The Bronze Serpent – Numbers 21:4-9
1. Aim: To lead the people to understand that the can be forgiven of their sin sickness and made whole by placing their faith in Jesus Christ.
Illustration:Chuck Swindoll reports that a seminary student in Chicago faced a forgiveness test. Although he preferred to work in some kind of ministry, the only job he could find was driving a bus on Chicago’s south side. One day a gang of tough teens got on board and refused to pay the fare. After a few days of this, the seminarian spotted a policeman on the corner, stopped the bus, and reported them. The officer made them pay, but then he got off. When the bus rounded a corner, the gang robbed the seminarian and beat him severely. He pressed charges and the gang was rounded up. They were found guilty. But as soon as the jail sentence was given, the young Christian saw their spiritual need and felt pity for them. So he asked the judge if he could serve their sentences for them. The gang members and the judge were dumbfounded. "It’s because I forgive you," he explained. His request was denied, but he visited the young men in jail and led several of them to faith in Christ.
Chuck Swindoll.
2. Explanation of the Aim: Jesus Christ gives a perfect parallel explanation between what God did in healing the Israelites of their sickness when they trusted and obeyed and what will happen to everyone who believes in Him. Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:14,15) Help the people to understand that saying that we believe in Christ involves being willing to obey His commands. Just as the Israelites demonstrated their faith by obeying God’s directives by looking at the snake on the pole, so New Testament believers need to trust and obey God’s instructions as evidence of genuine saving faith.
3. The Bible Story: When the people of Israel complained against God, He sent poisonous snakes among them. Many of the complainers were bitten and died a slow painful death. Yet when the people repented for their sin against God and Moses, the Lord told Moses, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to the top of a pole. Those who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” (Numb 21:8) The people who looked at the snake were made completely well.
4. The Lord dislikes the sin of complaining because it is an expression of unbelief, disobedience and pride. When people fail to rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks to God, they often start to grumble. The Israelites forgot all the miracles and goodness of God when they face hardships. Instead of trusting God for their provisions they complained and shouted at Moses saying, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness? There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this wretched manna!” (Numb 14:5) When people grow discontented it is an indication they have failed to praise God for the good things He has given them. Help the people learn the importance of trusting, obeying and thanking God in every situation no matter how difficult it may seem.
5. People who feel a deep sense of dissatisfaction utter expressions of grievances. Ask the people what they often complain about? Ask the people why they feel it is necessary to complain? Ask the people if they know the difference between a complaint and a legitimate request? Find out if the people know what God was displeased with their complaints about having no food or water? What are some of the root causes of complaints?
6. The BIBLE STORY teaches us how the Lord sent the punishment for sin (poisonous snakes) as well as the cure (the bronze serpent on the pole). Teach the people how placing saving faith in Jesus Christ will save them from their sins just as the Israelites were saved from death when they looked to the bronze serpent as an expression of their trust in God.
7. Ask the people why it is often a sin to complain against God or our authorities? Ask the people if they know why God was displeased when the Israelites complained about not having enough food and water? Find out if the people know what are some of the root causes of complaints? Discover if the people know why the Bible speaks against complaining people (Phil. 2:13,14)? Ask the people how they can place their faith in Christ and experience forgiveness, spiritual healing and eternal life?
8. Consider some of the problems involved in complaining. People who feel a deep sense of dissatisfaction utter expression of grievances. Ask the people what they often complain about? Ask the people why they feel it is necessary to complain? Ask the people if they know the difference between a complaint and a legitimate request? Find out if the people know what God was displeased with their complaints about having no food or water? What are some of the root causes of complaints?
7. The Bible Story
It is useful to remember a timeless principle given to us in Phil. 2:14,15 that says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, people of God without fault which you shine like stars in the universe.” People who make a habit of complaining forget that their primary purpose is to glorify God. Complainers usually have not learned to be content with the good things given to them by God. People who like to look for faults in others tend to judge people with their own standards of what is right. A group of complainers have a hard time being united in Christ because they are too occupied with their grievances than gratitude.
8. One of the reasons that the Lord allowed the Israelites to encounter such strong enemies is He wanted them to learned to more completely depend on Him for everything. The Lord often allows difficulties, adversity and hardship to enter our life to help us see how completely sufficient His grace can be for any problem.
9. When the Israelites grew weary and hungry they spoke discontentedly of what God had done for them, and distrustfully of what he would do. They failed to realize that nothing could satisfy them any better than God. They fantasized about going back to Egypt. When people imagine the way things used to be, they often look at the past through rose-colored lenses. Do not think that when someone complains about adversity that will receive greater grace from God. The Lord is always dependable to work in good times and in bad times. He has allows to experience hardship to help us increase our appreciation of His reliability. God’s character is always true, dependable and loving even when some may have doubts.
10. As the Israelites bitterly complained God sent poisonous snakes to issue punishment for disobedience and distrust. The righteous judgment God allowed them to reap for what they had sown by their murmuring. He sent fiery serpents among them, which bit or stung many to death. God, however, always makes a special provision for the sinner’s relief.
11. The Jews realized that it was not the sight of the brazen serpent that cured, but in looking up to it, they looked up to God as the Lord that healed them. Sin bites like a serpent, and stings like a venomous cobra. No matter who looks to Jesus, however desperate one’s case, or feeble their sight, or distant their place, they will be cured.
12. The Lord can relieve us from dangers and distresses in ways beyond human imaginations. When people deeply feel the sting of sin they are often more open to the healing medicine for death found in Jesus Christ. When people are affected physically they are usually most responsive to new ideas.
13. Sick people are often willing to give anything for a cure. Ask the Lord to help the lost in your community to come to a dramatic realization of the awful pain caused by sin. Let everyone know that without the application of Christ’s medicine that everyone will feel the pain of sin for eternity in hell. Faith in Christ frees us from the pain, shame and consequences of sin for all of eternity. Do all that you can to help others know of Christ’s freeing, healing and redemptive powers.
Memory Verse: “Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, people of God without fault which you shine like stars in the universe.” (Phil. 2:14,15)
The Meaning for Our Lives
Help the people make applications from the lesson. Ask the people why it is often a sin to complain against God or our authorities? Ask the people if they know why God was displeased when the Israelites complained about not having enough food and water? Find out if the people know what are some of the root causes of complaints? Discover if the people know why the Bible speaks against complaining people (Phil. 2:13,14)? Ask the people how they can place their faith in Christ and experience forgiveness, spiritual healing and eternal life?
Response:
Song: Count your blessings name them one by one. Count your blessings see what God has done. Count your blessings name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you to look to Christ whenever you are troubled by sin, conflicts or adversity. Trust Him to help you thank Him rather than complain about your troubles.
At Home: Ask your family and friends how they overcome the tendency to complain about difficulties?
Conclusion:Corrie ten Boom told of not being able to forget a wrong that had been done to her. She had forgiven the person, but she kept rehashing the incident and so couldn’t sleep. Finally Corrie cried out to God for help in putting the problem to rest. "His help came in the form of a kindly Lutheran pastor," Corrie wrote, "to whom I confessed my failure after two sleepless weeks." "Up in the church tower," he said, nodding out the window, "is a bell which is rung by pulling on a rope. But you know what? After the sexton lets go of the rope, the bell keeps on swinging. First ding, then dong. Slower and slower until there’s a final dong and it stops. I believe the same thing is true of forgiveness. When we forgive, we take our hand off the rope. But if we’ve been tugging at our grievances for a long time, we mustn’t be surprised if the old angry thoughts keep coming for a while. They’re just the ding-dongs of the old bell slowing down." "And so it proved to be. There were a few more midnight reverberations, a couple of dings when the subject came up in my conversations, but the force -- which was my willingness in the matter -- had gone out of them. They came less and less often and at the last stopped altogether: we can trust God not only above our emotions, but also above our thoughts."
Corrie ten Boom.
