A Study on Nehushtan unveils the Worship of Relics to expose the Enemy’s Oldest Trick in Today’s postmodern Church.
“He removed the high places, broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image, and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.”
— 2 Kings 18:4
A Symbol of Salvation Turned Into an Idol?
What happens when the very thing God once used becomes the very thing that replaces Him?
In the wilderness, the Israelites sinned. Their rebellion brought death—venomous snakes invaded the camp. But God, full of mercy, told Moses to raise a bronze serpent on a pole. Everyone who looked at it lived (Numbers 21:8–9).
But let’s pause here:
Why a serpent?
Why not just heal them directly?
Was this random—or revelatory?
Jesus later revealed it: the bronze serpent was a prophetic pointer to Himself.
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up...” – John 3:14–15
So no—it wasn’t about the bronze. It was about belief.
Not about the metal, but about the Messiah.
But here’s the tragedy:
What once pointed them to God eventually replaced God.
Centuries later, the Israelites began burning incense to the bronze serpent. They named it Nehushtan—a thing of brass.
A symbol had become a substitute.
Could This Be Happening Today?
Let’s go deeper.
This is not just an isolated Old Testament story. This is part of a strategic pattern.
The enemy—from the very beginning—has always used the same trick:
Take what God made… twist it… and make us worship it instead of Him.
Let’s rewind the clock to the Garden of Eden:
Eden: The First Nehushtan
God gave Adam and Eve everything—dominion, beauty, relationship, and even access to the Tree of Life. But Satan didn’t need to invent some dark magic or create a new god.
Instead, what did he do?
He took something God made—the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
He twisted its purpose.
He redirected their eyes, not toward rebellion but toward something God created.
He turned a boundary into bait.
“Has God indeed said…?” – Genesis 3:1
And just like that, creation became more desirable than the Creator.
The Pattern Continues: Biblical Echoes of the Same Tactic
Let’s trace this ancient tactic through Scripture:
The Golden Calf (Exodus 32)
The people were tired of waiting for Moses. So what did Aaron do?
Took their gold (which God gave them from Egypt).
Melted it.
Formed a god they could see.
And said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt!”
Seriously?
A golden calf became a replacement for the God who split the Red Sea.
The Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 4)
God’s presence was symbolized by the Ark—but when Israel faced battle, they used it like a lucky charm.
The result? They lost the battle, the Ark was captured, and God’s glory departed.
Why?
Because the symbol had replaced submission.
The Temple Itself (Jeremiah 7)
The Israelites repeatedly declared, “The temple of the Lord! The temple of the Lord!”—thinking the building guaranteed their protection.
But God told them: “Do not trust in these deceptive words.”
They honored the building more than the God who once filled it.
So… What Are the Nehushtans of Our Generation?
Ask yourself:
Have our spiritual tools become religious traps?
Are we burning incense—spiritually speaking—to things God once used but never intended to be worshipped?
Let’s examine the modern relics many revere today:
Anointing Oil
Is the oil itself divine—or is it just symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s presence?
When did we begin trusting the oil more than the One who anoints?
Prayer Cloths & Mantles
Did Paul’s handkerchiefs heal—or was it the faith in Christ that made people whole (Acts 19:11–12)?
Have we turned cloth into charms?
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Holy Water
Does water have power—or is it just a symbol of purification?
When did we treat the liquid like it had life, instead of the Living Water, Jesus?
Church Buildings & Altars
Have we turned locations into idols?
Are we more loyal to our denominations than to the kingdom of God?
Pastors & Prophets
Do we now pray “in the name of the God of my pastor”?
Do we know God personally—or are we depending on someone else’s intimacy?
Why Does This Matter?
Because this is Satan’s oldest strategy—and it still works.
He doesn’t need to lure you into witchcraft—he just needs to redirect your worship to something familiar.
“I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images.” – Isaiah 42:8
Could it be that...
Our pulpits are decorated with relics, but our hearts are far from God?
We’re using God’s tools without trusting in God Himself?
We’ve traded the presence for the props?
From Cross to Cloth: The Slippery Slope of Substitutes
When did...
Faith in Christ become faith in things?
Christ the Healer become less talked about than oils and mantles?
The Gospel become a message of “touch this, sow that, hold this”?
What if the real danger is not witchcraft—but worshiping God's works more than God Himself?
How Do We Return to True Worship?
The answer isn’t to throw away oil, cloths, or buildings.
The answer is to realign our focus.
Ask yourself:
Am I more drawn to spiritual experiences than to spiritual surrender?
Do I need a prophet to access God—or am I walking in my own relationship?
Have I confused the tools for the Truth?
“There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 2:5
Final Charge to the Church: Tear Down Every Nehushtan
Like Hezekiah, are we ready to shatter the bronze serpents in our hearts?
Will we stop idolizing oil and start desiring intimacy?
Will we move from rituals to relationship?
From props to presence?
From cloth to Christ?
Jesus didn’t die to make us collectors of relics.
He died to make us disciples who carry the cross.
Look Around… Then Look Up
Could it be that revival won’t come until we stop looking at the brass serpent—and start looking at the Son of Man lifted high?
Could it be that the Church is waiting for more power, while God is waiting for more purity?
Have we traded the Tree of Life for the shiny fruit on a forbidden branch—again?
What Do You Think?
Are there Nehushtans hiding in plain sight in our churches, homes, or hearts?
Let’s talk in the comments. Let’s help one another come out from among them—and return to the Christ who is enough.
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