THE BRONZE SERPENT
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) The bronze serpent
i) 4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 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.
8 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.” 9 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 21:4-9 NIV)
1. What is the text all about?
a) In Psalms 78, we learn the sources of Israel's complaining:
@1. their spirits were not faithful to God.
i) 8 They would not be like their ancestors—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. (Psalms 78:8 NIV)
@2. they refused to obey God's law.
i) 10 they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. (Psalms 78:10 NIV)
@3. they forgot the miracles God had done for them.
i) 11 They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. (Psalms 78:11 NIV)
b) Our complaining often has its roots in one of these thoughtless actions and attitudes. If we can deal with the cause of our complaining, it will not make hold and grow in our lives.
c) God used "fiery serpents" (poisonous snakes) to punish the people for their unbelief and complaining. The Wilderness of Sinai has a variety of snakes. Some hide in the sand and attack without warning. A bite by a poisonous snake often meant a slow death with intense suffering.
d) The the bronze serpent was hung on the pole, the Israelites didn't know the fuller meaning Jesus Christ would bring to this event (see John 3:14-15).
@1. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." (John 3:14-15 NIV)
e) Jesus explained that just as the Israelites were healed of their sickness by looking at the serpent on the pole, all believers today can be saved from the sickness of sin by looking to Jesus' death on the cross. It was not the serpent that healed the people, but their belief that God could heal them. This belief was demonstrated by their obedience to God's instructions. In the same way, we should continue to look at Christ (see Hebrews 12:2).
@1. 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NIV)
2. Prayer focus
a) When we are struck by a sickness, we have the privilege to look at Jesus for healing, expecting the sickness to be expelled from our bodies.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) The bronze serpent
i) 4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 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.
8 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.” 9 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 21:4-9 NIV)
1. What is the text all about?
a) In Psalms 78, we learn the sources of Israel's complaining:
@1. their spirits were not faithful to God.
i) 8 They would not be like their ancestors—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. (Psalms 78:8 NIV)
@2. they refused to obey God's law.
i) 10 they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. (Psalms 78:10 NIV)
@3. they forgot the miracles God had done for them.
i) 11 They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. (Psalms 78:11 NIV)
b) Our complaining often has its roots in one of these thoughtless actions and attitudes. If we can deal with the cause of our complaining, it will not make hold and grow in our lives.
c) God used "fiery serpents" (poisonous snakes) to punish the people for their unbelief and complaining. The Wilderness of Sinai has a variety of snakes. Some hide in the sand and attack without warning. A bite by a poisonous snake often meant a slow death with intense suffering.
d) The the bronze serpent was hung on the pole, the Israelites didn't know the fuller meaning Jesus Christ would bring to this event (see John 3:14-15).
@1. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." (John 3:14-15 NIV)
e) Jesus explained that just as the Israelites were healed of their sickness by looking at the serpent on the pole, all believers today can be saved from the sickness of sin by looking to Jesus' death on the cross. It was not the serpent that healed the people, but their belief that God could heal them. This belief was demonstrated by their obedience to God's instructions. In the same way, we should continue to look at Christ (see Hebrews 12:2).
@1. 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NIV)
2. Prayer focus
a) When we are struck by a sickness, we have the privilege to look at Jesus for healing, expecting the sickness to be expelled from our bodies.
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