Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." – Numbers 21v8
One of the fascinating things about the Old Testament accounts is when are referred to in the New Testament. This is one of those that really jumps out because Jesus uses it as a picture of salvation. This incident presents a biblical type of salvation.
Let’s lay the background first then make an application.
The people of Israel were once again whinging, crying, and complaining. Same complaint, no food, no water, and they hated the manna God had provided. Amazing, isn’t it, that people will despise and make light of what God has given? I am sure that none of us would ever do that.
We know that God hates discontentment. He makes that clear over and over in His word. Because of their sin God sent serpents to punish them and some people died.
When the punishment started they decided to do something about it. They went to Moses, confessed their sin, and Moses prayed for them.
‘Make a brass serpent,’ God said, ‘and put it on a pole. Lift it up before the people and anyone who looks at the serpent will live.’
That is exactly what happened. Those who look lived, those who ignored it died.
It’s a pretty simple picture isn’t it? Maybe that’s why Jesus chose to use it to illustrate his offer of salvation.
In the middle of His great conversation with Nicodemus Jesus said this:
‘And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’
Israel was delivered from the curse of the snacks by looking up to the brass serpent. Man is delivered from the curse of sin by looking to Jesus on the cross. God’s way was the only way then and it is the only way now.
May we lift Him up in our lives.
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