Look and Live
“And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.”
THE REMEDY LOOKED STRANGE
God didn't remove the serpents from the camp — He gave an unlikely way to survive them, and that way required obedience, not logic.
MOSES OBEYED EXACTLY
Moses made the bronze serpent and set it on the pole exactly as instructed — not improving the plan, not adding his own methods.
LIFE CAME THROUGH LOOKING
Whoever was bitten didn't need a complicated ritual — lifting their eyes to the pole was enough to live, a simple picture of saving faith.
JESUS QUOTED THIS SCENE
In John 3:14, Jesus points back to this very lifted serpent as a picture of himself lifted up on the cross for all who believe.
THE POISON STILL RUNS
Sin, like the serpent's poison, keeps running through the veins until the eyes turn toward the one remedy God provided.
PRAY LOOKING AT THE CROSS
Act: Stop right now and, instead of trying to fix what sin has wounded in you, simply look at Christ crucified and thank him out loud for the life he gives.