Discuss Numbers 21

NUMBERS CHAPTER 21

Cont...

The people sang a song, "Spring up, O well, sing ye unto it. "So apparently, they sang to the well to open up the springs. Then they traveled to Mattanah, Nahaliel, Bamoth, in the valley, then to the top of Pigsah, which looked towards Jeshimon. These places are all on the east side of the Jordan valley and river. They were traveling north ward. From there the leaders of Israel sent messengers to the king of the Amorites, Sihon, to ask to pass through their land, going along the king's highway until they leave the border of the Amorites. But Sihon would not allow them to do so and went against them with his armies at Jahaz. Israel overcame the Amorites and took possession of the king's land from the Arnon to the Jabbok rivers. They dwelled in the Ammonite cities, including the king's city of Heshbon. c

They continued to push out the peoples of the Amorites until they came to Bashan east of the sea of Galilee. Og, the king of Bashan, (was a giant-14 ft.) came against Israel at Edrei. The LORD told Moses not to fear because the people of King Og will be delivered to Israel just like the people of king Sihon. And so it happened and none of the people of Bashan were left alive. Israel took possession of this land.

God continued to be faithful to Israel and His promises despite the rebellion and unbelief of the people. When they repented, He blessed them, giving them victory after victory of the people along the east side of the Jordan valley. They possessed this land. But the Edomites were still in possession of their land. God must have had a reason for Edom remaining in control of their land. Perhaps it was due to them being close kinsmen, being descended from Esau, Jacob's twin brother, a descendant of Abraham, though not the lineage of the chosen nation of God, but nonetheless, blessed by God on account of Abraham, just like Ishmael was blessed by God because of Abraham, though not the people of the promise as Isaac was.

NUMBERS CHAPTER 21

Continued...

They asked Moses to pray to the LORD and have Him remove these serpents. They must have been very prevalent and not just a few here and there. I would say they were overrun by the serpents, just as sin overruns those who are careless towards God. Perhaps the serpents just dropped out of the sky, since elsewhere in Scripture they are described as flying fiery serpents, (dragons)

Moses prayed and God instructed Moses to create a bonze serpent and place in on a pole. Those who followed his instructions to look upon the snake on the pole would be healed of their bite, but those who refused to look upon the snake would die from their bite. Interesting in that the serpents were sent upon them due to their sin. And the image on the pole was the object God used to punish them for their sin. They had to look upon the object that brought their punishment to be healed.

Jesus said compared Himself to the serpent on the pole in this chapter and that any who look to Him and believe on Him will not perish, but have eternal life. ( John 3:14-15) He became sin on the cross, he took our sin upon Himself, and took the punishment for our sin from the Father, and nailed our sin to the cross, so that we could have eternal life in Him.

After this episode with the serpents and God removing the serpents, the Israelites set out and camped in Oboth, then Ije-abarim, in the wilderness of Moab, east of Jordan. Then move on to the valley of Zared. From there they camped on the other side of the Arnon River, in the Amorite territory where it borders Moab. Verse 14-15 mentions a book of wars that tell of what the LORD did in these areas for the Israelites. This must have been a book scribed by another Israelite and was not preserved or discovered yet.

From the brooks of the Arnon River (Ar) they went to Beer, were there was a well without water. God promises to bring forth water from the well after the princes and nobles dug up the well at God's direction.

NUMBERS CHAPTER 21

Since the king of Edom would allow the Israelites to passthrough their region to enter the promised land, the Israelites had to backtrack to the Red Sea at the Gulf of Aqaba and traverse around the region Edom controlled to then draw near to the Jordan River. It seems that Edom possessed the land south of the Dead Sea and somewhat westward from that since the Israelites were at the border of Edom at Kadesh/Mt. Hor. While at Mt. Hor where Aaron died, the king of Arad, which was north of them in Canaan,, heard that the Israelites were coming the way that the spies had come 40 years earlier. These Aradites occupied the southern portion of the promised land. They came against the Israelites, taking some prisoners. The Israelites vowed to the LORD that they would utterly destroy these Aradites if the LORD would deliver them into their hands. And so it happened that God gave them the Aradites and this people were utterly destroyed by the Israelites along with the destruction of their cities. The Israelites name the place Hormah meaning destruction or broken rock.

From this area in the wilderness of Zin near Mt. Hor, the Israelites then set out by way of the Red sea, going around Edom to the East. This was a circuitous route and the Israelites soon became weary and began to grumble once again against Moses and the manna and wishing to have stayed in Egypt. All of their "go-to" complaints revived.

So, again, the LORD brings judgment upon them by way of sending fiery serpents who bit them and many died. It is unclear if these were truly natural poisonous snakes that inhabited that area or if these were seraphs since the word seraph translates to fiery serpent. Either way, the serpents were real and the bites real, and the deadliness was real. Sin is deadly! Soon after this serious punishment, the Israelites came to Moses and confessed that they had sinned with their grumbling against the LORD and Moses.

Numbers 21:8.....God tells Moses that he wd have to make a bronze Serpent and put him on a pole and when someone was bitten they wd have to behold the Bronze Serpent....Is this not a picture of the Church that gets bit sometimes but if we behold the lamb of God that taketh away the Sin of the world.....Our snake bite is not fatal....Jesus said that as Moses lifted up a Serpent in the wilderness Even so must the son of man be lifted up..... John 3:14.....What Moses did in the wilderness with that bronze Serpent equates to what God did with the lamb of God.....We are still in the wilderness.....We have not got to the Promise land yet we are still in the wilderness of Sin and sometimes we get bit....But here is Romans 8:2.....The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made free from the law of snake bite and death......Sin and death.....Thats y Jesus is saying Even as Moses lifted up a serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up.....Jesus answers to the bronze Serpent.....But now under this New Covenant we behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.....What Moses did in the wilderness with that bronze serpent made Israel free FROM the law of SNAKE BITE AND DEATH.....But what Jesus did at Calvary by his blood is gonna make Humanity free from Sin and death...As John said behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world....The manchild which is the H.G. is gonna reprove this whole world of sin and Judgement and Righteousness.....Which is the result of this New Covenant the blood of the lamb from Calvary.....Thats y Jeremiah saw all the world in travail and Child birth Jere 30:6 ...The Children are spirits an Israel of God....Thats y it is saying a time of Jacobs troubles impling an Israel of God...Simply b/c the H.G. is that Israel of God.....That Heavenly Jacob the 3 rd person.....Ya gotta realize that Jesus sows a greater seed then Abraham......A heavenly seed impling spirits...Born of the spirit is spirit.

Psalm 139:8 makes it clear that everywhere; including hell God's presence is there. God; however depending on the state of an individual our soul has a different experience. With David; in old times sheol was the place of comfort as well as torment (see Luke 16:19-31). After captivity was made cptive (i.e. souls of the righteous were brought out after the Resurrection ( Psalm 68:18) then "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord ( 2 Cor. 5:6). Therefore; we saw some of the saints come out of their graves after Christ's Resurrection (sort of the "first of the firstfruits").

God cannot look onto sin ( Matt. 27:45-46). Christ was the "sin bearer" who took on our sins (see Isaiah 53; Numbers 21:8). This explains the Godhead in some sense; as if all of the Godhead died at the crucifixion the whole universe would cease to exist. Jesus; however overcame death as it could not hold Him ( Acts 2:24). When He said "it is finished" and died then the work was done ( John 19:30). The rest of the time He was declaring victory to all (including unregenerate lost souls and demons bound in the underworld) in 1 Peter 3:18-20 then He ascended back to the Father where He ever lives to intercede for us ( Heb. 7:25).

It is clear that every eye shall see Him ( Rev. 1:7); Rev. 5:13; Rev. 20 and Great White Throne Judgment). Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord ( Philippians 2:10-11 and also reflected in Isaiah 45:23. During the Tribulation men also will be actively cursing God and Antichrist Himself will blaspheme Him as well as those who dwell in heaven ( Rev. 6:15; Revelation 13). It is clear that everyone will know about God and Christ by the sixth seal but it won't do those any good who have not been regenerated. It is only in those God chooses to reveal Himself through the Son that come to know Him ( Matt. 11:27 and see much of Gospel of John including some of my commentaries on Predestination). Also see Psalm 19; ROmans 1

Predestination and heaven part 3

Romans 8:29-30 is a mouthful; and clearly demonstrates predestination along with the process of going from salvation to glorification as a "done deal" seen through the corridors of time in God's Omnipresent viewpoint. We also are given the idea of being "conformed to the image of His Son."

Consider for a moment what the world is looking for. It is; as Joni Mitchell said in her "Woodstock" song looking to "going back to Eden." It is well presented in Brandon Heath's song "leaving Eden" as to how we as believers can't go back; as well as the decay of the mind; body and souls of those in the world because of the effects of sin. The enemy; who succeeded in usurping the authority of God and man over the earth (allowed; of course by His foreknowledge and planning) now plants the thought in all men of some fantasy that there is still some good remaining; some hope of a return to a state of innocence. We can see the fruit of the sixties "free love" movement and the resulting riots later on; as well as the long term consequences today with the forced acceptance of all sorts of "alternative" lifestyles. Even the Millennium when Satan is locked up still won't be able to bring a repentant heart to some; if one can imagine Christ Himself ruling and reigning and man still rebelling in the end when Satan is released one last time leading them to war against God and His camp.

However much true saints of God want to see a world free of violence; disease and other calamities; they recognize that going back to innocence is only accomplished by looking to Christ (see Numbers 21:5-7). The curse had to be placed on Christ; the Son of God Himself; there is no other way to remove the sin. True believers recognize therefore that they are "aliens" to this world ( 1 Peter 2:11-12). The war has been won; but many battles remain especially the consummation at Armageddon.

Let us be in the supper of the Lamb instead of BEING the supper ( Rev 19:17

I agree with the comment on the intention of the cross. The Catholics; in particular like to venerate the cross as an image of perpetual suffering as though Christ is still suffering; rather than it being finished at Calvary. They also somehow thing they can suffer as Christ did because of the whole concept of the "stigmata" or so called marks of those suffering wounds as Christ did.

Viewed as the scripture stated in the book of Numbers 21:8-9; there was a foreshadowing of Christ on the cross taking on the curse to heal the people. Galatians 3:13 repeats the verse in Deuteronomy 21 about anyone being "cursed" who hangs on a tree.

The bigger problem is the depictions of Christ on the cross or any other imagery as He is God in the flesh; i.e. part of the Godhead. The O.T. made it clear that we were not to make an image of anything to represent God.

We also need to realize that the Resurrection accomplished the victory over death; which was also needed so that Christ could be the first of the firstfruits; so to speak. He now is acting as our High Priest in heaven as the Book of Hebrews indicates; "ever interceding for us". ( Heb. 7:25). Christ is part of the eternal Godhead. Hence; He had to overcome even death. The victory occured at the moment he died when He said "it is finished". As soon as He passed from this earth; His soul went to the underworld to preach to those souls in Sheol; and to set the captives free. He created the heaven and earth hence hell had no suffering or hold on Him as some suggest. The souls of the rightous were freed from Sheol; and in fact many came out of their graves and appeared to the many after He rose from the dead. They would have been Resurrected to heaven at that time as part of the firstfruits as I see it; but it was only some that rose; others will be yet future.

As long as the whole counsel of scripture guides us a cross I believe is ok; it is when we idolize the image we get into trouble.

Agape.

Henry

Do you believe what the Bible says about there being lost/missing Scripture?

The book of Nathan the prophet, the book of Gad the seer. ( 1 Chronicles 29:29)

The epistle from Laodicea ( Colossians 4:16)

And of the things which Jesus did, John said if they should be written every one, I suppose even the world could not contain the books that should be written. ( John 21:25)

Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, ( Numbers 21:14)

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. ( Joshua 10:13)

And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? ( 1 Kings 11:41)

Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat? ( 2 Chronicles 9:29)

Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. ( 2 Chronicles 12:15)

If there is lost/missing Scripture, than there must be more knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on this planet.

I believe the Bible and the Book of Mormon because the doctrines therein are the same, nothing waving.

Otherwise, I would not believe the Book of Mormon.

The Bible is my main source for truth.

I there are other writings claiming to be of the God of Israel, I will certainly take that into consideration and compare the doctrines to what the Bible says and if there is a contradiction, I will know the doctrines are not of the God of Israel.

I can find no contradictions.

Certainly, the Bible talks about lost/missing Scripture.

The book of Nathan the prophet, the book of Gad the seer. ( 1 Chronicles 29:29)

The epistle from Laodicea ( Colossians 4:16)

And of the things which Jesus did, John said if they should be written every one, I suppose even the world could not contain the books that should be written. ( John 21:25)

Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon, ( Numbers 21:14)

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. ( Joshua 10:13)

And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? ( 1 Kings 11:41)

Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat? ( 2 Chronicles 9:29)

Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. ( 2 Chronicles 12:15)

Deuteronomy 3:1,3,4,10,11,13.

Zechariah 1-14

Joel 2 - 28

Acts 2 -17

Please see: Numbers 21:35,

When I search for 'Og' you don't find it. Yet it's in Numbers 21:33. Where else in the Bible is it listed?

Onto Numbers chapter 23.

We now see a 'converted' Balaam, one who goes to the Lord to receive His Word & then speaks it with boldness, even to a king who has the power to take his life in an instant. When once he thought he could make gain by getting God to change His Mind, Balaam now learned to heed every Word of God & to declare it without fear or shame.

The lesson: For us as well, when we know God's Word & what His Spirit directs us to do, we must not fail to heed it and do it. God will be pleased, we will be blessed, and those who stand in opposition against us will one day know the word brought to them is of the Lord & He will indeed bring it to pass. And they need to heed it & not be foolish & resistant like Balak.

In this chapter, we see a changed Balaam, one who confidently gave God's Word to Balak & brought it out in a series of parables (actually, poems). Balak tried hard to convince Balaam to bless Moab, but each time was given a clear Word from the Lord. As Balaam said, "All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do." ( Numbers 23:26); we see a very different Balaam now.

What would be the Object Lesson of Numbers Chapter 23.

Kind Regards

Mukula

Thank you very much Chris for the feedback.

God bless your Ministry

Kind Regards

Mukula

Hello Mukula. I see that the main lesson in Numbers chapter 21 is: Much of the pain we suffer is because we don't want to do what God has plainly told us to do. And we add even more pain because we refuse to recognize God's Voice & Call for us to listen to Him instead of listening to our voice or other voices.

We see two situations in this chapter:

a. Numbers 21:1-3. God heard the cry of those willing to do His will - and God then provided.

b. Numbers 21:4-35. God then heard the people's anger when they were unwilling to be content in His Plan for them - and God had to give them a harsh lesson. Sometimes we need such lessons to bring us back into correct position of trusting Him fully. When we really look to Him & not ourselves, then He opens the way ahead, so that even the enemy will be overcome. Here we see a typical lesson: we allow Discontentment or anger - leads to our Complaining - leads to Pain through God's correction - leads to Lesson Learned with repentance. And God is always faithful: He forgives & renews us - we can enjoy His victory in life & against the enemy.

I hope this outline will be useful in your studies.

What is the Object Lesson from Numbers Chapter 21

Typology in Christian theology and biblical exegesis is a doctrine or theory concerning the relationship of the Old Testament to the New Testament. Events, persons, or statements in the Old Testament are seen as types prefiguring or superseded by antitypes, events or aspects of Christ or his revelation described in the New Testament.

Jesus told the Pharisees in John 5:39-40,45-46:

39. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

45. Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

So if you or I read Moses and we don't see Jesus in what he wrote, Moses will accuse us of missing the whole point of what he wrote that was supposed to lead us to eternal life. I can't afford to do that. Can you?

For Adam as a type of Christ

1 Corinthians 15:45-49

Christ as the last Adam. Adam is the first man and Christ is the second man. I think this verse gives me the latitude to say Christ is the second Adam, bit if you disagree read my post with the words last Adam instead.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22

Romans 5:12-19

Both of these passages show either by contrast or by similarity to how Christ's uniquely fulfills the role that Adam was supposed to fulfill, but failed at. Christ is the antitype of Adam according to Paul's teaching.

For Noah as a type of Christ

1 Peter 3:18-22

"By like figure" is Peter's way of saying baptism and the resurrection of Christ is the antitype of Noah and his household being saved in the Arc.

The bronze serpent Moses lifted in the wilderness is a type of Christ on the cross. Numbers 21:6-9. John 3:14-15

Sarah and Hagar are types of the Old Covenant of the Law and the New Covenant of grace. Galatians 4:21-31. Paul calls this an allegory, but he uses it extensively for his doctrine.

John 12:32

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

See Numbers 21:8 and 21:9

I don't need to defend this. I just remembered something from 30 years ago. That's all. Even Wesley agrees:

Numbers 21:8

A fiery serpent - That is, the figure of a serpent in brass, which is of a fiery colour. This would require some time: God would not speedily take off the judgment, because he saw they were not throughly humbled. Upon a pole - That the people might see it from all parts of the camp, and therefore the pole must be high, and the serpent large. When he looketh - This method of cure was prescribed, that it might appear to be God's own work, and not the effect of nature or art: and that it might be an eminent type of our salvation by Christ. The serpent signified Christ, who was in the likeness of sinful flesh, though without sin, as this brazen serpent had the outward shape, but not the inward poison, of the other serpents: the pole resembled the cross upon which Christ was lifted up for our salvation: and looking up to it designed our believing in Christ.

There are 27 scriptures that say it was a cross. Only 2 say Pole

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Galatians 5:11

And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Galatians 6:14

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Ephesians 2:16

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Philippians 2:8

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 3:18

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Colossians 1:20

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Colossians 2:14

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

*Next 2 verses referring to Jesus

Numbers 21:8

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a POLE: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, SHALL LIVE.

Numbers 21:9

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, HE LIVED.

Hi phillip You got to love the fact that God new if someone would be sent to nineveh they would believe because God



doesn't do anything haphazardly specifically making a living submarine for Jonah and like you said right place right time. The same in our lives as we believe and walk, God will deliver right place and time. Thanks phillip

Phillip The statement that God gave permission is really true because the enemy has to work within the boundaries that God set up, when The true God lifts his hand of grace and protection the enemy goes to work. Everytime the children of Israel rebelled and went after idolatry even after all the warnings Gods hands were tied because of their choice of sin witch eventually leads to destruction and death. When they rebelled and murmured against moses same deal.

Re. Numbers 21:6 = And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Of great interest, even though the term "fiery" reads like an adjective in the English, it actually translates from the Hebrew noun saraph (Eng. transliteration; pronounced "saw-RAWF").

The same Hebrew word translated here into "fiery" also translates into the word "seraphims" twice in Isaiah (note: the modern proper spelling of this plural noun is "seraphim").

In Isaiah, the term "seraphim" identifies a certain class of angelic entities of whom Prophet Isaiah witnessed as recorded in Isaiah Chapter Six. Other than having "six wings " ( Isa. 6:2), Isaiah provided no additional information regarding their personal appearance.

If Isaiah witnessed the holy seraphim honoring and praising JEHOVAH GOD, Bible students must also conclude a certain number of seraphim followed Satan in his rebellion and fall.

The very Hebrew word "saraph" literally means "the burning ones". If these angelic seraphim have a visual appearance of fire (cp. 2Ki. 6:17), then these "fiery serpents" may have been demonic in nature. It is not considered a stretch to wonder if GOD gave seraph demons permission to punitively torment the Israelites much like HE gave Satan permission to test Job ( Job 1:12; 2:6).

If this scenario were true, then the term "fiery" may describe their visual nature and appearance rather than the painful intensity of their bite.

Since GOD's Word contains no coincidences, and HIS Word communicates HIS earthly and Heavenly Designs, Purposes, and Will, then Bible students, expounders, hermeneutics, and commentarians simply cannot overlook and ignore the terminology of the word "fiery" in this context. It certainly demands deep examination and exploration while avoiding being overly dogmatic.

The bite of these "fiery serpents" typifies "the fiery darts of the wicked" ( Eph. 6:16).

Re. Numbers 21:6 = And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

The descriptive word "fiery" implies these "serpents" were far more sinister than the common venomous snake indigenous to the area. These were very out-of-the-ordinary serpents indeed.

Did The LORD especially prepare these "fiery serpents", much like when HE caused the "great fish" to swallow Jonah? Both events describe The LORD's punitive discipline.

Of note, the great fish did not swallow Jonah out of mere opportunity simply because it was in Jonah's immediate proximity. Rather, "The LORD prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah" ( Jon. 1:17). The "great fish" and Jonah were put there together by DIVINE Appointment because GOD put them there in precisely the same vicinity, and at precisely the same time.

In like manner, these "fiery serpents" did not invade the camp of the Israelites by happenstance of their own accord, for "The LORD sent [them] among the people" (v.6).

If the word "fiery" qualifies the bite of these serpents as exceedingly severe beyond the norm, then these were out-of-the-ordinary serpents indeed. This implies these serpents were not of the type the Israelites would have ordinarily encountered during their trek across the wilderness.

Moreover, the "fiery serpent of brass" which Moses manufactured and erected upon a pole (v.8) more likely represented their fiery visual appearance rather than the severity of their bite.

Thank you Sacha. I'm familiar with that account in Numbers 21:5-9 & 2 Kings 18:1-4. I see that you understand this account of the brazen serpent as becoming an idol to the children of Israel, which was subsequently destroyed by King Hezekiah. And you are correct, in part.

However, when Jesus referred to this brazen serpent in John 3:11-15, He spoke of the reason why the brazen serpent on the pole was constructed in the first place (i.e. in Numbers 21) & that it was for the same reason that He was referring to it now (i.e. in John's Gospel). And the reason was that, as the Israelites were condemned to death for their complaining & unbelief, so too are each one of us condemned to death for our unbelief & rejection of God. The only way the Israelites could find 'life' was to gaze upon that serpent on the pole (i.e. they needed to express faith in God & not murmur against Him in unbelief). And the only way for the unbeliever, post-Cross, to find 'life' is to gaze upon Jesus on the Cross.

These accounts are given to show that faith & belief in what God has provided are needed to gain 'life' & not death. It was not meant to show the wrong worship of an idol (which is of course why Hezekiah ultimately destroyed it). Jesus can be worshipped whether He is on the Cross (as we come in repentance & faith), or in Heaven (seated at the Father's right Hand) in full equality with the Father but now as reigning as the Word made flesh & in resurrection glory. So the point of Jesus' message was: 'as the serpent was raised up & those who looked upon it in faith, survived, so also Jesus was raised on the Cross for the faithless ones to look upon Him & live. At least that is my understanding of His Message.

Hi Sacha,

You are welcome. I am sorry that you were ill, but I believe it that it could not have been caused by this 'virus'. I cannot trust this world that is under the rule of Satan, which calls evil good and good evil, furthers evil and hates what is holy. There is also the origin of the word 'pharmacy' coming pharmakon meaning 'magician' or 'sorcerer' in Strong's concordance. A recognisable symbol of medicine is the one where there are either two snakes on a pole with 'wings' or one snake on a pole, which I believe is a blasphemous reference to Jesus based on the brazen serpent Moses made in the wilderness for the Israelites ( Numbers 21:4-9).

God bless you.

BRENDLYN:

Genesis 35:10. And God said unto him, Thy name shall not be called ANYMORE Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and He called his name Israel.

You'll want to read all of that about the inheritance.

Why did the the bible refer to Israel as a person?

Yes, as Jesus also used this event in Numbers to speak of Himself in Jn 3:14,15. The Numbers account would make the serpent an idol, if it was worshipped. I believe worship didn't take place, only if those bitten by the physical snakes, would express faith in God's provision of a serpent on a pole, would they experience healing from the wound.

This speaks to me that there could have been some there who despised God & Moses to such an extent, that even though they got bitten, they would have refused to look upon the snake on the pole, as if to say, "I don't believe in this God of Israel or His servant Moses, so I would rather die than submit". This is the same stubbornness that grips the unsaved: they hear of God's love, they hear of the Sacrifice of His Son for sin, but refuse to look upon Him in faith for spiritual healing, simply because they don't believe in His Plan & would rather perish in hell than submit to the Holy One.