Jesus was lifted up for us all, though we didn’t deserve it. John 3:14, 12:31
Numbers 21:4-9 gives another account of the Israelites, now wondering in the wilderness through disobedience, complaining against the Lord and Moses their leader. It’s probable that all of us have spent time in the wilderness, but sometimes God’s Spirit takes us there to teach us. In the wilderness we may be stripped down to the basics, no luxuries and no distractions. Jesus and Paul both spent time there alone with God’s Spirit.
On this occasion their complaints brought them into real trouble with God and He sent poisonous snakes among them and some died from their bites. They had to come to Moses and repent (Turn Around) and ask him to pray to God to forgive them.
7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned WHEN WE SPOKE AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST YOU. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us”. Numbers 21
The first step to change the situation was to repent before God. They had to admit they had been wrong and ask forgiveness before relief could come to them (same for us today). God answered Moses prayer in an unusual way;
8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it on a pole, anyone who is bitten can look at it and live”. 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Numbers 21
Moses made a replica of the problem, a ‘bronze snake’ and lifted it up on a pole where it could be seen by everyone in the camp! Everyone who looked at the snake on the pole lived. God didn’t take the snakes away (unlike Saint Patrick, there are no snakes in Ireland!), but made a way for the people to survive their bites. Was He giving a reminder to Israel not to complain against Him? The people would also have been keen to stay close to the bronze snake, their lives depended on seeing it.
John’s Gospel has various references to Moses lifting up the snake in the desert. God was going to have to intervene in human history once again, to save humanity from death.
14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.” John 3
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. John 12
God was annoyed at His people’s constant complaining, but answered Moses prayer of repentance on their behalf. No one in that day realised the significance of the snake on the pole being lifted up in sight of the people. That generations later, God become man would be lifted up for the sins of the whole world. What an amazing and gracious God we serve. Next time we’re tempted to complain when under trial remember all He’s done for us.
God bless and keep you today.