The entire message of the Bible is that of Christ. Throughout the Old Testament, we see allusions to the coming Savior, even in occurrences that seem completely unrelated.
In Numbers 21, we find the Israelites in a state we find them in far too often: Discontent. At this point, they have been wandering likely around 38 years. In verse 5, they begin to complain, blaming God and Moses for bringing them “out of Egypt to die in the wilderness.” They also complain that they have no food or water. Of course, they do have food. In Exodus 16, God gives them manna, bread from heaven, more than they could ever consume, so that they would never be hungry. But, the Israelites complain about that as well, calling it “worthless food.”
So, as a refresher, here are just a few things God did for them up to this point. 1. He led them out of bondage in Egypt. 2. He gave them manna when they were hungry (Ex. 16). 3. He spared them by punishing them to wandering in the wilderness for an extended period of time when He could have struck them down for their lack of faith (Num. 13-14). 4. He just spared them from an attack by the king of Arad and some of the Canaanite people. Yet, the Israelites still lost their faith in God.
The Lord responds by sending a plague of fiery serpents into the Israelite camp. The bites of these snakes were lethal and many people died from this plague. But God’s plan was not for this to be a punishment, but rather an opportunity for reconciliation. The people, because of this plague, realize their wrongdoing and they ask Moses to pray to God for mercy. God commands Moses to make a fiery, bronze serpent and set it on a pole, and if someone is bitten, they will look on this serpent and their life would be spared (v.8-9). And that’s exactly what happened.
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In the time mentioned in Numbers 21, they could not have said, “I know God will save me if I just pray to Him. I don’t need to look at the bronze serpent.” That person would not be saved. Why? Because they did not do what the Lord commanded them to do. Today, God tells us to have faith. Have faith that Jesus is the son of God, but an obedient faith, not an idle faith. We are told to confess His name as well as repent of our sins and be baptized for the remission of sins, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). It’s not a matter of “working our way into Heaven.” It’s a matter of doing what God commanded to do.
So, how do you heal a snake bite? How do you heal a life broken by sin? By looking to the bronze serpent; by looking to Jesus, who was lifted up because of our transgressions, and by being be baptized into His name for the remission of our sins. It is the only way, and it is God’s gift to us.
~ Jared McLeod
