This incident happened in a sad time in the history of the Israelites in the wilderness.  In Numbers 20, we know the Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for forty years.  In this chapter, we have the account of Miriam’s death (verse 1), Moses’ sin of striking the rock the Lord told him to speak to in order to supply water for the Israelites (verses 2-12), and Aaron’s death (verses 22-29).  Throughout this chapter, we have the Israelites murmuring. 

Let’s continue now by reading Numbers 21:4-5, “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 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.”  This is the second generation of those who left Israel for Canaan.  Except for Joshua and Caleb, all the first generation under the age of twenty at the departure from Egypt died because they refused to enter into Canaan.  (Read Numbers 14:28-36).  Even as their fathers complained, so did the next generation.  The Lord graciously provided manna, but they hated it.  The Lord graciously provided water, but still they complained. 

In verses 6-7, because of their constant complaining against the Lord and against Moses, we see the Lord sent serpents among His people and those who were bit would die.  This caused the people to repent before the Lord and ask Moses to intercede on their behalf and take away the serpents from them.  They asked Moses to “…pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”  However, the Lord did not take away the serpents from His people.  In His infinite love and wisdom, He did something far better. 

Verses 8-9 tell us, “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.”  To have taken away the serpents would only minister to those who had not yet been bitten.  This fiery serpent on a pole gave hope to all those who had been bitten.  Certainly, it took a while to fashion this serpent out of brass, which gave the people ample time to truly repent.  To gaze at the brazen serpent, to fix their eyes on the emblem of the cause of their suffering and death, would surely be a reminder to them of the consequences of their sins.  In the Bible, brass often speaks of judgment, so the symbolism of this serpent becomes so clear.  It is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ suffering on the cross for our sins, that through repentance and faith, we might be saved and receive eternal life, even though we deserve the judgment of God for our sins.

That this is a type of Christ is beyond question because the Lord Jesus used this portion to give a lesson about Himself in John 3:14-15 which says, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”  Those who looked up at the brazen serpent received life.  Even so, this is a lesson to show us that those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior will escape death and receive eternal life.  What an example of Christ we have in this brazen serpent.  How gracious is the Lord to bring healing this way so that we might recognize our Lord Jesus, realize our need of Him, and look to Him for eternal salvation. 

Have you looked to the Lord Jesus to receive His free gift of salvation?  We read in Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”  There is but one God.  There is but one Savior.  Do you know Him as your savior through faith?  (CC)  (612.6)