A Journey to Easter - Day 8

And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

(Numbers 21:8-9 ESV)

It was their 40th year in the wilderness. They were nearing their destination. But, on the other side of victory, there were greater dangers than snakes they needed to beware: like impatience (Numbers 21:4) and their fiery words (Numbers 21:5).

The strike from impatience slithering in the human heart can be worse than a snake bite.

It seemed the serpent’s temptation in Eden was on replay. Hearts disgruntled by God’s provision of food caused serpent-like tongues to lash out at God and Moses.

If they wanted to act like serpents, well, add more to their number. Turns out, though, fiery serpents sent by the Lord will kill you.

However, there was a noticeable (and refreshing) change in the heart’s response that wasn’t exhibited in Eden. Rather than hiding and blaming, the wilderness people of God confessed and requested prayer.

Moses interceded. And God provided a cure (one that sounded as preposterous as a piece of wood thrown into the water at Marah). God told Moses to make a serpent and lift it up on a pole. Whoever looked on it would live.

The people needed to look upon God’s provision for healing, believing in the salvation He offered.

Jesus, while privately teaching a teacher of teachers, used this historical event as an object lesson (John 3:14-15). Jesus was making a connection between the healing God provided to those bitten by the serpents to the healing He would offer the sin-bitten by Him being lifted up.

The ancient Israelites were to look upon the serpent, lifted up, to live. And believers are to look upon the Son, lifted up, to live.

We must lift up our eyes, away from the snake-like things in the world, and gaze upon the Son. For poisonous, deadly sin is coursing through our veins. And we desperately need healing.

We need Jesus. For life. Because He is the only cure.

God has provided the remedy, Jesus. The One high and lifted up is holding out salvation to those who look up, through eyes of faith, and believe.

#AJourneytoEaster

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