needed. His survival preached louder than any sermon. Sometimes your quiet endurance will say more about God than words ever could.
From Poison to Purpose
The Bible never hides from pain. It shows that even poison has purpose when placed in God’s hands. The Israelites’ suffering led to a lesson that shaped their faith for generations. Paul’s snake bite led to revival and healing on an island that might never have heard the gospel otherwise.
In both stories, the “bite” was not the end it was the beginning of testimony.
The same is true for you. The trials you survive become the stories others need to hear. The faith that keeps you standing after a storm becomes a living sermon about God’s goodness.
When you’ve been bitten by life, don’t focus on the wound. Focus on the One who heals. He can take what was meant to harm you and use it to bring hope to others.
A Reflection of Grace
The thread running through these moments from Moses to Paul is simple but unshakable: God is faithful.
He does not leave His people in the wilderness or on the wrecked shores of life. He meets them there.
Sometimes His deliverance is instant, like Paul’s. Sometimes it comes through repentance and obedience, like Israel’s. But it always comes.
The next time you feel attacked or afraid, remember that the same God who turned venom into victory is still working in your life.
Shake off the snake. Stand firm in faith. Keep your eyes lifted to the cross. The One who healed in the desert and preserved on the island will not fail you now.
