The Bronze Serpent
The incident of the bronze serpent is a good example of the continuity and consistency found throughout the 66 books of the Bible
Moses was a leader chosen by God to lead the Jewish people out of harsh slavery in Egypt into a land called Canaan that was later to be known as Israel. Most historians consider the date to be around 1500 BC.
As the result of rampant disobedience, lewd behaviour and lack of faith, the journey that should have taken about 11 days became a wandering in the Negev wilderness for forty years. People over 20 years of age eventually died in the barren land, meaning it was the younger generation that eventually entered the land that had been promised to them.
As the result of rampant disobedience, lewd behaviour and lack of faith, the journey that should have taken about 11 days became a wandering in the Negev wilderness for forty years. People over 20 years of age eventually died in the barren land, meaning it was the younger generation that eventually entered the land that had been promised to them.
During the forty years, the people were tested many times to see whether under duress they would turn to God for help. One such incident occurred when an infestation of snakes caused many deaths. In response to their desperate cry for help, God instructed Moses to make an image of a snake and attach it to a pole. Rather than be on the lookout for snakes on the ground, the people were told to look up at the image, trusting in God that they would not be bitten. This took a lot of faith and those who obeyed were rewarded; not only were they protected from further bites, they were miraculously healed from the deadly wounds they had received. (Numbers 21:4-9).
Medical associations throughout the world have adopted the serpent on a pole as an appropriate logo to express the goal of healing, but few recognize the biblical source. Even less, recognize the Old Testament incident, to be a divine foreshadowing of the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ some 1500 years later.
The New Testament fulfillment
In conversation with one of the leaders of the Jews, Jesus said:
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:14-16 (NKJV)
Jesus predicted his death by crucifixion. He was lifted up on the cross and all who look to him in faith will be healed spiritually from the effects of ‘serpent sin’ and granted eternal life in the kingdom of God.
In conversation with one of the leaders of the Jews, Jesus said:
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:14-16 (NKJV)
Jesus predicted his death by crucifixion. He was lifted up on the cross and all who look to him in faith will be healed spiritually from the effects of ‘serpent sin’ and granted eternal life in the kingdom of God.