A letter from Anthony...
“The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 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, he lived.” ~ Numbers 21:7-9
This passage has often puzzled me, it is a such a strange turn of events that God should ask His people to make a bronze image, and to look upon it to be healed. Throughout Scripture, time and time again the Lord warned His people not to make images of anything “that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath” (Deut 5:8). However, in these verses God actually commands Moses make a bronze image of a venomous snake.
So what is going on in these verses? Well, Israel had once again sinned against the Lord, by complaining that God didn’t want what was best for them. And because of their sin and rebellion, God sent venomous snakes as an act of judgement upon His rebellious people. But when the people cried out to the Lord for help, through Moses, God made a way of salvation for anyone who had been attacked by a serpent.
When God commanded Moses to make a bronze image in the form of a venomous snake, God was requiring the consequences of His people’s sin to be displayed for all to see. This was to remind them that it was their sin and rebellion that had caused this suffering and pain, and to show them that despite their rebellion He had made a way for them to be saved.
When Christ was lifted high upon the cross at Calvary, the consequence of our sin was displayed for all to see. Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice, was willingly offered up in our place, so that all who have eyes to see and ears to hear could be freed from the guilt of their sin and shame. In a similar way, the Cross is both a gravely sad image of what our sin and rebellion has caused, but also an amazing image of hope as God established a way of salvation for all those who trust in His Son.
It is not always easy to see the consequences of our sin, and it may be something that at times we try to avoid. But when we look at the Cross in all of its sadness and great joy, as we see both the consequences of our sin and the love of Christ, we are reminded not to look for hope in our own strengths, abilities, or in our own moral piety, but in the One who bore our guilt and shame.
This week may we look to the Cross; may we remember the sacrifice that bought us freedom. And may we receive the forgiveness that was purchased for us at such a great price, so that our lives might glorify the One who willingly gave Himself for us.
In Christ, Anthony
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