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Posts tagged ‘God’s redemption’

The Brass Serpent: A Precursor to Christ’s Redemption

THE BRASS SERPENT ON THE POLE Numbers chapter 21

The fiery serpents were venomous snakes that lived in the desert and wilderness. Some wonder why God told Moses to place a serpent on a pole, since the serpent is often seen as a symbol of evil and Satan (see Gen. 3:1; Isa. 27:1; Rev. 20:2), and had caused death to many who were bitten. Christ speaks of the brass serpent when He says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). Though He was perfect and without sin in His birth, life, and ministry, the sins of all humanity were placed on Him, much like the scapegoat bearing Israel’s sins on the Day of Atonement. The serpent’s image thus became a symbol of the ultimate sin offering being lifted up. Just as the fiery serpents brought death, unrepentant sin brings death to the soul. Only the cross can undo the serpent’s bite and restore life to those who look to Christ.
Two questions arise in this comparison:

  1. If gold symbolizes divinity, and the brass serpent represented Christ, why was it made of brass instead of gold?
    • First, brass symbolizes humanity, and Christ became flesh, taking on humanity to redeem mankind (see John 1:14)—hence the use of brass.
  2. If the lamb is Christ’s symbol of redemption, why was a serpent placed on the pole instead of a lamb?
    • Secondly, the serpent symbolizes sin, and Christ took on the sins of all humanity before His crucifixion. He served as a substitute, carrying our sins to the cross. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21). We read, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross…” (Col. 2:14).

Since brass symbolizes humanity and the serpent symbolizes sin, the serpent on the pole represents the sin of humanity, which Christ overcame and redeemed once and for all at the cross. Refer to the chart below.

The Brass SerpentThe Power of Jesus’ death on the cross
The people complained against God. (Num. 21:5) And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.The world was under sin and death (Rom 5:12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Fiery serpents bit the people (Num. 21:6) And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.The serpent introduced sin (Gen. 3:1-13)
Those bitten died (Num. 21:6) And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.Sin brought death (Rom. 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Moses made a brass serpent (Num. 21:8-9) And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.Christ in human form bore our sins (1 Pet. 2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Moses used a pole (Num. 21:8-9) And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.Christ died on a tree (1 Pet. 2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Those looking to the brass serpent were healed (Num. 21:9) And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.Those who believe in Christ are saved (Mark 16:16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

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bible, Bible Study, General Bible Study, Scriptural Articles

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Understanding Hosea: God’s Love and Redemption

Hosea
Hosea 3:1(NKJV)Then the LORD said to me again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans


Hosea is the first of 12 books known as the Minor Prophets. The term is used to identify the length of the books not their importance as prophets.

Author

  • Hosea whose name means ‘Salvation or Deliverance”
  • The prophet of love

Date

  • 750 B.C

Theme

  • The love of God and His yearning for His people to return to Him.
  • God’s love revealed through the Hosea’s love for an unfaithful wife.

Purpose

  • Hosea prophesies to the northern kingdom of Israel during the same time Isaiah primary prophesied to the southern kingdom of Judah.
  • His message came shortly before the fall of Samaria to Assyria.
  • Hosea was told to marry a woman who would be unfaithful to him. This was to demonstrate Israel’s unfaithfulness to God and God’s unfailing love to an idolatrous people.

Content

  • Hosea’s family life Hosea 1:1-3:5
    • Hosea 1:2,3(NKJV) When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD So, he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son
    • Hosea 3:1-3(NKJV) Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” So, I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot nor shall you have a man-so, too, will I be toward you.”
      • Speaks of redemptions
  • Israel’s sin Hosea 4:1-6:3
    • Hosea 4:1-3(NKJV) Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all
      restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore, the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
    • Hosea 4:6(NKJV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me, Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
    • Hosea 6:1,2(NKJV) Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us, He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up. That we may live in His sight.
  • Punishment for Israel’s disobedience Hosea 6:4-10:15
    • Hosea 8:1-3 (NKJV) Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the LORD, My law. Israel will cry to Me, My God, we know You!” Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him.
  • God’s judgment and mercy Hosea 11:1-14:9
    • Hosea 11:1-11
  • Christ in the Book of Hosea
    • Christ is the one who redeems us from the power of the grave through His death and resurrection.
      • Hosea 13:14(NKJV) I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”
      • Galatians 3:13(NKJV) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
      • Romans 5:8(NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
    • Jesus rose on the 3rd day.
      • Hosea 6:1,2(NKJV) Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us, He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up. That we may live in His sight.
      • 1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Old Testament Overview: Key Themes Explained

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Old Testament Survey, Scriptural Articles

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