In the Book of Numbers chapter 21 there is an incident that has a lot to say about healing. The people were moaning and whinging against God and Moses for leading them into the wilderness. God was displeased with their complaining and sent fiery serpents that killed many. In their distress they called out to God who commanded Moses to make a bronze replica and whenever anyone got bitten he was to look at the bronze serpent for healing. The fiery serpents can represent all our hurts and wrongdoings; everything done to us or by us; all we have tried to bury and forget about. These unresolved issues continue to come back to bite us and it is only by facing up to them, symbolized by the bronze serpent, that a process of healing and integration begins to take place. Only by dealing with our past can we enjoy the present and not worry about our future.