Numbers 21:8-9. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 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.
Often we talk about faith in terms of the amount of faith that we have. If only I had more faith. With enough faith you can do anything. I guess she just lacked the faith needed to have God act. But is this how faith actually works? Is God most concerned about the amount of faith that we have or is he more concerned about the object of our faith?
Think about the Israelites in the wilderness in Numbers 21. Their faithless grumbling against God’s provision led to fiery serpents entering the camp and biting the people. Then it says this – 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.
So let me ask you this – which of the Israelites had the most faith? Did those with greater faith receive a greater healing? No. Because it wasn’t about how well they looked, or how often they looked, or how long they looked; it was just IF they looked. Look at the bronze serpent and live.
1500 years later, Jesus would use this same story to describe saving faith in himself to Nicodemus.
John 3:14-15. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Whoever believes in him enough may have eternal life. NOPE.
Whoever believes in him the most may have eternal life. NOPE.
Whoever believes in him fully may have eternal life. NOPE.
Whoever believes in him completely may have eternal life. NOPE.
Whoever believes in him with all their heart may have eternal life. Still NOPE.
Whoever believes in him. PERIOD.
But what exactly are we looking at when we look at the bronze serpent on the pole? What exactly are we believing in when we believe in Jesus?
In Isaiah 6, fiery serpents or seraphs (same word) surround the throne of God crying, Holy, Holy, Holy. The fiery serpents God sent to destroy the Israelites represent his holiness. God’s holiness must destroy sin. But how can God destroy sin without destroying us? So Moses made a bronze serpent. Not a gold serpent of perfection or even a silver serpent of redemption. The serpent was made of bronze, the metal that represents humanity’s sinfulness. God’s holiness (fiery serpents) and man’s sinfulness (bronze) joined together on that pole. God’s holiness demands that our sinfulness be destroyed, but here in the wilderness this weaving of God and man, holiness and sinfulness, became their salvation. It became their very source of life.
And so it was on the cross. Jesus, the holiness of God colliding with the sinfulness of man. Jesus, our bronze serpent was bitten for us. HE is the object of our faith.
Do you want to have more faith? Then look at Christ more and your faith less. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. See his holiness colliding with your sin on the cross. Keep looking. Don’t stop. Move your gaze from yourself to the grace displayed on that pole. Now you’re living by faith. Now to live is Christ.
You: What is the object of your faith? Is it Christ? Or is it your faith?
You in Christ: Can you see yourself as united to the cross of Christ, every sin paid for?
Christ in you: How can you look at Christ today rather than your own faith?
To Live is Christ 