Third and this is the big one (I noticed that you ignored it completely) God very clearly directed the construction of both the Ark of the Covenant and the Bronze serpent. The Bronze serpent was only ordered to be destroyed after the the Israelites began to worship it as a false god. The parallel you ignored was the construction of the Golden calf. and the direction of God to destroy that.
I alwas thought that this just ment that God was exempt from his own rules. Thou shall not kill (he does it all the time. Thou shall not commit adultery (Mary's pregnancy and all). Neighbor's wife etc.
27 posted on 08/09/2008 1:05:59 PM PDT by Soliton
(> 100)