Fiery Serpents and the Brazen Serpent

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Numbers 21:4-9
Psalters: 394, 164, 292, 91
  1. God’s trial.
    1. “The soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.”
    2. In response to this God-given cross, the people “fell short” (literal of “discouraged”).
      1. For them the way was too long for their endurance and for their desire, and they became short tempered.
      2. Reacting naturally (without faith) their tongues were not bridled.
  2. God send fiery serpents as punishment to this generation.
    1. This part of the desert had many fiery (“burning”) both for their color and more for their poisonous bite.
    2. The burning bites of the snakes resulting deaths speaks of a spiritual reality.
    3. But this severe chastisement produced the fruit of repentance!
  3. God answers with the sign of a brazen serpent lifted up.
    1. At God’s command Moses made a serpent out of brass, put it on a pole, lifted it up in the camp.
    2. Jesus teaches that the lifted up serpent of brass was a type of Himself being lifted up on the cross (John 3).
    3. Only through the means of faith are God’s people saved – they must look, i.e., believe.
    4. The effect of compliance to God’s call.