The book of Numbers picks up a full year after Israel’s exodus from Egypt. The law was put into practice. The tabernacle was completed, making way for Moses and the priests to communicate with God in His dwelling place. Unfortunately, even though God was present with the people, Israel still did not trust God. Upon receiving instruction to scout out the land God promised to fully give them, ten of the scouts brought a negative report, causing a ripple effect of doubt and rebellion throughout the camp.
The consequence for Israel’s rebellious complaining was a forty–year exile wandering in the wilderness. Israel was faithless to God, but God in his mercy upheld his promise for an inheritance in the land of Canaan. Today’s text brings us to the end of Israel’s forty years of wandering. They are only a few months away from victory in Jericho, but the people were once again found impatient, discontent, and grumbling.
Rebellion in the Camp
“The people spoke against God and Moses: ‘Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!’ ” – Numbers 21:5
A question was posed to me in church: “How could Israel continue to grumble and complain after forty years of experiencing God in the wilderness? Why did they not recognize what God gave them was better than what they demanded?”
Forty years of wandering and the people did not remember that Egypt was riddled with death and the very food they ate was manna from heaven. Instead, Israel rejected God’s bread from heaven. They found it contemptible and rejected God’s provision. This act of rebellion brought judgment into the camp.
In Exodus 15:26 God told Israel that if they did what was right in his sight, then they would not receive any illness that God inflicted on the Egyptians, for He was their healer. In Numbers 21, Israel did not stay true to the LORD. Their judgment took the form of the very creature that represented Egypt’s royalty, oppression, and power. A serpent was the crowning jewel upon Pharaoh’s head.
Salvation Provided
When our eyes are self–focused, we blame God and others for our circumstances. It was not until after many Israelites died that the people relinquished control and asked Moses to intercede on their behalf for God to remove the snakes from their midst. However, that is not how God decided to meet their need.
Holy God does not stand idly by as people reject Him. The consequence for sin is death, but God is rich in mercy. Salvation is for those who are in distress, for only the sick know they are in need of a physician (Luke 5:31). There is no need to be saved if you were never really in danger. So, instead of removing the fiery serpents, God offered a means for salvation. Anyone who was bitten could lift their eyes to the bronze snake and receive life. (Numb. 21:6-9)
Jesus Is the True and Better Israel
The Spirit of God drove Israel into the wilderness to redemptively herd them toward peace. They faced a constant battle with the temptation to allow pride and control to rule their lives. They failed to withstand it every time. In every way Israel failed to keep God’s covenant, Jesus perfectly fulfilled it.
Jesus was also driven by the Spirit into the wilderness. He fasted for forty days and was hungry; then, in his weakenedstate, the devil tempted him. Three times Satan tempted Jesus to rely on his flesh, commit idolatry, and put God the Father to the test. Each time Jesus withstood temptation, holding fast to Scripture (Luke 4:1-13).
Israel was on a journey to find a land of rest and never found lasting peace. At the end of his tempting, angelsbrought heavenly worship by serving Jesus, and the wild animals were with him (Mark 1:13). Jesus found Edenic rest in the middle of the wilderness. He resisted sin and withstood the attacks of the devil so that he could bring us into that same rest.
Jesus Is Our Salvation
A bronze snake mounted on a pole may seem like a pretty odd means of salvation, but it was designed to point us to the one who would be lifted on a wooden pole in order to crush the old serpent. Everyone born into the world is condemned due to their own sin. Jesus stepped down from heaven in order to extend saving grace.
The free gift of salvation is not complicated and is easily accessible, yet many keep their eyes averted from the cross. This is because pride and a desire for control have deep roots. Receiving light and life requires surrender. A surrendered heart of belief no longer lives under condemnation (Rom. 8:1), but is able to walk in the light and truth because God has accomplished salvation for us. (John 3:14-21)
Surrendered Response
Numbers 21:4-9 is the last record of wilderness grumbling. Those who recovered had their eyes opened to God’s provision. There would be future sin, but their past habitual sin was no longer Israel’s marking point as they entered Canaan. This time, repentance and recovery led to a changed heart.
When Israel left the place of fiery serpents, they were enroute to take possession of the promised land. This route led them to a well where the LORD told Moses to gather the people so that He could give them water (Numb. 21:16-17). It is here we are given Israel’s first recorded song of worship since they had left Egypt (Ex 15) in over forty years.
Man’s surrender to God’s salvation and provision results in worship. Grumbling and complaining had marked their lives, but now thanksgiving and praise flowed freely to the One who gave them water.
How will you respond to Christ’s work of salvation today? Grumbling, complaining, a desire for control, and pride do not stop rearing their ugly heads after salvation, but through Christ we are given the Spirit to resist sin. My prayer for you is that you will daily surrender yourselves to God and worship him through praise and thanksgiving.
