Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:
But what about the one where God commands Moses to make a bronze serpent? How about the metal angels?
like i've posted.
I claim the post above to be my personal view.
And it is upon a protestant point of view which i stood by.
I suppose you are referring to these verses?
Interestingly the serpent in v.8 was referred to 1.serpent, fiery serpent
poisonous serpent (fiery from burning effect of poison) or 2. seraph, seraphim majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon God.
Verse 9 refers to 1.
Numbers 21:8 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.
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.
It is referenced also on
John 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
3:15 so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.
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Contextually,
the main subject is Moses, God and the isrealites.
The erection of the long brass pole which have the representation of a serpent bears little importance. Again, it comes to different emphasis of the verses.
A foreshadow of the Christ work.
Because Isrealites disobeyed God - they were judged and many died.
Because Moses prayed and interceded for the isrealites who sinned against God - God forgave them 'On the account of Moses intercession.
Because God forgave them - God commanded Mose to build a pole which bears the serpent.
Isrealites got healed not because of the pole - But because of the act of looking at the pole which
God have commanded.
Because by the act of trust and faith in God's command. They are healed.
Further notes
John Wesley's Explanatory Notes
A fiery serpent - That is, the figure of a serpent in brass, which is of a fiery colour.
This would require some time: God would not speedily take off the judgment, because he saw they were not throughly humbled.
Upon a pole - That the people might see it from all parts of the camp, and therefore the pole must be high, and the serpent large.
When he looketh - This method of cure was prescribed, that it might appear to be God's own work, and not the effect of nature or art: and that it might be an eminent type of our salvation by Christ.
The serpent signified Christ, who was in the likeness of sinful flesh, though without sin, as this brazen serpent had the outward shape, but not the inward poison, of the other serpents: the pole resembled the cross upon which Christ was lifted up for our salvation: and looking up to it designed our believing in Christ.