Week 54, Day 1: Fiery Serpents
Today’s Reading: Numbers 21:1-35
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
I want to point out that in reading about Israel’s wandering in the wilderness that a long amount of time has now passed. The text does not say, “in the twentieth year” of their wandering but we know that Israel was to wander in the wilderness for 40 years because of their disobedience (Num 14:32-34). We can guess that there has been a long period of time pass now because Israel is beginning to make their way towards the east side of the Jordan, where they will cross into the promised land. They are coming closer and closer to the time when the next generation will cross the Jordan. So the exact timing cannot be determined, but I bring this up because when we are told that Israel becomes impatient because of the journey and begins to speak against God and Moses. I wonder how many of the people who are speaking out are of the younger generation who will be entering into Canaan. We cannot tell but I think that it is interesting to consider.
Because they speak out against God, He sends fiery serpents among the people to bit and kill the people. The people cry out to Moses that they have sinned and request Moses to intercede for them. God directs Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Those who were bitten and looked to the bronze serpent would live and not die. God took mercy on them and provided a way for them to be saved. I want to ask you this question. Would you say that they people earned their salvation by looking at the bronze serpent? Those who didn’t look at the bronze serpent died. I don’t think that anyone would say in this situation that the people were “earning” thier salvation. God provided the way for them to be healed and they followed His instructions in order to be saved. I think such examples are good to consider when talking to someone about baptism. So many say by being baptized you are trying to earn your salvation. No. God has provided a way to be saved. If you want to be saved, then be baptized. Just like if the Israelite wanted to be saved from the serpent bite they looked at the bronze serpent. It is not doing something to earn salvation, it is doing what God said to do to receive His salvation.
Question: This question will take some research. The bronze serpent will show up later in Israel’s history. Then it is an object of worship. What name was given to the bronze serpent and who destroyed it?
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