Totally false. There are numerous references of God commanding not to make images as representations of either Him or anything else to bow down to. Here is another example.
Leviticus 26:1 "Do not make idols or set up carved images, or sacred pillars, or sculptured stones in your land so you may worship them. I am the LORD your God.
And another.
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
>>Among the Jewish people themselves, the seeds of this can be seen in God's commandments regarding both the Bronze Snake in Numbers 21<<
You may want to understand what was done to that when the Israelites began "venerate" it and to burn incense to it.
2 Kings 18:4 He 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: and he called it Nehushtan.
>>and the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus 37.<<
The Ark did NOT represent God. It was where He said He would meet them and speak to them.
Exodus 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
Trying to imply that the Ark was some sort of representation of God is error and excuse making. NOT WHERE in scripture does God condone making any representation of something that should be "venerated" or bowed down to. In fact He condemns the practice over and over.
Which in no way contradicts what I said.
"The Ark did NOT represent God."
Who said that it did?
Not where should be NO WHERE