"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." [Num 21:9]
When Israel was wandering in the wilderness, and could not pass through Edom’s border, thus having to walk a longer route, it came to pass,
“[That] they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 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 worthless bread.” [Num 21:4-5]
Due to the difficulty and length of the journey, to the conditions surrounding them, Israel became discouraged. “The soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.” It was because of this, that they began to murmur and complain, and to speak against both Moses and God. Israel accused God of wanting to kill them, not for the first time, and they complained, (though their complaint was false), “there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this worthless bread.” The hardness of the path began to drag Israel down and they became discouraged, being brought to such a place that the miracles which once astonished them became the very thing they complained about. The blessing and provision of bread and of water – for they had both – was no longer to them a blessing but a curse as it were. As wrong as Israel’s attitude and complaints were, they are what they are. And perhaps there is a man or woman reading this today which has felt the tug and ache of discouragement. Perhaps you, dear reader, for all of life’s difficulties, have come today with a heavy heart, and the flesh has tempted you like Israel, with thoughts of complaining and accusations against God’s good character. But may you find admonishment and exhortation here, and may you stay your complaints against today’s circumstances a moment further, while we look upon the glorious answer for discouragement.
After Israel murmured, we read, “and The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” [Num 21:6] When Moses came to The LORD, bearing the repentance and confession of the people, “The LORD said unto Moses,”
“Make thee a bronze 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.” [Num 21:8-9]
Herein contained is the answer for discouragement. No matter the degree, no matter the source, no matter the surrounding circumstances and details – there is one, single answer for discouragement: beholding Jesus Christ. And no matter the person; whether from near or far away, this country or that, young or old, today or thousands of years ago – every person, regardless of their history and regardless of their present – the answer remains gloriously consistent: Jesus Christ. That admonition of God, “turn unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else,” [Isa 45:22] is the same admonition that we must continue to pursue: turning to and looking unto Jesus Christ. As Israel was told to gaze upon the serpent in faith, and so be healed, so too we must gaze upon Jesus Christ and the cross. Jesus explains in John 3 how this account in numbers typologically points to Him and the cross, and so as the people looked upon the bronze serpent on the pole to be healed, even so presently we must look unto the cross of Jesus Christ to be saved, and to continue experiencing salvation/deliverance: for we are told, “[God has] delivered us from so great a death, and continues to deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.” [2 Cor 1:10] This simple gazing upon Jesus Christ in faith is the very thing that provides not just initial salvation from sin, but ongoing and practical/tangible deliverance from sin. Paul wrote,
“…I declare unto you the gospel…by which also you are being saved, if ye hold fast what I preached unto you…how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” [1 Cor 15:1-4]
That simple clinging to and gazing upon the pure gospel is what continues to give us strength and victory day-by-day. So then, if we find ourselves discouraged, let us look unto Jesus. Let us behold Him on the cross afresh, dying for our sins and accomplishing our salvation. Let us do as we are admonished, “consider Him that endured such hostility of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your souls.” [Heb 12:3] For it is Jesus Christ and His cross, and our simple gaze thereat, which shall save us from even the deepest discouragement.
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