THE BRONZE SERPENT “LIFTED UP” Numbers 21: 4-9

THE BRONZE SERPENT “LIFTED UP” Numbers 21:4-9 (NIV) 4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

THE BRONZE SERPENT “LIFTED UP” 6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

THE BRONZE SERPENT “LIFTED UP” 8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Number 21:4-9

THE BRONZE SERPENT “LIFTED UP” I The Sin of “Murmuring” verse 5 II The Punishment with a “Bite” verses 6-7 III The Salvation of the “Lifted Up” verses 8-9

The Bronze Serpent “Lifted Up “They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way”. Numbers 21:4

I. The Sin of “Murmuring” “They spoke against God and against Moses and said ‘why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food ” (worthless food). (manna) Numbers 21:5

I. THE SIN OF “MURMURING” Manna: “Miserable / worthless food” “Now the people complained about their hardship…and again the Israelites started wailing and said, ‘if only we had meat to eat!. We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost, also the cucumbers, melons, leeks onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna.” Numbers 11: 1-6

I. THE SIN OF “MURMURING” “He (God) rained down manna for the people to eat; He gave them the grain of heaven. Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.” Psalm 78:24-25 “They asked, and He (God) brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert.” Psalm 105:40-41

II. THE PUNISHMENT WITH A “BITE” “Then the LORD sent venomous snakes (fiery serpent) among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, ‘we have sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people.” Numbers 21: 6-7

III. THE SALVATION OF THE “LIFTED UP” “The LORD said to Moses, ‘make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.’ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.” Numbers 21:8-9

III. THE SALVATION OF THE “LIFTED UP” “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so that the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15. Sinners are bitten by Sin

III. THE SALVATION OF THE “LIFTED UP” “Whoever has been bitten by the snakes of sin need only gaze on Christ and have healing for the forgiveness of sin” St. Augustine “Turn (Look) to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is no other” Isaiah 45:22

THE BRONZE SERPENT “LIFTED UP” 1. The Bronze Serpent points to the Punishment of Sin “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:20 “the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23

THE BRONZE SERPENT “LIFTED UP” 2. The Bronze Serpent points to Christ's Salvation “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so that the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15

THE BRONZE SERPENT “LIFTED UP” 3. The Bronze Serpent points to Foundation of Mission “Look and be healed and live” We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. “ 2 Corinthians 5:20-21