Firey Serpents
When you hear the words firey serpents, you may think of video games or sci fi movies. But did you know firey serpents are mentioned in the Bible? After God sent the ten plagues upon Egypt and rescued the Israelites, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Much of that time wandering they spent complaining against God and against Moses. After one of the times they complained, God sent firey serpents. These were deadly serpents and many of the Israelites died from the serpents’ bites. After the people confessed their sin, God made a way of escape and this way of escape pointed to a future way of escape for all of us who repent and trust Jesus.
But first, I’d like to read the story about the firey serpents from Numbers 21:4-9: And they (the Israelites) journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
The Lord Sent Firey Serpents
And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Yes, the Israelites complained bitterly as they wandered in the wilderness. They were impatient and wanted to enter the promised land immediately. But when God had Moses send the 12 spies into Canaan to check out the land, 10 of the 12 spies said they couldn’t defeat the inhabitants of the land. They were looking at what was impossible to man and not to what is possible with God. So God punished the Israelites by making them wander 40 years. One year for every day the spies spied out the land of Canaan.
Again, during much of their time wandering, they rebelled and disobeyed God. They complained about the manna that God sent from Heaven to feed the people. Instead of being grateful, they complained and complained bitterly. They continually said, “Were there no graves in Egypt?” They were ungrateful for the mighty arm of God who rescued them.
God Punishes Sin
God is Holy, righteous and just. Because He is Holy, He must punish sin and He does do so. God punished sinners in the past, He’s still punishing unrepentant sinners today and all unrepentant sinners who die in their sins will be punished for all eternity. This points to how Holy God really is! So God sent firey serpents to punish the Israelites for their sinful rebellion against Him.
God is merciful, so when the Israelites confessed their sins to Moses, God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Moses was to lift the serpent in the air. Then when someone was bitten by a serpent, all they had to do was look to the bronze serpent to be healed. To be saved from immediate physical death.
The bronze serpent being lifted up and the Israelites being healed or saved pointed to a future lifting up – the lifting up of Jesus Christ on the cross. In John 3:13-15 it says: And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
The Bronze Serpent Was Lifted Up
We know the bronze serpent being lifted up pointed to Jesus dying on the cross for those He came to save because Jesus said so in His own words. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up. Not just lifted up, but lifted up so that whosoever believes in Jesus should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus’ death was foretold in the Old Testament and He told his disciples many times that He came to die for the sins of others. Matthew 1:21 says And she (Mary) shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. The Lord came to save His people from their sins.
Jesus Was Lifted Up On A Cross
Christ Jesus was lifted high upon a cross, just like the bronze serpent was raised high in the wilderness. Look to Jesus and be saved. Turn to Christ and live. The Israelites who were bitten by the firey serpents and looked to the bronze serpent, lived. Oh, if you recognize that you have been bitten by your sins and that you are far from God, that you are lost and headed for Hell, look to Christ Jesus and live. Look to the Lord who was lifted up on the cross. Look to the One who suffered, bled and died for wretched sinners who repent and put their trust in Him.
Oh, look to Jesus who defeated sin, death, Hell and Satan. Look to the only Savior of mankind. There is no other. Only Jesus saves, but what a mighty Savior He is. After Jesus foretold how He would die by being lifted up like Moses lifted up the bronze serpent, He continued with the following words: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Are You Condemned Or Not?
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God (John 3:16-21).
God willingly sacrificed His only begotten Son and Jesus obediently went to His death, the death on the cross, to save His people. Oh, are you one of His? His sheep hear His voice. Do you hear the Savior calling? Is God convicting you over your sins? Is God revealing His Holiness and your sinfulness to you? If so, look to Christ Jesus and live.
You May Know John 3:16 But Do You Know John 3:18-19?
People love the bible verse John 3:16, but they don’t typically love John 3:18-19: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Most unrepentant sinners don’t want to hear the Gospel truth because their deeds are evil. They don’t want to hear that they are already condemned! People don’t want to hear it. But it is the truth, biblical truth, whether you like it or not. Unrepentant men and women don’t want to hear that they are accountable to Jesus Christ. All things were created by Him and for Him. He is the only Savior of mankind. That’s why you must look to Jesus and be saved or perish in your sins.
Are You Snake Bit By Sin?
All unrepentant sinners are snake bit. You are being bitten by the firey serpents of sin. Whether that’s sexual immorality, lust, coveting, idolatry or whatever your sin of choice may be. Don’t be like the Israelites that were too prideful to look to bronze snake and be healed. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Humbly look to Christ Jesus and be saved. Repent and surrender your life to Jesus. Look to the One who was sinless, yet died in the place of guilty sinners when He was lifted up. Don’t be bitten by the firey serpents, continue in your sins and die outside of Christ Jesus. Instead, look to Jesus and be saved. Submit your life to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Oh, repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus. Trust the Lord with all your heart. Humble yourself today. Come to Jesus and be saved. Turn to Christ and live.
(This message was lifted up on December 4, 2020 in downtown Springfield, MO)