Tucked away in the Old Testament book of Numbers we have a beautiful picture of Christ and the gospel. In fact we don’t even have to use our “astute” interpretative skills on this passage because the gospel writer, John, makes it clear that this passage points to Christ.
The text is found in Numbers 21. The people of Israel have been at it again – grumbling, dissatisfied, wanting more, not trusting their leader nor the Lord. They even suggest that it was a mistake for them to have left Egypt. (Think about how ludicrous that statement is! How quickly they forgot the misery of the bondage of Egypt. They cried out for 400 years for deliverance; now they want to go back?)
In response to their ungrateful grumbling, the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people. When bit by these serpents the people would die. The text said many did die. So, the people cried out for help. They acknowledged their sin and asked the Lord for His mercy in taking away the serpents.
God’s response to Moses’ intercession for the people, was that he was to take a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. Then he was to instruct the people that if they were bitten all they had to do was look upon the serpent and live. Their deliverance from this certain death was as easy as looking and being healed.
Now there is much in this story to which we all can relate. We are all subject to the rebellion and ingratitude observed in the people of Israel. In fact we have been bitten by the serpent of sin and are in danger of eternal death. The fact is, as well, that we are helpless and hopeless to do anything about it. All we can do is cry out for mercy.
Thankfully, God has heard mankind’s cry for mercy. He has placed His Son on a pole (the cross), placed our sin (the serpent) upon Him, and judged that sin in Christ (the reason the serpent was bronze – usually a symbol of judgment.) Then he calls us to look upon the One upon whom their sin was judged and promises healing to those who do.
John put it this way in 3:14-15: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”
In the days of Israel those who believed that promise looked up to the serpent upon a pole and found healing. But those who did not believe found no healing; but only came to their death because of the hardness of their hearts.
Have you found the healing from sin and death that only comes through Jesus? God’s promise still stands that those who look to Him – who believe in His name – will find forgiveness of sins. They will cross over from death to life (John 5:24). Have you crossed over? Don’t let hardness of heart keep you from the life that Jesus wants to pour into you. Look to Him today….and then don’t take your eyes off Him again.
The text is found in Numbers 21. The people of Israel have been at it again – grumbling, dissatisfied, wanting more, not trusting their leader nor the Lord. They even suggest that it was a mistake for them to have left Egypt. (Think about how ludicrous that statement is! How quickly they forgot the misery of the bondage of Egypt. They cried out for 400 years for deliverance; now they want to go back?)
In response to their ungrateful grumbling, the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people. When bit by these serpents the people would die. The text said many did die. So, the people cried out for help. They acknowledged their sin and asked the Lord for His mercy in taking away the serpents.
God’s response to Moses’ intercession for the people, was that he was to take a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. Then he was to instruct the people that if they were bitten all they had to do was look upon the serpent and live. Their deliverance from this certain death was as easy as looking and being healed.
Now there is much in this story to which we all can relate. We are all subject to the rebellion and ingratitude observed in the people of Israel. In fact we have been bitten by the serpent of sin and are in danger of eternal death. The fact is, as well, that we are helpless and hopeless to do anything about it. All we can do is cry out for mercy.
Thankfully, God has heard mankind’s cry for mercy. He has placed His Son on a pole (the cross), placed our sin (the serpent) upon Him, and judged that sin in Christ (the reason the serpent was bronze – usually a symbol of judgment.) Then he calls us to look upon the One upon whom their sin was judged and promises healing to those who do.
John put it this way in 3:14-15: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”
In the days of Israel those who believed that promise looked up to the serpent upon a pole and found healing. But those who did not believe found no healing; but only came to their death because of the hardness of their hearts.
Have you found the healing from sin and death that only comes through Jesus? God’s promise still stands that those who look to Him – who believe in His name – will find forgiveness of sins. They will cross over from death to life (John 5:24). Have you crossed over? Don’t let hardness of heart keep you from the life that Jesus wants to pour into you. Look to Him today….and then don’t take your eyes off Him again.
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