Look And Live

Illus: When it comes to snakes, most of us are like the fellow who said that the only kind of snakes he likes are dead snakes.

However, we all have seen some people who enjoy playing with these slimy creatures. Every time we see people doing this, we experience a comforting feeling from within that we are so glad that we do not have to claim kin to such people.

Today we want to look at this passage that often confuses Christians. That is, in our text snake is a picture of salvation.

But before we can understand what the Lord had in mind in comparing a serpent to salvation, we need to look at some more verses of scripture.

WHEN DID THIS TAKE PLACE? It took place when God had delivered Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh, and had each day miraculously provided them with fresh manna.

But they began to complain, and the God who had miraculously provided for them began to deal with them in another way.

Look at Numbers 21:6-9, We read, “And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 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. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

Our text begins by saying that the Israelites traveled from Mount Hor, along the Red Sea, and then headed south of Edom. The area south of Edom is a dry, rocky, barren wasteland. To say the least, it was not a vacation destination for the masses.

Israel had been wandering in the desert now for almost forty years. Almost all of those who had come out of Egypt with Moses and Aaron, were dead. This was an entirely new generation.

Israel was on the verge of entering the Promised Land. Between them and Canaan were their brothers, the Edomites. The Edomites, if you remember, were the descendants of Esau, whereas the Israelites were the descendants of Jacob. Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom.

Numbers 20:17, “Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.”

But Edom answered with a threat. Look at Numbers 20:18, we read, “And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.”

Again Moses laid aside his pride, and requested permission to pass through Edom. But in Numbers 20:19, Edom again replied, “Thou shalt not go through"

In Numbers 20:20, Edom came out and attacked them. Because of Edom's response, Israel was forced to take a detour on the way to the Promised Land.

This detour meant a couple of hundred extra miles for the people of Israel. It wasn't a matter of taking another road – for there was no other road.

• Israel was forced to travel through desert – with loose sandy soil, and cliffs of granite

• There were terrible sandstorms

• There was little water

• There was little or no vegetation

Israel was forced to take the detour, on foot, with all of the women and children, and with all their flocks and herds.

I wanted to mention these things so that you might understand that they were traveling some rough terrain, and perhaps they felt they had a right to complain. And most likely, if we were there, some of us would be complaining.

The Israelites were not happy about passing through this area. They began to complain. The children of Israel complained about the way God was taking care of them.

Look at verse 5, “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”

Notice, the Bible says they, “…Spake against God, and against Moses…” Listen, if all you have got to do is find fault with God, and God’s man, you need to find something worthwhile to find fault with.