By Dave Benner
In Numbers 21 we read about an episode that occurred during the exodus. The people spoke against God and Moses. As a result of their sin, God sent fiery serpents among them and many were bitten and died. The people cried out for God to remove the serpents. Moses prayed for the people and God provided a remedy for those bitten.
According to God’s instruction, Moses fashioned a bronze serpent and elevated it on a pole. All who were bitten could look at this bronze serpent and live. I am sure every bitten person was more than willing to look at the bronze serpent!
Jesus refers to this incident in response to questions by Nicodemus.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal live. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:14-17).
Jesus compares himself to the remedy God provided in Numbers. Nicodemus may not have understood the implication of Jesus’ words, but we have the benefit of the New Testament. We know that God provided Jesus as the remedy for our sins. However, the remedy for our sins is much more comprehensive than looking at an elevated bronze serpent.
Besides being lifted up, there is another similarity between these remedies. The people did not choose their remedy for snakebite. They asked God to remove the serpents. God decided those who looked at the bronze serpent were healed and so they were.
Likewise, we cannot choose our remedy for sin. Our remedy requires faith and obedience to Jesus and God’s word. Many ask for a simple belief in God and expect God to accept their choice. But, just as in the exodus, God chose the remedy. It is there for us to accept or not.
The bronze serpent was a shadow of things to come. Our remedy requires a life of obedience. Instead of simply looking at Jesus on the cross, we must be willing to believe with all our heart that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 8:37) and act on that belief. The first act of faith is being baptized for the remission of our sin. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). We then must continue to grow in faith resulting in a life of devotion to Jesus.
We know that God keeps His promises. Let’s accept His remedy for our sins.