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The Beginning of the End
bitten might look at the bronze serpent and live. Many had already
died, and when Moses raised the serpent on the pole, some would
not believe that merely looking at that metallic image could heal
them; these died in their unbelief.
Yet many people had faith in the provision that God had given.
Fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters were busy in helping suffering,
dying friends to turn their listless eyes on the serpent. Though faint
and dying, if they could only look once, they were healed.
The Bronze Serpent a Symbol of the Savior
The lifting up of the bronze serpent was to teach Israel an im-
portant lesson—they could not save themselves from the poison in
their wounds. God alone was able to heal, yet they were required
to show their faith in the provision He had made. They must look
in order to live. By looking at the serpent they showed their faith.
They knew that there was no strength in the serpent itself, but it was
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a symbol of Christ.
Before this, many had brought offerings to God and felt that
doing this made enough atonement for their sins. The Lord wanted to
teach them that their sacrifices had no more power than the serpent of
bronze, but were to lead their minds to Christ, the great sin offering.
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,” even so was
the Son of man “lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have eternal life” (
John 3:14, 15
). All who have lived on
earth have felt the deadly sting of “that serpent of old, called the
Devil and Satan” (
Revelation 12:9
). The fatal effects of sin can be
removed only by the provision that God has made. The Israelites
saved their lives because they believed God’s word and trusted in the
way provided for their recovery. So the sinner may look to Christ
and live, receiving forgiveness through faith in the atoning sacrifice.
Christ has power and strength to heal the repenting sinner.
While sinners cannot save themselves, they still have something
to do to obtain salvation. “The one who comes to Me,” says Christ,
“I will by no means cast out” (
John 6:37
). We must come to Him,
and when we repent we must believe that He accepts and forgives
us. Faith is the gift of God, but the power to exercise it is ours. Faith