Snake On A Pole

In the Old Testament, there is a scene in the desert where the nation of Israel began complaining to Moses about the miraculous food (manna) that God provided for them. 

“Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness? There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” (Numbers 21:4-5).

Because of their ungrateful hearts, God punished them severely. He sent poisonous snakes among them! And whoever was bitten immediately died. When the people realized they sinned against the Lord, they begged Moses to help.

“We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.”  (Numbers 21:6-7).

Moses prayed, and then God decided to provide a way out for them - a way of rescuing them - a way of healing them. He instructed Moses to do something very strange. 

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, they lived. (Numbers 21:8-9)

In the New Testament, the Apostle John compares this story as a comparison to what Jesus did for us. The snake on a pole was obviously a miracle of healing, saving the people. But secondly, and more importantly, it was a pre-figure, a model, of what Jesus did on the cross! 

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:14-16). 

There are several parallels that John makes between the snake on a pole and Jesus: 

Both resulted from a fall from God

Both provided a way people can be saved

Both provided healing

Both required faith, believing they would be saved

Both were present in a poisonous environment

Both were lifted up on a pole

Both are the source of life

So from now on, when you hear the story of the snake on a pole, let it remind you of Jesus and how he saves you. And may your eyes continue to look toward Him, for healing and for forgiveness. 

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

It's interesting where the bronze snake that Moses made ended up. We find it in the Bible about 700 years later! It's in the time of King Hezekiah. By that time, it had become an object of idol worship. King Hezekiah wanted to do what was right in the sight of God, so he got rid of all the false idols, destroyed the sacred stones, cut down the Asherah poles, and smashed the snake on a pole to pieces! 

"He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it." (2 Kings 18:4). 

It makes you wonder, if we had a piece of the actual cross, or the ark of the covenant, or a part of Noah's ark today, would we turn them into idols and worship them more than God Himself? Maybe there's a good reason we don't have such things.

And finally, have you recognized the medical symbol that's often found on doctor and nurse's uniforms? Yes -- it's a snake on a pole! A symbol of healing. Where do you think that image, that symbol of healing, originated? I think you know.