MOSES: A SNAKE THAT CURES
In Numbers 21, we have a curious story of a bronze snake on a pole that rescues Israel from lethal snakebites:
Israel 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!” 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. (Num. 21:5 – 9)
Israel had forgotten how hard life in Egypt had been: they had been hard pressed and physically exploited; and they had quickly become discontented with God's kindness in miraculously providing food and water at just the right time. Instead, through rose-tinted spectacles, they recalled an imaginary time of abundance and ease. Whilst they roamed the desert, water supply was a continual worry, and the only food they had was the “miserable” manna that God supplied to them 6 days a week. So, the people grumbled and moaned at Moses (again).
God sent the snakes like a plague in the desert, much like He sent the plagues that the Egyptians had endured before Pharoah finally let Israel leave. Why did God do this? Israel longed to be back in Egypt, because Egypt remained in their hearts. After finding freedom in Christ, we too, can be tempted to put on our rose-tinted glasses, believing things were not so bad when we resided in the kingdom of darkness. If we allow Egypt to remain in our hearts, inevitably the poisonous venom of bitterness and regret will overflow in complaint and moaning that will ultimately harm our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
As men and women began to die from snakebites, Israel recognized its corporate sin, and calls Moses to pray for them. However, God tells Moses to make a bronze snake, and place this on a pole for all to see. Those who looked at the bronze snake are healed.
Why would God initiate such a plan? All who looked at the bronze snake were forced to confront their own sin, and experience the sovereign healing power of God.
Jesus uses this story as a backdrop for His night-time discourse with Nicodemus: 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.” (John 3:14, 15) And then Jesus continues with possibly the most famous verses in the whole Bible:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(John 3:16, 17)
Today, remember that turning (or returning) to Christ, facing and acknowledging our own sin, and looking upon Him who died for us, is the only place for complete healing and restoration.
