This Easter 5: The Bronze serpent

 

Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people so that many Israelites died. Num 21:6

The need

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom but the people became impatient on the way Num 21:4a

The people of Israel had trekked a long distance, they got thirsty and were stressed out from the journey and couldn’t control their outburst against God and Moses whom they think is punishing them unnecessarily. Such times will come in your life; stress is an issue these days!

The Mistake

They got so impatient, instead of calling out to God for help; they called Him out, tagging Moses along, blaming Him for lack of basic amenities. ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food. Num 21:5b Worse now, the people despised the “Manna” calling it "worthless food". Now, manna isn’t your normal homemade food, fast food, or snack, it is divine prepared food that represents the very Grace of God. A rejection of grace is death little wonder, then, that death was the resultant effect. When you reject God’s offer of life, you die! He that has the Son has life, he that does not have the Son does not have life. 1 Jn 5:12

 

The Problem

Then the Lord sent poisonous^* serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. Num 21:6

Because of their blasphemy, God sent poisonous snakes, called in Hebrew "fiery" serpents, perhaps because of the pain caused by their bites. Many died as a result of this, provoking repentance and an appeal for Moses to pray to God on their behalf.

 

The solution as Christ 

And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.’ 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. Num 21:8-10

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. Jn 3:14.

The mannerism of the solution set up a picture of that which was to come. It was the picture of Christ on the cross, defeating sin, by openly judging it. Christ Himself made the reference to this in Jn 3:14

The Serpent was the symbol or signage of sin,

Brass/Bronze was a symbol of judgment. 

A brazen or brass serpent then meant Judgement of sin. The sin problem was the cause of their affliction. God would judge sin and they would receive life and healing, this also pointed forward to Jn 3:14, God would someday defeat sin on an exalted platform where all would see, and all that truly believe in that which is exalted shall receive life ‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Jn 12:32

Let me have your comment.

God bless you