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Numbers 21:4-9 – The Bronze Serpent

Our Saviour has told us (John 3:14-15), that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so the Son of man must be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish. Notice the similarities: 1. Between their disease and ours. The devil is the old serpent. Sin is the biting of this fiery serpent; it is painful and poisonous. 2. Between their remedy and ours. It is God Himself that devises and prescribes this antidote against the fiery serpents; so our salvation by Christ is the plan of God. It is a very unlikely method of cure; so our salvation by the death of Christ is to the Jews a stumbling-block and to the Greeks foolishness. It is Moses that lifts up the serpent in the wilderness; Christ is lifted up by the rulers of the Jews, who are the successors of Moses. That which cures looks like that which wounds. So Christ, though perfectly free from sin Himself, yet is made in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom. 8:3), so much so that it is taken for granted that He is a sinner, John 9:24. The bronze serpent is lifted up; so is Christ. He is lifted up upon the cross and made a spectacle to the world. 3.Between the application of their remedy and ours. They look and live, and we, if we believe, shall not perish; it is by faith that we look unto Jesus. We must be aware of our danger, receive the Word which God has given concerning His Son, and rely upon the assurance that we shall be healed and saved by Him. The brazen serpent’s being lifted up would not cure if it was not looked upon. So if sinners either despise Christ’s righteousness or despair that it will work, their wound will be fatal. But just as whoever looks up to the bronze serpent, though from the outmost part of the camp, though with a weak and weeping eye, is certainly healed; so whoever believes in Christ, though as yet but weak in faith, shall not perish.

Questions

  1. How is the bronze serpent like Christ?
  2. How were the people saved from the biting of the serpents?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray for the salvation of family and friends.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.