March 19, 2010
Aaron dies. The Israelites start complaining again about their circumstances. They just could never accept the fact that their consequences were the direct result of their choices. They always blamed someone or something else. So, the LORD sent poisonous snakes and many died. They recognize they've sinned and ask Moses to pray to the LORD. They asked him to "take away" the snakes. (Numbers 21:7)
The LORD told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. If anyone was bitten and looked at it, then that person would live. Notice: God did not remove the snakes! He instead made a way for them to deal with the snakes. We don't always have the problem/snakes in our lives removed, but God always gives us a way to deal with the problem/snakes in our lives.
We need to look to the cross. The Israelites needed to look at the bronze snake on a pole. A snake is the symbol of sin that is judged. A snake went from being upright and beautiful to slithering on the ground. So, a snake shows judgment. Brass is used in the Old Testament as a symbol of divine judgment (brass altar). The Israelites could look at the symbols for the divine judgment of sin and be healed. We can look at the cross and see the divine sacrifice for sin, and be forgiven.
Addendum: 10/13/13 ~ I have written in the margins of my Bible: See John 3:14 - "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, the Son of Man must also be lifted up. So that everyone who believes can have eternal life." The blood of the Lamb (Christ) defeated the snake (Satan). Eternal salvation is available to all those who "look upon" Christ as their Savior from their sins.
Next Entry: Numbers 22:1 – 25:18
Aaron dies. The Israelites start complaining again about their circumstances. They just could never accept the fact that their consequences were the direct result of their choices. They always blamed someone or something else. So, the LORD sent poisonous snakes and many died. They recognize they've sinned and ask Moses to pray to the LORD. They asked him to "take away" the snakes. (Numbers 21:7)
The LORD told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. If anyone was bitten and looked at it, then that person would live. Notice: God did not remove the snakes! He instead made a way for them to deal with the snakes. We don't always have the problem/snakes in our lives removed, but God always gives us a way to deal with the problem/snakes in our lives.
We need to look to the cross. The Israelites needed to look at the bronze snake on a pole. A snake is the symbol of sin that is judged. A snake went from being upright and beautiful to slithering on the ground. So, a snake shows judgment. Brass is used in the Old Testament as a symbol of divine judgment (brass altar). The Israelites could look at the symbols for the divine judgment of sin and be healed. We can look at the cross and see the divine sacrifice for sin, and be forgiven.
Addendum: 10/13/13 ~ I have written in the margins of my Bible: See John 3:14 - "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, the Son of Man must also be lifted up. So that everyone who believes can have eternal life." The blood of the Lamb (Christ) defeated the snake (Satan). Eternal salvation is available to all those who "look upon" Christ as their Savior from their sins.
Next Entry: Numbers 22:1 – 25:18
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