“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.”” Numbers 21:8
It would be hard to read through this part of Numbers and miss this section. We’ve already had several instances of Grumbling and Complaining, and we’ve seen how God began to bring Judgement down on the People because of it. However, this instance has an aspect to it that none of the others has. It was used by the Lord Jesus when He spoke with Nicodemus. You’ll see as I continue.
The Jews continue on their final Journey northward to the area across the Jordan. We’re told at the beginning of our Reading that “the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive” and “Israel made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed hand over this people to me, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”” Once again, God intervenes on their behalf and helps them “utterly destroyed them and their cities”. And like in their past, no sooner had they experienced God’s Help “the people became impatient because of the journey” and “spoke against God and Moses”! So, “The Lord sent fiery serpents…, so that many people of Israel died.” As the people repented, Today’s Verse was God’s Remedy.
As I said at the beginning, Jesus used this Image when he spoke with Nicodemus. Consider; the People knew they had sinned and were under Judgement; the Cure (the Gospel) was declared to them; if they Believed and Obeyed it, they would be Healed (Saved). You can see why Jesus used it; the parallels are Staggering! This is nothing less than the Old Testament Version of John 3! Have you been bitten by the Fiery Serpent of Sin? Have you Repented and begun looking for a Cure? Then Jesus on the Cross, like the Brass Serpent on the Standard, is the Answer. May this Simple Solution be What has Saved You, and what you use to convey to others!