Numbers 21 : 1-9 Life For A Look At The Saviour
I. The Sinful People
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.
A. They Doubted The Lord 5 And the people spake against God
They Doubted His Power, His Promise, His Provision, His Plan.
They Accused Him Of:- Murder, Malice and Mistreatment.
The people did not believe what the Lord had told them.
B. They Despised The Prophet 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses
They Despised:-
God's Supremecy 5 And the people spake against God
God's Salvation 4 and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
God's Supply 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.
God's Servant 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses
Num 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Ps 105:15 Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
They Had No:- Fear Of God, Fervour For God, Fidelity To God.
C. They Detested The Food 5 and our soul loatheth this light bread.
They weren't Satisfied With:-
The Word Of God, The Work Of God, The Will Of God.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Duncan Campbell (Does God not satisfy) - Many Still reject Him.
II. The Sovereign Punishment
6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Many Excuse Sin God Exposes It.
A. It Was Faithful 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people,
Prov 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Divine Judgement "the Lord sent!"
Deadly Judgment "fiery serpentsl"
Deserved Judgement among the people,
1 Sam 3:18 And Samuel told him (Eli) every whit, and hid nothing from him.
And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
B. It Was Frightening
The Sight Of The Snake, The Fright Of The Snake
The Bite Of The Snake, The Blight Of The Snake (Death)
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;
Ezek 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
C. It Was Fatal 6 and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
The Lord sent the Judgement, Only The Lord could remove it.
Outside of a Divine Intervention, there was absolutely no hope for the people.
7 And Moses prayed for the people.
III. The Saving Provision
8 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.
You cannot come to God without coming to Christ.
A. A Saving Pronouncement 8 and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
I. The Cure was Unconventional. Man always tries a works salvtion.
II. The Cure was Unconditional. “Look and Live.”
III. The Cure was Universal. 8 every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Rev.22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
John.12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
IV. The Cure was Undelayed. when he looketh upon it, shall live.
V. The Cure was Unassailable. - shall live. - Definite
B. A Sinner's Privilege Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
It is not your right to come, it is your privilege to come.
C. A Sure Promise “Look and Live.”
D. The Simple Plan “Look and Live.”
IV. The Solemn Purpose
9 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.
A. We Must Look To Him In Salvation There were some who refused to look
B. We Must Lift Him Up In Service John.12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Jesus is not being lifted up through the witness of His people.
C. We Must Love Him In Sincerity
D. We Must Lean On Him In Suffering
A train had passed by a cemetery in the city for many years. the conductor would call out on the loudspeaker system, "Anyone for Calvary; Anyone for Calvary;
We only stop at Calvary by request?"
