Numbers 21:4-9

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• More complaining... God sends poisonous snakes.

• The people repent... God tells Moses to make a bronze snake for the people to look at and be healed.

Details and/or Comments

• This "looking at" the snake was an act of trust in God. Their willingness to look meant they believed that what God said was true: that they would be healed.

• Centuries later, this expression of trust would be used to explain the significance of Jesus' death on the cross. (John 3:14-15).

John 3:14-15 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Scripture

Numbers 21:4-9 – Poisonous snakes; healing by looking at a brass snake (a picture of faith/trust).

• See also: Serpent / Snake.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Num 21:4 They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. Num 21:5 The people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread.	More complaining! Complaining, Ungratefulness
Num 21:6 Yahweh sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.	Poisonous snakes. Ecological Judgments
Num 21:7 The people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh, and against you; pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from us. Moses prayed for the people.	“We repent!”
Num 21:8 Yahweh said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live. Num 21:9 Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of brass, he lived.	“Look to the brass snake.” The Need to Trust God Miraculous Events

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—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.