Day 80 – The Bronze Serpent

These are some great verses. You may well know them, partly at least, which might be a relief after so many days of unfamiliar Levitical history!

• Some of the passages in Exodus and Numbers must feel like a broken record to you! When the Israelites become discouraged, what do they always seem to do?
• The story line we’re working through, as told in today’s passage in Numbers 21, takes place at the end of the time in the wilderness. As the chapter opens, the people are given a victory over a group of Canaanites in a place called Hormah. Look back at Numbers 14:45 – we read it a few days ago. You’ll see it was the place that the Israelites had been defeated at forty or so years earlier when they attempted to enter the Promised Land before God’s timing. What does their victory now tell the people?
• Look at what they say in verse 5. “We detest this miserable food!” That’s really strong language. They are taking God’s provision to them (the manna) and throwing it back in His face. You might think that they can be forgiven for doing so after eating it for forty years, although that might be being a little generous to them. In what areas of your life are you “throwing back in God’s face” the good things He gives you?
• What did God do in response to the attitude of the Israelites, and for blaming Him for their troubles?
• Do you think God’s response was right? Why or why not? Helpful note: God’s actions are always right!
• What did the bronze serpent that Moses set up do for those who were bitten? How was it like an antidote to the poison from the snakes?
• What does the passage – that very famous passage – in John 3 say about the snakes? When we’re bitten by sin, and the dirt of the poison is in us, what (and who) can we look towards for the antidote?
• What does John 3:16, probably the most well-known passage in the entire bible, give as the reason God gave us this antidote?
• Do you think anyone might have chosen not to look at the bronze serpent when Moses erected it? Using the same logic, why would people not look to Jesus for their antidote?
• What does the passage in 1 Corinthians add to your understanding?

1 Corinthians helps to sum up what is happening in the Old Testament passage for us now. It’s simple and clear, and tells us to look at the warnings from the history we’re reading. God hates sin, and will punish it. But in His grace and mercy He gave the Israelites a way out – and so He does for us too.

Make sure you don’t leave today’s readings without making the connection between the salvation that the Israelites received by looking at the bronze snake, and the salvation we can receive by pointing our trust and faith towards Jesus. Make sure you write this down in your journal too!

Here’s one little extra thing to think about – look at the next verse in the 1 Corinthians passage (verse 13). You may have read it before. It’s a great reminder for us to pin on our hearts when we are tempted by sin. Your walk with Jesus – especially in your teenage years where there is so much to tempt you away from God’s Word – will be greatly empowered if you memorise and lean on the truths of verse 13.