The rattlesnake

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field…Genesis 3:1a

A well-known fable is found in American lore. The Cherokees told of a little boy and a rattlesnake. In other American folktales, a little girl encounters the rattlesnake. The story even made its way into 1960s rock ‘n’ roll when Johnny Rivers wrote and sang “The Lady and the Snake”, with an encore 45 record of the same tune sung by Al Wilson.

Due to recent international events, I have decided to share this fable. When we place our trust in those who have a history of deception, treachery, and violence, the outcome is fairly predictable.

Here’s my version of the Cherokee tale:

One day as he was walking along a trail, a little boy came upon a very old rattlesnake.

“Little boy,” asked the snake, “would you please take me to the mountaintop so I can see the sunset for the last time before I leave this world?”

“No, Sir. You’d bite me if I picked you up and then I’d die,” replied the little boy.

The rattlesnake responded, “No. You have my word. I won’t bite you. Please, little boy. Take me to the top of the mountain!”

After considering the rattlesnake’s promise, the little boy reached down, grasped the snake, and holding it close, carried it to the mountaintop.

There they watched the lovely sunset together. Afterwards, the rattlesnake wanted to be carried home again. The boy carefully picked up the snake, held it close, and trudged down the mountain. He took the rattlesnake to his home, fed it and gave it a place to sleep.

The next day, the rattlesnake asked, “Please, boy, will you take me back to my own home now? Soon I will die, and I desire to be in my own home as I take my last breath.” Since the snake had kept its word to the boy all this time, he decided to do as the rattlesnake requested.

Carefully he picked up the snake, carried it close to his chest back through the forest to its home to die. And just as the boy laid the rattlesnake down, it turned and bit him in the chest. Devastated by betrayal, the little boy cried out, “Mr. Rattlesnake! Now I’m going to die! Why did you do that?”

Looking up at the little boy as it slithered away, the rattlesnake hissed with a grin, “You knew what I was when you picked me up.”

Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. Proverbs 25:19, ESV