{"id":1223,"date":"2016-12-02T03:04:47","date_gmt":"2016-12-02T03:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/takingeverythoughtcaptivetoobeychrist.wordpress.com\/?p=1223"},"modified":"2016-12-02T03:04:47","modified_gmt":"2016-12-02T03:04:47","slug":"a-serpent-and-a-savior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/a-serpent-and-a-savior\/","title":{"rendered":"A Serpent and a Savior"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cFrom Mount <\/span>Hor<\/span> they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, \u2018Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.\u2019 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, \u2018We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.\u2019 So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, \u2018Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.\u2019 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.\u201d + Numbers 21v4-9<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/span>This is a fascinating Old Testament narrative that is far more than just a narrative. In these few short verses we see a glorious snapshot of the gospel. There are three main turning points: Israel\u2019s sin, God\u2019s judgement, and God\u2019s salvation.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Israel\u2019s response to God\u2019s unmerited mercy and continued goodness toward them in guiding, protecting, and sustaining them is sin. They become impatient a<\/span>long the way. In their impatience<\/span> they speak out against God and against God\u2019s ordained leader for them \u2013 Moses.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>God\u2019s initial response to Israel is judgment. This is the proper response. A holy, righteous, and good God has no obligation to show mercy to rebellious sinners. In fact, God\u2019s one obligation to sinners is judgment. God must punish sinners in their sin or he negates<\/span> his<\/span> holy, righteous, and good character. So God\u2019s righteous wrath is poured out on the Israelites in the form of poisonous snakes. The snakes bite the people, and the people get sick and some die. God is fulfilling his only obligation to man.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Howe<\/span>ver, God has revealed himself to be<\/span> not only a God of justice, but also of mercy. This, he does not owe to sinners. Yet he freely gives of his own accord. His mercy he reveals in the form of a bronze serpent which Moses crafts with his hands. All who look to this bronze serpent are healed from the snake bites and live.<\/span> God provides a provision for his people. He provides salvation.<\/span><\/p>\n

This narrative shouts forth the gospel message. We are sinners who stand under the wrath and condemnation of God, due to our being sinners. We are rebellious sinners who are owed judgment. A holy, righteous, and good God is obligated to judge us. He must. As we saw in the narrative of snakes killing the Israelites, and as we read in Romans 6v23, \u201c\u2026the wages of sin is death\u2026\u201d But Romans 6v23 doesn\u2019t end there. \u201cFor the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.\u201d God has made a provision for his people. He has done so through His son Jesus Christ. Jesus himself said this was his purpose. John 3v14-15, \u201cAnd as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.\u201d Jesus seemed to know the purpose of the of the serpent narrative in Numbers \u2013 to point forward to himself. <\/span><\/p>\n

As we look at the bronze serpent which provided a temporary salvation for Israel, w<\/span>e look through it to Christ, who, when<\/span> raised up on the cros<\/span>s for the sins of many, provided<\/span> a <\/span>permanent <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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salvation for his people. In Numbers 21, God is preparing us for the greater salvation to come in Christ.<\/p>\n

<\/span> <\/span>As sinners, when we sin, we are drinking down poison that will kill us, much like the Israelites <\/span>who were <\/span>infected with the poison of the serpents. As sinners, when we look to Christ, raised on the cross, we gain an eternal salvation in Christ \u2013 a much better salvation than the kind God provided through the bronze serpent.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>God is in the business of making provisions for his people. He has done so, emphatically, in Christ. Look to Christ, his life, his blood, his outstretched hands, his pierced body, his gushing side, and find life. Look to his resurrection, his ascension to the right hand of the Father, his interceding for his elect, <\/span>his impending return, and live.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.\u201d + John 3v14-15<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cFrom Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, \u2018Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[274,557,562,678,679,687,698,699,875,1066,1099,1115],"class_list":{"0":"post-1223","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized","7":"tag-christ","8":"tag-god","9":"tag-gospel","10":"tag-jenkins","11":"tag-jesus","12":"tag-john","13":"tag-josh","14":"tag-joshua","15":"tag-numbers","16":"tag-romans","17":"tag-savior","18":"tag-serpent","19":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3787,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/sinners-serpents-and-salvation-john-314-15\/","url_meta":{"origin":1223,"position":0},"title":"Sinners, Serpents, and Salvation: John 3:14-15","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"June 24, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"14\u00a0And\u00a0as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man\u00a0be lifted up,\u00a015\u00a0that whoever believes\u00a0in him\u00a0may have eternal life. Before we jump into verse 14-15 and it's Old Testament reference, Numbers 21, let us take a moment to connect it to its immediate context (Click here\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/06\/745px-esteban_march_-_moses_and_the_brazen_serpent_-_google_art_project.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/06\/745px-esteban_march_-_moses_and_the_brazen_serpent_-_google_art_project.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/06\/745px-esteban_march_-_moses_and_the_brazen_serpent_-_google_art_project.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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"Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/08\/MOSHED-2022-8-15-10-2-57.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/08\/MOSHED-2022-8-15-10-2-57.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/08\/MOSHED-2022-8-15-10-2-57.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5098,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/grabbing-a-snake-by-the-tail\/","url_meta":{"origin":1223,"position":2},"title":"Grabbing a Snake by the Tail","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"July 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Then Moses answered, \u201cBut behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, \u2018The\u00a0Lord\u00a0did not appear to you.\u2019\u201d\u00a02\u00a0The\u00a0Lord\u00a0said to him, \u201cWhat is that in your hand?\u201d He said,\u00a0\u201cA staff.\u201d\u00a03\u00a0And he said, \u201cThrow it on the ground.\u201d So he threw it on the ground, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/07\/MOSHED-2022-7-18-11-33-28.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/07\/MOSHED-2022-7-18-11-33-28.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/07\/MOSHED-2022-7-18-11-33-28.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/07\/MOSHED-2022-7-18-11-33-28.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/07\/MOSHED-2022-7-18-11-33-28.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/07\/MOSHED-2022-7-18-11-33-28.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6277,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/renewing-the-covenant\/","url_meta":{"origin":1223,"position":3},"title":"Renewing the Covenant","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"February 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Click HERE for sermon audio The\u00a0Lord\u00a0said to Moses,\u00a0\u201cCut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first,\u00a0and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets,\u00a0which you broke.\u00a02\u00a0Be ready by the morning, and come up in 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Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with\u00a0the staff of God in my hand.\u201d\u00a010\u00a0So\u00a0Joshua did as Moses told him,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/01\/Mosesraisesstaff-770x439_c.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/01\/Mosesraisesstaff-770x439_c.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/01\/Mosesraisesstaff-770x439_c.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/01\/Mosesraisesstaff-770x439_c.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6478,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-victory-of-christ-in-psalm-91\/","url_meta":{"origin":1223,"position":5},"title":"The Victory of Christ in Psalm 91","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"May 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Click HERE for sermon audio He who dwells in\u00a0the shelter of the Most High \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0will abide in\u00a0the shadow of the Almighty. 2\u00a0I will say[a]\u00a0to the\u00a0Lord, \u201cMy\u00a0refuge and my\u00a0fortress, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0my God, in whom I\u00a0trust.\u201d 3\u00a0For he will deliver you from\u00a0the snare of the fowler \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and from the deadly pestilence. 4\u00a0He will\u00a0cover\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/05\/B001232_St-George-slaying-the-dragon.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/685"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1223"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1223\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}