In the book of Numbers, we encounter a unique story where God instructs the Israelites to look at a bronze serpent on a staff to be healed from deadly snake bites. This unusual remedy was not just a response to their immediate crisis but also a profound prophetic act pointing forward to the coming of Jesus Christ. Understanding this passage provides insight into God’s provision, justice, and the salvation that would ultimately come through the cross.
The Context of the Bronze Serpent
In Numbers 21:4-9, we read about the Israelites journeying through the wilderness. As they grew impatient and frustrated, they spoke against God and Moses, complaining about the lack of food and water and expressing disdain for the manna that God provided. In response to their rebellion, God sent fiery serpents among them, which inflicted painful, burning bites, resulting in many deaths.
“Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people.” (Numbers 21:7, NKJV)
This crisis led the Israelites to recognize their sin and turn to God in repentance. God then gave Moses a specific instruction for their healing.
God’s Remedy: Looking at the Bronze Serpent
God’s command to Moses was unusual:
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.” (Numbers 21:8-9)
Instead of removing the serpents, God provided a way for the people to be healed if they were bitten. Moses made a serpent out of bronze, placed it on a pole, and lifted it up for the people to see. Those who obeyed by looking at the bronze serpent in faith were healed.
Why a Serpent?
The choice of a serpent as the symbol of healing may seem strange at first, as serpents are generally associated with sin and judgment. In fact, the serpent is the very creature that brought temptation and sin into the world in Genesis 3:1-6. However, the serpent here represented the consequence of sin. The Israelites’ rebellion had led to suffering and death, symbolized by the fiery serpents. By lifting up a bronze serpent, God provided a visible symbol of their sin and the consequence of rebellion, as well as His provision for healing and salvation.
This bronze serpent, lifted up on a pole, symbolized sin being dealt with openly. In a similar way, Christ became the embodiment of sin on the cross. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Why Bronze?
Bronze, in the Bible, is often associated with judgment and purification. In the construction of the tabernacle, items related to sacrifice and atonement, such as the altar, were made of bronze (Exodus 27:1-6). Bronze’s durable nature made it suitable for handling fire, which is often associated with judgment in Scripture. Thus, the bronze serpent symbolized sin under God’s judgment.
By looking at the bronze serpent, the Israelites acknowledged their sin, faced its consequence, and submitted to God’s remedy. It was an act of faith and submission to God’s way, rather than relying on their own means.
A Lesson in Faith
The bronze serpent on the pole required the Israelites to exercise faith in God’s word. Healing didn’t come through Moses’ prayer alone, nor by their own efforts to fight off the serpents, but by looking to the symbol God had provided. This act demonstrated that healing came by trusting in God’s provision rather than their own understanding or means.
This lesson foreshadows the New Testament’s teaching on faith. Just as the Israelites were called to look at the bronze serpent for healing, we are called to look to Jesus in faith for salvation. Jesus referenced this incident directly in John 3:14-15, saying, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
The Bronze Serpent as a Foreshadowing of the Cross
The bronze serpent is a clear Old Testament type—a symbolic precursor—of Christ on the cross. Here are some of the parallels:
- Lifted Up: Just as the bronze serpent was lifted up on a pole, Jesus was lifted up on the cross. His crucifixion was public, visible, and served as the ultimate act of redemption (John 12:32).
- Sin Displayed and Judged: The bronze serpent represented the Israelites’ sin, and by looking at it, they faced the reality of their rebellion. Similarly, Jesus, though sinless, took on the penalty of sin on the cross. He bore the consequences of sin, as though He were sin itself, so that we might be healed (Isaiah 53:5).
- Healing Through Faith: The Israelites had to look at the serpent to receive healing; it required faith in God’s promise. Similarly, we receive salvation by looking to Christ in faith. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Our healing and salvation come by trusting in the One lifted up for us.
Unpacking the Warning and Lesson for Us Today
The bronze serpent teaches us that sin has consequences that are both immediate and eternal. The serpents served as a wake-up call to Israel to turn from rebellion and seek God. Similarly, we are reminded that sin leads to death (Romans 6:23), but God, in His mercy, has provided a way of escape.
In later years, the Israelites began to worship the bronze serpent itself, rather than the God who provided it. This led King Hezekiah to destroy the serpent, which had become an idol (2 Kings 18:4). This serves as a cautionary reminder that the means of deliverance should not become the object of worship; only God deserves our worship.
The Call to Look to Christ
The bronze serpent in the wilderness calls us to turn our eyes to Jesus, the only true source of healing from sin. Just as the Israelites could not heal themselves but needed to look to God’s provision, we cannot save ourselves from sin. Jesus calls us to look to Him, the One who bore our sins, to be healed and forgiven.
In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The Israelites’ only path to healing was looking at the bronze serpent, and for us, the only path to eternal life is looking to Jesus and believing in Him.
My Final Thoughts
The account of the bronze serpent serves as a powerful reminder that sin brings death, but God, in His grace, provides a way of healing and salvation. Just as the Israelites needed to look up at the symbol of judgment, we are called to look to Jesus on the cross, who bore our judgment and offers us life.
The bronze serpent is a profound image of faith, repentance, and reliance on God’s provision. It foreshadows the saving work of Jesus, teaching us that while we cannot escape sin’s consequences by our own strength, God’s solution—faith in His Son—brings healing and eternal life. As believers, may we continually look to Christ and remember that He was lifted up for our healing, our forgiveness, and our redemption.
