The Serpent in the Wilderness

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Numbers 21:4-9. The Message

The Snake of Fiery Copper

4-5 They set out from Mount Hor along the Red Sea Road, a detour around the land of Edom. The people became irritable and cross as they traveled. They spoke out against God and Moses: “Why did you drag us out of Egypt to die in this godforsaken country? No decent food; no water—we can’t stomach this stuff any longer.”
6-7 So God sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit them and many in Israel died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke out against God and you. Pray to God; ask him to take these snakes from us.”
Moses prayed for the people.
8 God said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it on a flagpole: Whoever is bitten and looks at it will live.”
9 So Moses made a snake of fiery copper and put it on top of a flagpole. Anyone bitten by a snake who then looked at the copper snake lived.

For Reflection

The sin of God's people was not that they spoke against God.  The sin lies in the reason for their speech.  They spoke as they did because they lost trust in God who was protecting them.  I suppose falling into a snake infested place would get my attention!  Then, I too would pray for this affliction to be taken from me.

God lifted up the image of the snake where all could see it.  The symbol of death became the symbol of redemption.  The difference between God's condemnation and salvation is trust.  The serpent in Moses’ day brought physical life to dying Jews.  Christ was lifted up, and through His suffering and resurrection, Jesus extends salvation in spiritual living to anyone who trusts Him.

Pray

Pray that you will set your eyes on Christ.  Pray that you will trust in Him.  Pray that you will never lose your faith in God.