The Bronze Serpent

On their way toward Canaan, the Israelites rebelled against God and were punished with deadly serpent bites, but God graciously provided a remedy for their afflictions.

So, while they wandered for 38 years, the LORD cared for His people, always providing food and water for them. They never lacked anything. Yet they complained several times.

Then, finally, the LORD sent them toward the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba (the southern end of Edom) to circumvent Edom, go around to the east side of the mountains, and prepare to enter the Promised Land.

But as they traveled, the people became impatient and complained against God and Moses again. “Did you bring us up from Egypt just to let us die out here in the desert? There’s no water! And we loathe this miserable food!”

The LORD had had enough. He sent poisonous snakes that bit the people, and many died.

Then, some of the people admitted to Moses, “We were wrong to speak against the LORD and against you. Pray to Him that He will take these snakes away.”

So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD answered: “Make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who is bitten can look at the snake and not die.”

Moses obeyed God, crafting a snake and mounting it high on a pole. Then, everyone who was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake lived. It was so simple. But faith is simple. They simply had to believe what God said (“Look at the bronze snake and live.”) was true.

After this, the LORD told Moses to head to the Abarim Mountains. There He would show Moses before he died the land He would give to the Israelites.

Moses was concerned for the people. He prayed, “O God, You know the hearts of all men. Appoint a leader for the people when I die so they won’t be like sheep without a shepherd.”

The LORD responded, “Joshua, the son of Nun, has the right kind of heart; he can do the job. Lay your hands on him and commission him before the people as their new leader. Let the Israelites know that they must obey him now.”