Contents
- 0.1 What is the spiritual meaning of the bear?
- 0.2 What does it mean when you dream of an aggressive bear?
- 1 Are bears a good omen?
- 2 What personality does a bear represent?
- 3 What does a bear symbolize in astrology?
- 4 What is the meaning of seeing animals in dreams?
- 5 What does dreaming of wild animals mean?
- 6 What does it mean when you dream about bears trying to get in your house?
- 7 Why am I dreaming of being attacked?
- 8 What is an animal of God?
What is the spiritual meaning of the bear?
Spiritual Meaning of the Bear – In many cultures, bears are spiritual beings. The bear spirit animal is a powerful force in the lives of those who are chosen by this special being. On a spiritual level, the bear represents the courage to evolve and the ability to be open-minded, In addition, the bear reminds us to trust our instincts and to be protective of our faith.
People love bears. Bears outmatch us in size and strength and they can easily kill us. Yet, many of us adore bears and are drawn to them. Children love their Teddy bears and Pooh bears, and indeed “Pooh bear” is an often-used term of endearment. In addition, people name their dogs after bears, as in Kody, Oso, or simply, Bear.
And bears have starred in many stories and legends throughout the ages, symbolizing a wide range of meanings to us. Many of us have not had the opportunity to see a bear in the wild, or perhaps we have seen them in wildlife sanctuaries or even the zoo (which can be good or horrible, depending on the zoo.) Even so, we can still explore our deep connection to bears by getting to know them through the work of wildlife biologists, filmmakers, artists, and bear protection organizations who can help us to understand them better. If you are a bear person, you probably already know it. In the Native American tradition, your spirit animals choose you through a vision quest, a life-changing experience, or a profound kinship that spans lifetimes. If you’re curious about other animals who might be your spirit animals, you can take UniGuide’s spirit animal test and read more about spirit animals in my overview post.
What does it mean when you dream about a bear chasing you?
Dream of a grizzly bear chasing you – With its power and ferocity, the grizzly bear is a potent symbol in the world of dreams. It represents the raw, untamed forces of nature and the primal instincts that drive us as human beings. In your dream, the bear embodies all of the fears and anxieties haunting you in your waking life, chasing you relentlessly and refusing to let you go.
The grizzly bear represents particularly strong challenges and obstacles, things that seem insurmountable and overwhelming. This could be a real danger, such as a physical threat to your safety, or a more symbolic threat, such as financial instability or a difficult relationship. Alternatively, this dream may represent feeling chased by your own fears or negative emotions.
It’s a reminder that sometimes, you need to confront your fears head-on, even if it means risking everything.
What does it mean when you dream of an aggressive bear?
Struggling with maternal instincts – Dreams about bears attacking can also be associated with struggling with maternal instincts. Bears are traditionally seen as symbols of motherhood, protection and a powerful nurturing force. To see such an animal in an aggressive manner could indicate being overwhelmed by the responsibilities of caring for someone (or yourself) — the immense pressure of it all making it difficult to manifest the inner fortitude needed to remain patient and loving.
Are bears a good omen?
A Powerful, Healing Spirit – In the realm of spirit animals, the bear represents strength, courage, confidence, and leadership. If you are always the leader and always have others depend on you, the bear is reminding you of the importance of self-care.
What personality does a bear represent?
Understanding the Bear: – The Bear personality is the picture of steadiness. They are very peaceloving, conflict avoidant, go with the flow individuals. Bears are all about those one-on-one intimate relationships in life. Unlike the Dolphins, they do not need large groups of friends.
Instead, they tend towards small groups of closer relationships. People with the Bear personality are very loyal. It may take a while to fully get inside their intimate circle but once you are, their loyalty is unmatched and you will likely remain there for life. However, if you break their trust, it is exceptionally difficult to re-build it and earn your way back into their inner circle.
Just like a teddy bear, these individuals are very lovable. They are very laid-back and will tend to remain soft-spoken and take a lot, especially from those they love in attempts to avoid conflict. Often, they will avoid conflict at almost all cost, even if it means denying their own needs.
It is important to note that the presence of conflict and chaos is extremely detrimental to individuals with the Bear personality. In fact, they will not remain in a relationship where there is too much conflict and chaos. Although they are teddy bears, we all know what happens when you “poke the bear.” These individuals tend to “take it” until they’ve had enough and then the lovable teddy bear will become a ferocious grizzly.
The same phenomenon happens when you mess with someone a Bear loves. Mama or Papa bear immediately comes out to protect. A common misperception is that the Bear is a weak or lazy personality. In fact, when Bears feel strongly, they will not back down regardless of their challenger.
- Individuals with a Bear personality do not emote or talk very much.
- At times, this makes it very difficult for individuals to adequately “read” how they feel to something since many of the reactions look the same.
- This may also lead individuals to mistakenly believe that individuals with the Bear personality are apathetic.
Although they are often indifferent and indecisive, if they do have an opinion, they likely feel strongly about it. People with this personality type are very deep thinkers, they are incredibly intelligent and wise/insightful, this is likely due to the fact that they spend most of their time listening instead of talking.
However, they must work on being more vocal to avoid others feeling they are apathetic or disengaged. Bears are all about the “WHY?”. They enjoy understanding the deeper meaning of things. Bear personalities love lounging around and must have this time alone or with those few people they love to recharge their batteries.
In the wild we all think about the bears leisurely relaxing under a tree eating honey, going out to forage for other food or going fishing and then needing to go hibernate for the winter. Individuals with the Bear personality may feel exhausted after being on task for too long or having to be too social for too long, therefore, they must retreat either alone or with those few people closest to them to recharge their batteries.
What does a bear symbolize in astrology?
Strength and power: The bear is known for its physical strength and power, and as such, it is often associated with these traits. It is seen as a symbol of courage and leadership, and can represent the need to tap into one’s own inner strength in difficult situations.
What is the meaning of seeing animals in dreams?
Animals In Dreams – Dream Interpretation and Meaning of Animals in Dreams The mammalian side of the brain developed when we evolved from our nocturnal existence to become social creatures. This was a time when emotions and facial expressions developed, which are associated with parenting and social exchanges.
Similarly, in dreams, animals often symbolize emotions, expression and the response of your more ‘wild,’ uncivilized, yet natural self. This part of your nature can be at odds with the inner critic that coaxes you toward conformity. Since we view animals as acting spontaneously toward their urges without social restrictions, animals often represent normal urges that are breaking through conscious controls.
If you dream of being threatened or attacked by an animal, some part of your emotions or behavior (usually anger or sexual feelings) may have erupted or surfaced in way that felt like it ‘came out of the woods.’ You do not ‘own’ the energy and so it threatens you.
- If the animal’s are a focal point, there is a sense that these emotions or feelings will cut through skin awareness to have expression.
- As frightening as these dreams may appear, they are merely the way your natural expression comes up against your desire to ‘be good’ or follow the rules.
- All symbols in a dream personify aspects of you and the animal appearing in a dream is no different.
Wild animals portray the need to express your authentic feelings in an unbridled way, while domesticated animals portray how you have been conditioned to guard them. Apes, chimps and other primates can suggest mimicking social behavior or acting mischievously as a way to stir up a response in others.
Are more powerful and unpredictable, reflecting the power of emotion and urges to break through social restraints. Bears too, can represent sudden protective responses, or defense mechanisms active in daily life. are associated with childhood and maternal influences and ideas that revolve around security.
portray your instinctual and sensitive nature that avoids domestication, and is somewhat manipulative. are ‘faithful’ and loving, representing the easy expression of feelings and love in your relationship with others. The Wild Dogs, like jackals and coyotes, guard the way into the hidden realm of the subconscious.
Meeting their snarling teeth portrays your own fears about digging within to discover the truth about how you feel. These types of dogs can appear as Archetypes when you are going through a transformative process. Carnivorous animals can signify how you can be ‘eaten up’ by being afraid to allow your emotions free reign.
‘never forget’ and are enormous emotional beings. They portray the power of your emotions to trample over ideas that hold you back. Often, dreams of elephants can reveal long held emotional pain that is coming to the surface. Beasts of burden such as the donkey and ox, suggest being saddled or yoked to responsibility, while the ‘animal-ness’ of this symbolism suggests that it is unnatural or too self-restrictive.
The pig is a symbol of satisfaction and enjoyment, sometimes at the expense of all else. In many myths, pigs are sacred and represent the family. and tigers reflect masculine and feminine aspects of the power of sexuality. Both are blindly driven to devour for sustenance, and can portray the power of your innate drives that appear beyond your control when you take what you feel you need.
A lion can be the clever psyche pointing out that someone (or you) is ‘lying’ about something. Domesticated animals, like the cow and can represent territorial issues, where the cow is motherly and passive, while the bull is father-like and aggressive They suggest the care-giving qualities of your parents and how you have adopted these qualities through domestication.
- The bull offers additional insight, in that it explodes when it sees ‘red,’ representing feelings that remain below the surface.
- It can be a symbol of exploring how you are currently processing anger and what part your parents played in ‘bequeathing’ this trait to you.
- Additionally, the cow is a cosmic and sacred symbol of expanded awareness and evolution.
The is associated with ‘spirit’ and also exuberance, suggesting the enthusiasm to ‘win’ or race forward. Of all the animals, the horse will sometimes reflect communication taking place between what you think and what you feel, since there is a belief that horses are ‘psychic’ or respond instinctively to our thoughts as we ride them.
- The zebra is a unique creature and it is said that no two zebras have the same pattern, therefore reflecting the uniqueness of spirit.
- And portray drives associated with sexuality, impishness and playful curiosity, while sheep and lambs ‘follow the herd’ and are corralled, suggesting that you feel that you are being too passive in a situation.
Deer can signify the gentleness of the soul and your innocence and vulnerabilities. Rabbits can reflect reproduction, intuition and a sense of sacrifice since they are low on the food chain. Ground burrowing animals represent both hiding and digging beneath the surface.
The soft eyed (innocence) of many of the furry (protective) and burrowing (hiding) creatures, like squirrels, rabbits and groundhogs are rich with symbolism related to ‘emotions stirring below the surface.’ The fox may represent your ‘craftiness’ in hiding your real feelings or an inability to commit or make choices.
Rats and mice are often considered to be ‘pests’ or associated with what is ‘unclean’ or forbidden. Rats can be ‘stowaways,’ hiding in ships, or in the shadows, representing abandoning something, sneaking around or escaping like a ‘dirty rat.’ Dreaming of rats and mice can symbolize how you are not speaking clearly about your needs – feeling like you must sneak around in the dark to get your needs met.
What does dreaming of wild animals mean?
Dreaming Many Wild Animals Together – Dreaming of many wild animals together implies that either you are currently angry or annoyed over some events, or you are scared of something. Such a dream indicates some health issues in the near future. Dreaming wild animals also means that you might hear a bad news, which may upset you.
What does it mean when you dream about bears trying to get in your house?
5. You’ve tackled a major threat – Here, we focus on what the bear in your dream is doing. It’s trying to enter your house, which means it hasn’t succeeded in entering your house. This could mean you’ve successfully tackled a major threat in your real life. Hi, I’m Hanan Parvez (MBA, MA Psychology). My work has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Reader’s Digest, and Entrepreneur, When I’m not thinking about human behavior, I No wait! I’m always thinking about human behavior!
Why am I dreaming of being attacked?
If you have a dream about being attacked, this is usually because your unconscious mind is trying to get your attention. Maybe there’s anxiety and inner conflict that needs working out. You may also be hiding from a situation and not confronting it, or maybe denying something in your life that needs attention.
Are bears a symbol of love?
This may tie back to the idea that bears are very protective, powerful animals. They care deeply about the ones they love. This transfers well to the idea of bear toys and plushes being fantastic gifts. Rose Bears are the perfect symbol for passion, protection and love.
What animal represents Jesus?
8 animals in the scriptures + their symbolism that might help you better understand Christ’s Atonement A number of animals—red heifers, rams and ewe lambs, he-goats and nanny goats, turtledoves, bulls, pigeons, and a bronze serpent—serve as symbols of Jesus Christ’s atonement or sacrifice.
The blood of the group of animals sacrificed in sacred ceremonies was shed in anticipation of Jesus’ blood, which would flow in Gethsemane and on the cross. Female animals that were sacrificed had specific life-giving qualities that pointed to Jesus as the giver of immortality and eternal life; male animals had other qualities that served as types of Jesus.
The animals’ economic worth made them a sacrifice of value to Israelite households that offered them in sacred temples. None of these animals deserved to be slaughtered—meaning none of them had committed sins or transgressions that required their death.
Rather, their innocence is symbolic of Jesus Christ’s innocence, and their lack of blemishes pointed toward his perfection. The bronze serpent belongs in a category of its own because it was not sacrificed like the lambs, bulls, goats, birds, and heifers. Its symbolism was unique in that it was lifted up on a pole as a prophecy that Jesus would be lifted up on the cross.
This chapter will deal with all of these and other aspects of animals that are types and shadows of Jesus Christ’s atonement (see also chapter 16, which, in part, deals with the atonement and the law of sacrifice). Sacrificial animals died violent deaths in anticipation of Jesus’ violent death on the cross.
- These animals were killed and gave up their lifeblood; the sacrifice of these animals anticipated Jesus’ death and spilled blood.
- Whereas the animals’ blood supported their physical life, Jesus’ blood provides a spiritual life for us.
- The violence associated with the animals’ slaughter stood as a reminder that Jesus’ death would be cruel and brutal.
Each of the sacrificial animals had characteristics that pointed to Christ.1. Lambs A lamb has qualities that typify Jesus and his great sacrifice. For example, a lamb signifies meekness, innocence, and submissiveness, qualities exhibited by Jesus during his trial only hours before his crucifixion.
Once when Jesus approached John the Baptist, John pronounced these words: “Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). According to Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus was “brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isa.53:7; Acts 8:32), meaning Jesus went to his death without resistance or protest.
The Passover lamb too anticipated Jesus’ death. This lamb, like Jesus, was unblemished (Ex.12:5; 1 Pet.1:18–19), male (Ex.12:5), did not experience broken bones at his death (Ex.12:46; John 19:33), and made atonement for the people (Num.28:22). The Passover lamb’s blood saved ancient Israelites from physical death, and Christ’s atoning blood saves souls from spiritual death (Ex.12:13; Hel.5:9).
- The lamb’s meat was edible and clean according to Mosaic law, and the Israelites partook of it in anticipation of Jesus’ broken flesh.
- In comparable ways, we now partake of sacramental bread in remembrance of his broken flesh.2.
- Bulls A fully grown bull, weighing about two thousand pounds, presents the image of great strength.
One scriptural passage refers to the “strength of the ox” (Prov.14:4), and others compare God’s strength to that of a wild ox (NIV Num.23:22; 24:8). To offer up one of these great bulls to the Lord was a sacrifice of great economic value because its hide, meat, and ability to produce offspring were surrendered at the time of its offering.
Somewhat comparable to the bull with its unparalleled strength, Jesus Christ was omnipotent, or all-powerful, in his ability to work the atonement and provide eternal life to all who would follow him and keep his commandments.3. Turtledoves Ancient Israelites who lacked the economic means to offer a lamb as a sacrifice were permitted to offer a dove, a creature of lesser value.
A dove, which belongs to the pigeon family, is known to be an affectionate bird, both to its mates and its offspring. In many cultures, in antiquity as well as in modern times, a dove is a symbol of peace. The correspondences between a dove and Jesus Christ are noteworthy—both spilled their blood when being offered up as sacrifices, and qualities of affection and peace are attributed to both.
- Jesus, of course, is called the Prince of Peace.
- Beyond the lambs, bulls, and turtledoves, other sacrificial animals also possess qualities or attributes that pertain to Jesus Christ.
- Perhaps most important, these animals were all clean animals according to the law of Moses, and their blood looked forward to Jesus’ atoning blood.4.
Ewe lambs Female lambs without blemish were sacrificed as symbols of Jesus Christ (Lev.4:32; 14:10; Num.6:14). Furthermore, in a prophecy about Jesus, Isaiah used the image of a female sheep, or ewe lamb (Hebrew rachel): “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth:,
- And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isa.53:7; emphasis added).
- Isaiah’s prophecy was precisely fulfilled during Jesus’ trial when he appeared, first before Herod and later before Pilate.
- When Jesus stood before Herod, Luke records that Herod “questioned with him in many words; but answered him nothing” (Luke 23:9).
And when Jesus appeared before Pilate, “the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing” (Mark 15:3–5).
- By answering nothing, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that “he openeth not his mouth.” Why were female lambs sacrificed to represent Jesus, who is a male? The answer pertains to the fact that ewes are the bearers of new life.
- They possess the capacity to give birth to one, two, or even more lambs at a time.
Just as a ewe gives physical life, so Jesus gives spiritual life to his daughters and sons. “And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you,
- Ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters” (Mosiah 5:7).5.
- Female goats A goat is a ruminant mammal that has straight hair, usually has a beard, and often has hollow horns that curve backward.
- Goats are related to sheep but are frequently more aggressive, stronger, hardy, and lively.
Goats eat vegetation, plants, leaves, flowers, fruits, and other foods. For a number of reasons, a female goat was highly prized by an Israelite family. By giving birth to two or three kids per year, she helped the family’s economy by multiplying the herd’s size.
Further, she was of great value by providing milk (which was used to make various dairy products), wool, meat, leather, and fertilizer. On certain occasions, God’s law required the ritual sacrifice of female goats; Leviticus 4:28 refers to the offering of “a kid of the goats, a female without blemish.” More important, however, this sacrifice was a type and shadow of Jesus Christ’s divine sacrifice.
Why a female goat? Perhaps to typify the Savior as a giver of life (see above).6. Red heifer The Lord revealed that the way to remove corpse defilement was through the sacrifice of a red heifer. A heifer is young female that has not given birth. Heifers can mate after they are about fifteen months old.
- The red heifer ceremony featured set prescriptions.
- The heifer had to be “without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke” (Num.19:2).
- The heifer was slaughtered and then burned, together with hyssop, cedar wood, and scarlet wool (Num.19:6, 18).
- Afterward, its ashes were placed in a vessel, and then fresh water (the Hebrew text reads literally “living water”) was poured into the vessel over the ashes.
This mixture of ashes and water constituted the water of cleansing that was sprinkled on obedient Israelites who had been defiled by the dead. God considered the purification rituals to be so vital to the Israelites that if the defiled person failed to adhere to the appropriate rituals that served to cleanse him, he would be cut off from the community because he defiled the sanctuary (Num.19:13, 20).
- There is much symbolism attached to the sacrifice of the red heifer.
- The ritual slaughter of a heifer is a genuine sacrifice of economic value because the heifer’s owner gives up all the future benefits that this animal would yield—milk, calves, leather (for clothing and scrolls), and meat.
- More significant, the sacrifice of the heifer is symbolic of Jesus Christ’s divine sacrifice; its blood points to Jesus’ blood, and the fact that the heifer was a female and potential life-giver anticipates the life-giving force of Jesus’ atonement.
Two colors figure prominently in the ceremony: the red heifer and the scarlet wool. Both red and scarlet denote the color of blood, pointing to Jesus’ blood. The symbolism of the water of cleansing pertains to the symbolic purification of the defiled person; just as water cleanses a person who has soiled hands, even so the water of cleansing ritually purifies the defiled soul.
- In regard to the corpse itself, death pertains to lifelessness and the corruption of the physical body, both of which are opposite to God’s eternal vitality and immortal life.
- Death, as the ultimate state of physical corruption, separates us from God.
- Further, humans are entirely helpless when it comes to sustaining their mortal lives beyond the natural processes of mortality.
We must rely upon God for all things that sustain life, including oxygen, water, and food. To teach the principle that death stands opposite to God’s immortality and eternal life, God revealed that a corpse communicates ritual defilement to the living (Num.19).
- That is to say, according to God’s law as revealed to Moses, when a person (male or female) touched a dead body, a human bone, or a grave, or whenever a person was in the presence of a dead body in a tent or a room, that person would be rendered ceremonially unclean (Num.19).
- This defilement often came about accidentally when one inadvertently walked on a grave or entered a room where someone had recently died; or the defilement sometimes came knowingly when family members prepared a loved one for burial, buried their dead, and so forth.
Defilement also came during war. When the Israelites killed others or touched the slain, they were required to adhere to the red heifer rituals. For instance, Moses required Israelite combatants who battled the Midianites to follow the purification procedures before returning to camp (Num.31:19–24).
- There is yet another lesson attached to the laws associated with the red heifer and the dead.
- As we learned above, when a living person comes into contact with the dead through touching a corpse, bone, or grave, that living person is ritually defiled.
- The touching and subsequent defilement of the living recalls other scriptural passages about touching unclean things.
For example, Paul warned the Corinthians to “touch not the unclean thing,” a reference to idols (2 Cor.6:17). Alma, the high priest, taught, “Come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things” (Alma 5:57). Isaiah warned the righteous to “touch no unclean thing” (Isa.52:11) and to “go ye out from Babylon” or “go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon” (D&C 133:5, 14; see also D&C 133:7; 38:42).
The Lord through Moses commanded the Israelites not to touch the things of three wicked men—Korah, Dathan, and Abiram: Moses “spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins” (Num.16:26). In his revelation, John too heard a plea from heaven for God’s people to come out of the wickedness of Babylon when he “heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Rev.18:4).
Just as the living are defiled by the dead, even so the living are defiled by the spiritually dead and by spiritually lifeless situations. Spiritual death surrounds us during mortality in this world, and it affects our innocence and virtue to the extent that we need Christ and his atonement to remove such defilements from our hearts and minds.
Paul sums up: “The ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb.9:13–14). The scriptures refer to Jesus Christ as both the Lamb and the Lion (Isa.31:4; Hosea 5:14; Rev.5:5).
That is to say, Jesus Christ has qualities that remind us of these two animals. With regard to the atonement, Christ is the embodiment of both the Lamb and the Lion. As the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) he submissively, meekly, and with innocence faced his accusers and went to the slaughter, ultimately suffering death on the cross.7.
- Lion As the Lion, he with might and power overcame death and stands exalted in heaven, reigning forevermore with perfect majesty over his kingdom of Saints.
- Isaiah compared the Lord to a lion: “For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, Like as a lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them” (Isa.31:4).
Revelation 5:5–6 places the lion and the lamb in the same setting. In Revelation 5:6 Christ is called “Lamb,” but in 5:5 he is called “Lion,” a creature hostile and adverse to the Lamb. Christ as the Lamb portrays one who is submissive, as a sacrificial victim who is “brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isa.53:7), or one who condescended to descend below all things.
- Christ as the Lion depicts one who has power over all creatures and is a majestic, fearless king (as a lion is “king of the beasts”) who possesses great strength.
- In this context the title is especially appropriate, because just as a lion prevails over other creatures, so Christ “prevailed to open the book” with seven seals (Rev.5:5) (or, according to the RSV, Christ “has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals”).
“Jesus is a member ‘of the tribe of Judah,’ whose emblem is the lion (Gen.49:9).”6 As the Israelites traveled through the wilderness near the kingdom of Edom, they complained to God and Moses concerning what they considered to be a lack of adequate food and water.
God responded to their complaints by sending poisonous snakes among them, killing many. The people recognized their error and pled with Moses to ask the Lord to remove the snakes. As a result of his prayer, “the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (Num.21:8–9). This historical incident affected the Israelites to such a great degree that for centuries they revered the bronze snake.7 In fact, during the reign of King Hezekiah, the Israelites burned incense to it, which was an act of apostasy because they worshipped the symbol (the bronze snake) instead of that which was symbolized (Jehovah, or Jesus Christ).
As a result of the Israelite apostasy, Hezekiah, a righteous ruler and great reformer, “removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it” (2 Kgs.18:4).
The bronze serpent typifies Jesus Christ on the cross in several ways: 1) The serpent was attached to a pole; Jesus was nailed to the cross.2) Both the serpent and Jesus were “lifted up.” Nephi, Helaman’s son, explained, “And as lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come” (Hel.8:14; emphasis added).
Jesus also taught this doctrine: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14–15).3) Whoever of the Israelites looked up at the serpent did not die from the venomous serpents but lived; and whoever looks to Jesus on the cross (by accepting Jesus and his atoning death) lives spiritually.
Again, Nephi taught, “And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal” (Hel.8:15; emphasis added).4) Many Israelites who were bitten by the poisonous serpents died because it seemed too simple to look up at the bronze serpent in order to be healed.
Nephi, Lehi’s son, taught that the Lord “sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished” (1 Ne.17:41).
Similarly, people of all ages scoff at the idea of the cross because they deem it to be foolishness: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor.1:18).5) God “gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents” (2 Ne.25:20).
- Moses was a type and shadow of Jesus Christ, who heals the nations from spiritual disease and sin, and through the power of the resurrection the nations are healed from the sting of death. ^1.
- Taylor, Mediation and Atonement, 146; emphasis added. ^2. Heber C.
- Imball, Journal of Discourses, 5:137. ^3.
- Smith, History of the Church, 5:343–44.
^4. Fee and Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, 177–78. ^5. Fee and Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, 177–78. ^6. Parry and Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation, 69. ^7. For the bronze serpent as a type of Jesus, see McConkie, Promised Messiah, 399–402.
What demon is represented by a bear?
An onikuma (鬼熊, literally ‘demon bear’) is a mythological Japanese yōkai originating in the Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture.
What is an animal of God?
Animal Symbols Connected to Christ – For over hundreds of years, people have talked about how certain animals are like Jesus, gentle and strong, dying and rising. For children, these can be symbols to help understand difficult concepts and why we often refer to certain sayings and stories in the bible and connect them to the resurrection.
The Lamb: Jesus talk about a lot about sheep and lambs. He is called the Good Shepherd who loves us and cares for us. In biblical times, lambs were offered as gifts to God as a means to ask God for forgiveness. Hence today we call Jesus, “The Lamb of God.” The Whale: The story is that Jonah the prophet was swallowed by a whale and spent three days inside the whale before he was spat out.
Jesus, too, was hidden for three days in the tomb before he rose. The Egg: The egg gives us three symbols for Jesus: 1) the shell is like the tomb where Jesus lay for three days after he died; 2) the yellow yolk is like the bright sun – we call Jesus the “Light of the World”; 3) the egg gives new life – a chick.
And Jesus brought us new life in him. The Butterfly: The caterpillar, inching along the ground, is like us, humans who must live on the earth. Before it becomes a butterfly, the caterpillar makes a cocoon around itself and stays there as it changes. The cocoon is like Jesus’ tomb. And the beautiful butterfly is like Jesus coming out of the tomb, glorious and alive! The Lion: Jesus is sometimes called the “Lion of Judah.” The lion is strong and courageous.
Long ago, some people believed that lion cubs were born dead and came alive after three days! The Hare: Hares and rabbits are cousins. Rabbits are shy, but hares are brave and bold. Rabbits live underground with their families, but the hare roams the world.
Sharon Ely Pearson recently retired as Editor & Christian Formation Specialist with Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI) with 35+ years of experience in Christian formation on the local, judicatory, and church-wide level. Known for her knowledge of the variety of published curricula across the Church, she has also had her hand in the birthing of numerous books, including the best-seller, Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People and the 6-book series of Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God. A graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary (2003) and a lifelong Episcopalian, she lives in Norwalk, Connecticut with her husband John, a 17.5 lb. cat named Shadow, and Chobe, a 7-year-old, tennis-ball-fetching, rescue black lab. They have two adult children (both teachers) and a 5-year-old granddaughter who is a budding environmental activist. Follow her at www.rowsofsharon.com. View all posts
What color is good luck bear?
Appearance – Good Luck has green fur with a matching green four-leaf clover Belly badge, In his most recent appearance, he has two dark green blotches on both cheeks.
What are good luck bears powers?
Adults The Care Bears ® are a roly-poly collection of lovable little Bears with a very special mission: each of the Care Bears ® captures and expresses a human emotion. In the complex world of human communication and emotional expression, the Care Bears ® help people share their feelings with other people.
Tenderheart Bear’s job is to help people share their good feelings for each other. He’s very affectionate and is not afraid to display his affection openly. By helping people show they care, Tenderheart Bear helps spread love and makes it grow. Good Luck Bear shares his good luck with everyone.
- He’s loaded with luck, and good fortune follows him wherever he goes.
- Good Luck Bear enjoys success in almost everything he does, and he enjoys the privilege of helping others be successful.
- Wish Bear works to make people’s wishes come true.
- She’s a slow moving, carefree kind of Bear who believes that there’s not a worry in the world that a wish won’t wipe out.
Wish Bear is a dreamer, and her wishful thinking makes others’ dreams come true. Cheer Bear is generally the first Care Bear to appear when someone is not feeling well or whenever things go wrong for any reason. Always the optimist, Cheer Bear approaches each day with a smile and a good word.
- Bedtime Bear’s job is to make sure everyone gets a good night’s sleep.
- He’s strong, brave, and alert, making him the perfect Bear to stand guard over anyone’s bedroom.
- When Bedtime Bear is on duty, there’s no reason to be frightened by anything.
- There’s a lot of romance in Love-a-Lot Bear’s job.
- She brings lovers together.
She’s usually spunky and lighthearted, the embodiment of the spirit of first love. Yet she also has a reflective, sentimental side that allows her to help lovers smooth over little difficulties and misunderstandings. Grumpy Bear is unlike all the other Care Bears ® ; he frowns a lot.
- He reminds us that no matter how well things may be going in our lives, there inevitably will be times when we will find ourselves in a bad mood and that that’s all right—as long as it doesn’t last too long.
- Funshine Bear shares her enthusiasm for life and all its possibilities with everyone.
- A Bear of boundless energy, she puts all her efforts into making sure that people have a good time—no matter what they are doing.
All the baby essentials you could want! : Adults