Redemption

“Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about that everyone who
is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live” (Numbers 21:8).

— Russel Marten

After enduring Egyptian slavery and the plagues, the Israelites continued to murmur on their journey to and at Mount Sinai. Their complaints were evident even forty years later and required a plague of their own, a plague of venomous snakes. The incidents described in the 20th chapter of Numbers likely occurred in the 40th year of their wilderness journey, near Kadesh, directly south of the Promised Land, and southwest of the Dead Sea. There, the Israelites had no water and complained to Moses (Numbers 20:2). Moses and Aaron subsequently went to Jehovah. Moses was instructed to speak to a rock, and water would come forth. But instead of speaking to the rock, Moses smote the rock twice. Before striking it, Moses admonished the people, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10). But the Lord was displeased with Moses and Aaron, saying that they had not sanctified Him in the eyes of the people. By taking credit for themselves, Moses and Aaron were not pointing to God as the real source of the miracle. As a result, Moses and Aaron were denied entry to the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12). Though the people received the needed water, their lack of faith would be the reason for the infestation of venomous snakes described in chapter 21.

Detailed accounts are provided for the beginning and ending of Israel’s 40‑year experience, but little information is available for the middle 37 or so years. However, given what we do know, the nation’s murmuring against God was likely a common practice.

While at Kadesh, Moses and Joshua planned their entry into the Promised Land (Numbers 20:16). Crossing the Jordan from the east required passing through the land of Edom, which borders the eastern coast of the Dead Sea. Their attempt to negotiate peaceful passage through Edom proved fruitless (Numbers 20:14‑21), and God told them not to press the Edomites or fight them. As a result, the Israelites were required to travel further east. This added some 300 miles to their already long journey.

Traveling south from Kadesh toward the northern part of the Gulf of Aqaba, they entered the great Rift Valley. This is a large valley stretching from central Africa in the south to the Dead Sea in the north. It is not only a desert region, but also at an extremely low elevation. After traveling south from Kadesh, much of their journey back north would be below sea level and extremely hot as spring turned into summer. Although this route would take them east of Edom and around its northern border, it proved to be difficult, and “the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way” (Numbers 21:4).

Continued Murmuring

“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’” (Numbers 21:5).

Not only did the people complain about a lack of water, but they especially resented the food that had been provided. The consequences for Israel were significant.

“The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. So the people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.’ And Moses interceded for the people” (Numbers 21:6‑7 NASB).

The region is home to numerous species of poisonous snakes, which thrive in the region’s hot and arid climates. Some bites inject venom that attacks the nervous system, causing paralysis, making the entire body feel as if “on fire.” The serpent has come to be associated with sin. In the Genesis account, sin was introduced into the human family when Satan appeared as a serpent. In Israel’s experience, a serpent is again associated with sin.

Intercession Provided

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.’ And Moses made a bronze [or copper] serpent and set it on the standard [pole or flagstaff]; and it came about that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived” (Numbers 21:8‑9 NASB).

Although various translations often refer to the serpent’s composition as brass (an alloy of copper and zinc not yet invented) or bronze (an alloy of copper and tin), the serpent’s material was copper, as pure as that used in the court of the tabernacle, covering the brazen altar. Copper (a pure element) is a symbol of human perfection. It was used in the tabernacle court to represent tentative [approaching] justification, an earthly condition. Gold, on the other hand, was used exclusively in the Holy and Most Holy, symbolizing things divine, justified, and spiritual.

It might seem surprising that relief came in the form of a serpent. Moses was told to make a copper serpent and place it on a wooden staff. The symbolism of a cross or wooden pole is easily recognizable as associated with the cross of Jesus. But how can a snake be part of the picture? If Christ is the cure for sin, how can a serpent be part of the cure? The people were instructed to look at it, and they would live.

In reality, the serpent accurately represented the atonement transaction. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For he hath made him to be sin [a sin‑offering] for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was treated as a sinner in order to redeem all sinners.

Although the remedy for the snakebite victims was simple, the path to everlasting life will not be as easy. There will be many challenges, but the first step for many will be to simply look unto him in faith and accept his sacrifice (Zechariah 12:10 ASV).

A Spiritual Lesson

Not only were the Israelites punished and corrected, but a lasting lesson was written for us, spiritual Israel. The fiery serpent of sin has bitten our race, and we are all experiencing the dying process. Only by exercising faith in Jesus can any lasting benefits be gained through the ransom price. As Moses pointed to the copper serpent, our mission too has been to point the sin‑bitten world to the Savior.

We do not need to speculate on the antitypical significance of this passage, for our Lord provided it for us. Jesus said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life” (John 3:14, 15). Here, Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, who had come to him by night. Jesus told him that to understand his work, he would have to be born of the Spirit. Nicodemus did not understand, so Jesus used another approach. Jesus spoke of Israel’s experience with the copper serpent and indicated that, like that serpent, he was to be lifted up for the healing of those who believed. It was a simpler lesson for this natural man to understand. In John 12:32, Jesus added, “And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.”

The Apostle Paul also commented on the subject. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3). Everyone bitten by the serpent of sin and suffering its fiery afflictions will need to look upon, and believe in what Jesus has accomplished.

“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5, 6 RVIC).

Hezekiah’s Reform

There is another reference to this copper serpent. It had been preserved and is mentioned in King Hezekiah’s purging of idolatry. After entering the Promised Land, the copper serpent was preserved for some 700 years. Over time, it became a pagan idol and was worshipped by the Israelites. When Hezekiah became king, he was determined to remove all forms of idolatry, including the copper serpent.

“He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan” [a piece of copper] (2 Kings 18:4).

Perhaps Hezekiah’s purge of idolatry foreshadows the kingdom work of the Ancient Worthies. Like the noble work of Hezekiah, the many forms of idolatry, including Christian icons, such as statues, crucifixes, or other images, will be done away with.

A Symbol of Healing

The image of a serpent wrapped around a rod has been a symbol of healing. A familiar image, known as the “rod of Asclepius,” dates back to the Greek god of healing by the same name. Descriptions and statues show him holding a rod with a snake coiled around it. There is, however, evidence that the source of this Greek symbol is the biblical account being examined. Numerous Greek stories parallel various biblical accounts, including the story of creation, the flood, and the Tower of Babel.

Some feel that the Greek symbol of healing was simply borrowed from the biblical story of the fiery serpent. The symbol of healing is appropriate, not only for the ancient Israelites but, more importantly, for the healing of the nations by our Lord.

Summary

The nation of Israel tempted God and complained on many occasions. Their complaints were not always unwarranted. A lack of water and nourishing food were real problems. However, there is a proper way to address complex issues when they arise. Complaining to God is not one of them. He knows our needs better than we do. Approaching Him with reverence and expressing our trust in Him is the proper spirit when addressing God. He encourages us to seek His guidance and help in every time of need. The principle is well stated in “My Morning Resolve.” “I will neither murmur nor repine at what the Lord’s providence may permit, because faith can firmly trust Him, come what may.”

Paul admonished brethren to appreciate the lesson in Israel’s wilderness journey. “Therefore, just as the holy Spirit says, ‘today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as when they provoked me, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tried me by testing me, and saw my works for forty years … Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end” (Hebrews 3:7‑9, 12 NASB).