Do you like to go to the doctor? Have you noticed the symbol used by the medical facility you go to? Have you looked at the insignia a doctor or nurse may have on their lapel? Have you noticed the symbol on a prescription pad or on the label of your medicine?
Whether we have noticed it or not, there are two universal medical symbols. One is called the Rod of Asclepius and the other is called the Caduceus. They are very similar but different. Each has its own history and the choice of which is used is left up to the organization.
The Caduceus is used by 37% of professional medical organizations and 76% of commercial medical companies. The Caduceus is based on the Greek mythology that it was the staff that Mercury used. As the myth goes, there were two snakes fighting and Mercury through his staff at them to stop them. The two snakes entwined themselves around this staff.
The Rod of Asclepius, which is used by 62% of professional medical organizations, dates back to 1400 B.C. It is a staff with a single snake entwined around it. It is based on the story of Moses who made a bronze snake wrapped around a pole which the Israelites could look at and not die after being bitten by a snake. Because they had complained against God and Moses, God had sent poisonous snakes into their camp and thousands died.
Is the symbol used by your healthcare provide important? Maybe, maybe not. But it may have been chosen specifically based on the tradition in which it came from. If the medical organization is faith based, it likely uses the Rod of Asclepius with a single snake wrapped around a staff. It may have been chosen specifically to remind us of the story of Moses. Knowing the origin of symbols can remind us of God, no matter where we are. His signs are all around us if we educate ourselves and pay attention.
I pray we all educate ourselves. I pray we see the signs of God all around us. I pray each one of us pay attention to symbology used by organizations and remember God is still active in our lives. Educate yourself. See the signs of God around you. Pay attention. Know that God is active in our world.
Numbers 21:9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
Marty Pressey 