Just Look at that Snake!

Numbers 21:4-9

The Old Testament book of Numbers can be a difficult read. Unlike Leviticus which is hard to read because of all the details of numerous offerings and ritual, Numbers is hard to read because of the constant failures of and judgments on the children of Israel in the wilderness. We have the judgment after the spies gave an evil report. Moses and Aaron received the death sentence for what some would see as a normal outburst of anger. We see the judgment after Balaam told Balak that the LORD would curse Israel if they could get them to sin, which happened. These are just a few of the numerous failures. Today’s passage about the bronze serpent is just one more.

It is true that Israel failed miserably again and again. But before we jump on the condemnation bandwagon, we need to consider this. Although Israel had been blessed greatly by Yahweh who had miraculously delivered them from Egyptian bondage and brought them through the Red Sea, we must remember that living in the wilderness of Sinai was very harsh. Little rain fell there, and when it did, it was accompanied with flash floods. It was filled with torturous ravines which wound in every direction. The little water to be had was often bad for drinking. It could get over 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Without the LORD’s provenance of Manna and water to drink, Israel would not have survived. It was a land of extremes. One had to have an extreme faith in Yahweh to survive there.

By the time we get to this morning’s passage, Israel had suffered a number of reverses. First of all, Moses’ sister Miriam died. Then, the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother refused to let Israel pass through on the King’s Highway. They would have to go around the land of Edom through very harsh desert. When they ran out of water, the Children of Israel accused the LORD of leading them from Egypt to kill them with first. The LORD told Moses to speak to the rock and water would come out. But instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. God was not pleased with Moses and Aaron. They would not live to lead the Children of Israel into the Promised Land. Then Aaron dies and is replaced as high Priest by his son Eleazar. Then the Canaanites attacked and took some of the Israelites as hostages. Even though they were rescued at Hormah and the enemy destroyed, it just added to the total discouragement of the people. They had spent decades in the wilderness and seemed to be going nowhere fast.

The people were discouraged about yet one more detour around Edom. They spoke out against Yahweh and His servant Moses. They had lost faith in God. They did not believe His promises. Instead, they accused Yahweh of having evil motives. They were tired of eating manna. Even though its description as being the taste of honey on a wafer, they were sick of it. This was a major provocation to God. The LORD responded by sending venomous snakes into the camp to bite the people. The desert was full of cobras, asps, and puff adders as it was. The LORD gathered them up against Israel. Many were dead and many were dying.

The people realized the gravity of their sin and how they had offended the LORD. They confessed their sin and asked Moses to intervene. Then the LORD told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Everyone who had been bitten would needed to just look at that snake and they would live. Those who did were saved from death.

The serpent is first mentioned in the Book of Genesis. A serpent is a poisonous snake as compared to other snakes which are not. The serpent originally walked upon legs which it lost as part of the curse upon the serpent. It is interesting to note that snakes have vestiges of foot bones which showed that it originally walked. We do know the serpent was very wise. The poison it would bite with was its deadly words to Eve. It was poison which cursed all of humanity to death and difficulty. The snake has an evil reputation as a result. When we see a particularly worthless character, we might say: “Just look at that snake!” We then understand that snakes speak metaphorically to human evil. Most snakes are harmless to humans. Even the venomous serpents try to avoid humans and wasting their venom meant to catch smaller prey. But they represent something more sinister which is in us.

This passage would just be one more failure passage in the Book of Numbers were it not later quoted in John 3. Just before the famous “For God so loved the world” passage of John 3:16. Jesus had been talking to Nicodemus about the necessity of the new birth. This is the way to overcome the curse of death. Jesus tells Nicodemus must believe on the Son of Man who had come down from heaven. He then tells Nicodemus why He had come down. He then uses the narrative of the bronze serpent to explain that He was to be lifted up just like the serpent in the wilderness was lifted up. Those who believed that God had set up the first serpent so that everyone who just looked upon that snake would live and escape the sting of death for a little longer. Now Jesus asks Nicodemus (and us) to consider the story in the Book of Numbers which he as the teacher of Israel was quite familiar. In the same manner, those who believe the testimony about Jesus and would look at the crucified Jesus in faith would be saved. This was not just a reprieve but a new birth into eternal life. The serpent in the wilderness was a sign to the greater deliverance in Jesus.

The snake was cursed by the LORD at Eden. It would crawl on its belly and lick the dust of the other animals. The Old Testament also pronounces a curse upon a man hanged upon a tree. By being crucified, Jesus became a curse. But is was not his curse he bore on that cross, but ours. This was the gift of the Father’s love. The children of Israel in the Wilderness thought God brought them out of Egypt to curse them with death. This was fatal. They needed to believe that it was God’s will to save them and bring them into the Promised Land. How important it is to think rightly about God! We must believe that God is motivated out of love to save. He is not willing anyone perish but have eternal life. But we must believe the truth. We stand condemned apart from right faith. Just look upon that snake! This man is no ordinary serpent. His words are life and not poison.

We live in our own wilderness today. It is probably much different than the wilderness that the children of Israel lived for forty years. Most of us do not live in the harsh climate of the desert. Even though on that day, only Israelites were bitten by the fiery serpents, everyone who lived in that world had already been bitten a far more deadly serpent, Satan. They might not have died on that very day, but they have long since been dead anyway. Paul tells us clearly that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Like them and all who have lived, we stand condemned in ourselves. We have been bitten and are going to die. Would it be that we had been bitten by a cobra. At least there is an antidote if it is administered quickly. But modern science cannot curse the snakebite of sin. In fact, they deny there is the snakebite of sin. It does not fit their narrative.

The only cure is to look at Jesus and believe on Him. This does not mean that we still will not face difficulties. There are times that will try men’s souls. The Children of Israel were still in the wilderness. They had not yet arrived at the Promised Land. But those who would finish the race keep their faith unto the end. God wants us to arrive at the eternal Kingdom. We remember at this season of Lent that we must keep our focus on this goal and let nothing dissuade us. We dare not, as Hebrews reminds us, let things slip. We do not look upon Egypt from which we came but unto Canaan. Egypt in Moses’ day was considered to be “enlightened.” But as Jesus reminds us “If that light in you is actually darkness, how great is that darkness.” No one is more benighted than someone who thinks he sees. The Children of Israel looked back to Egypt and were besmitten of serpents. They would rather believe the world than the promise of God. No matter how hard the journey may seem to you, the only way out is forward, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” He endured being the curse upon the tree because He saw this as the only way of bringing many sons to glory. Just look upon that man, and live!