The bronze snake

Key verse
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Numbers
The story about the bronze snake in Numbers 21 almost seems a bit idolatrous.  At least, the snake could lead to idolatry, in that the Israelites would look at the snake alone for healing, rather than having the bronze snake be a symbol of God's healing touch.  In fact, years later, Hezekiah ended up destroying this bronze snake that Israel had kept all along, because it had become a god to them, and they were burning incense to it (see 2 Kings 18).
When God provides an avenue for us to worship him or call on him, or a tool to use in developing our relationship with him, we need to avoid idolizing that tool as a god, and instead remember that it is only a means to God.