The Brass Serpent and Jesus

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Numbers 21:4-9 (KJV)

The people of Israel spoke against God and Moses. Their complaining brought on judgment in the form of serpents biting them and bringing death. God instructed Moses to fashion a serpent of brass upon a pole and hold it up for the people to look at. Everyone who looked to the serpent of brass lived.

The brass serpent was a representation of Jesus Christ. Of course, the serpent biting the people represented the devil and sin. Let’s compare this situation with ours today as born-again believers, and see the lessons we can take away from this.

• The serpent’s bite (sin) brings death, but Christ brings life.

• Sin brings sickness and disease, but Christ brings healing.

• Sin brings separation from God, but Christ reconciles us.

• The brass serpent was a type of Christ, but Christ came Himself as the reality.

• The people were saved by looking at the brass serpent, and we must look to Christ, our Healer, to be saved.

• The serpents were a type of the curse, but Christ bore our curse and became a curse for us.

• Brass speaks of judgment, but Christ took our judgment.

• Sin was judged, but Jesus was judged in our place.

• Healing in the Old Testament pointed to healing in the New Testament available through Jesus.

• Sin caused the serpent (satan) to bite, but we’ve been saved from the bite of the serpent.

• Complaining opened the door to the devil, but when we give thanks, the door is closed.

• Allowing discouragement to take over leads to bad consequences, but when we are thankful, the outcome is good.

• Discontent leads to lack of gratitude and complaining, but learning to be content at all times keeps life positive.

• Healing by the brass serpent was an individual thing- each person had to look upon it to be healed. Each of us must look to Jesus ourselves to be healed.

• Some perished in the wilderness, but it is God’s will that no one perish. He wants all to be saved.

God has provided man a remedy for all that we face and everything that comes against us. As we look to Christ and His provision, we’ll overcome and keep the door closed to the enemy and his bites.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15 (KJV)