The Bronze Serpent
God the Savior: The Bronze Serpent • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 342 viewsIn this session, we see how the Israelites became ungrateful and impatient during their time of wandering, complaining about things like the food and the scarcity of water. Consequently, God sent poisonous snakes into their camp, and many of the people died. In response to their please for mercy, God commanded Moses to lift a bronze serpent on a staff. Whenever someone who had been bitten looked at the bronze serpent, they were healed. Jesus later claimed this story pointed forward to His being lifted high on the cross. By trusting in His identification with sinners, we are given eternal life and are called to be His ambassadors.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
last week… rash… ultrasound
Some of y’all are very HOPEFUL that Rachel and I have a baby… but sorry...
What were the Israelites hopeful for as they wandered through the desert?
Then they set out from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to bypass the land of Edom, but the people became impatient because of the journey. The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”
Numbers 21:4
How many of you have a favorite restaurant?
RIO GRANDE - “We NEVER go where I want to go!”
“I don’t have any clothes to wear...” WHAT?!?!
Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
The Israelites rebellion can be explained in one single word: IMPATIENT!
The Israelites rebellion can be explained in one single word: IMPATIENT!
Think back to pre-school. I bet you were a brat. Did you ever throw a temper tantrum because you didn’t get what you wanted?
Story of me having to wait on Rachel
That is EXACTLY what the Israelites are doing here.
So, what’s their punishment?
Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
Numbers
The Israelites Sin and are punished
The Israelites Sin and are punished
But, Moses prayed. God had a bigger plan.
Even in our rebellion God has a bigger plan
Even in our rebellion God has a bigger plan
The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Numbers 21:
The word for “look” in Hebrew doesn’t simply mean to see, it means to focus on, to fixate on, to look intently. The idea is that the Israelites would have to concentrate their mind’s attention and their hearts affection.
The bronze serpent points to both God’s punishment of sin and His salvation through Jesus.
The bronze serpent points to both God’s punishment of sin and His salvation through Jesus.
The serpent’s relief was temporary.
The people still died.
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
The Israelites sin and are punished
The Israelites sin and are punished
John
The serpent’s relief was temporary.
They all still eventually died.
V. 15 says “everyone who believes”
EVERYONE will have ETERNAL life.
This isn’t temporary relief. This is an eternal salvation.
This isn’t temporary relief. This is an eternal salvation.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Remember the mind’s attention and heart’s affection part for the Israelites...