The Children of Israel, having defeated the Canaanites who had attacked them, journeyed on through Sinai and found the going though. As was their wont, they spake against God and Moses, accusing them of wanting to kill them in the wilderness. In addition, they loathed God's provision for them, that is the manna. As a result, God sent fiery serpents among them, whose bite was fatal. The people came to Moses and repented of their rebellion. God told Moses to make a brazen and place it on a pole. If those bitten looked towards the serpent they would be healed.Christ, as recorded in John 3:14-14, referred to this incident and likened it to His being lifted up on the cross. The brazen serpent was fashioned because of their sins and the fact that it was a serpent is a reminder who was behind that sin. Christ was lifted up on the cross because of our sin, the author of which is Satan. They looked by faith towards the serpent, as they were commanded to do. We, repenting of our sin look, by faith. towards Christ crucified. The Israelites at on a later occasion made an idol of the serpent. Romanists and others have Made idols of Christ on the cross. Oh! The subtlety of Satan. |
