The Story: The children of Israel were traveling through the wilderness and they rebelled against God, again.
And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Numbers 21:6
What did God tell Moses to do?
And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. Numbers 21:8
What is the Serpent?
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:9
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, Revelation 20:2
The Serpent is a symbol of Satan, sin, and all that is connected with it. But why did Moses put the Fiery Serpent on the pole? And why could the people be healed by looking at it?
Let’s read what Jesus said to Nicodemus concerning this.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:14-16
As the snake was lifted up on the pole in the wilderness, so Jesus was to be lifted up upon the cross. Why?
“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
This is strange symbolism indeed! How can Jesus be represented under the symbolism of a serpent?
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; . . . For he hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21
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
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Galatians 3:13
Amazing revelation! Jesus was made sin for us! He came in the likeness of sinful flesh and took upon Himself the curse, “being made a curse for us.”
There is more. …
And the LORD said unto him (Moses), What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: Exodus 4:2-4
Who is the “Rod”?
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Jeremiah 11:1-3
If you read the entire chapter of Jeremiah 11 it is clear that the “Rod out of the stem of Jesse” is Jesus, the Messiah.
What happened when Moses threw the rod down on the earth?
And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent . . . Exodus 4:3
What happened to Jesus when He came down to this earth?
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus, the perfect Son of God came to this earth and became sin for us that He might destroy Him that had the power of sin – the devil, “that old serpent.”
What happened when Aaron threw down his rod before Pharaoh?
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. Exodus 7:10-12
What did Jesus do?
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Hebrews 2:14
And what happened with the rod of Aaron? It became a serpent when it was cast to the earth, and it ate up and destroyed the other serpents. Then it became a rod again when Aaron took it by the tail.
Jesus, the Rod, came to this earth to become sin, that He might destroy sin (the other serpents). Then He ascended back to Heaven to once again become the “Rod.” He is now seated at the right hand of God.
What a wonderful thought! What an amazing sacrifice! There is nothing in the universe that God hates so much as sin, and yet Jesus consented to take upon Himself that hated sin that He might thereby save those who had come under the power of sin. Now He says,
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:18
As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, so the Son of God was lifted up on the cross, that sinners from the ends of the earth might look and live. Multitudes are still suffering from the deadly sting of that old serpent, the devil. The effects of sin can be removed only by the provision which God has made. Here, alone, hope and salvation can be found. As the Israelites saved their lives by looking upon the brazen serpent, so sinners can look to Christ and live. Unlike that inert and lifeless symbol, Christ has power and virtue in himself, to heal the suffering, repenting, bleeding sinner. Signs of the Times, 10-28-1880
Nothing less than a practical acceptance and application of divine truth opens the kingdom of God to man. Only a pure and lowly heart, obedient and loving, firm in the faith and service of the Most High, can enter there. Jesus also declares that as “Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The serpent in the wilderness was lifted up on a pole before the people, that all who had been stung unto death by the fiery serpent, might look upon this brazen serpent, a symbol of Christ, and be instantly healed. But they must look in faith, or it would be of no avail. Just so must men look upon the Son of man as their Saviour unto eternal life. Man had separated himself from God by sin. Christ brought his divinity to earth, veiled by humanity, in order to rescue man from his lost condition. Human nature is vile, and man’s character must be changed before it can harmonize with the pure and holy in God’s immortal kingdom. This transformation is the new birth. Signs of the Times 11-15-1883
So how does Christ’s sacrifice affect us?
These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4, 5
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Revelation 15:2, 3
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20