*Numbers 21:4-9
Angry for their complaints, God sends fiery serpents among the Israelites, but offers healing to those who look upon a bronze serpent Moses makes on a pole, foreshadowing Jesus Christ on the cross.
- Complaints of the Israelites:
- The Israelites, traveling through the wilderness, become discouraged and discontent.
- They voice their grievances against God and Moses, expressing frustration with their circumstances.
- Divine Judgment:
- God responds to their complaints by sending poisonous snakes among the people.
- Many Israelites are bitten and suffer the consequences of their murmuring.
- Repentance and Intercession:
- Realizing their error, the Israelites confess their sin and ask Moses to intercede on their behalf.
- They acknowledge their wrongdoing and seek deliverance from the venomous serpents.
- Divine Provision:
- In response to Moses’s intercession, God instructs him to fashion a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole.
- Anyone who is bitten by a snake can look at the bronze serpent and live.
Numbers 21:4-9 teaches us to trust God, even when things are difficult. The Israelites became impatient and complained, but when they turned back to God, He provided a way for them to be saved. This reminds us that when we face struggles, instead of complaining or losing faith, we should look to God for help. It encourages us to trust in His guidance, be grateful for what we have, and believe that He will provide a way through every challenge.
Numbers 21:4-9 (WEB)
21:4 They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!”6 The LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” Moses prayed for the people.8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a venomous snake, and set it on a pole. It shall happen that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived.