Numbers 21
KING Arad is like Satan, his master. He tries to stop, the progress of the people of God, and takes some of them prisoners. But when they ask help of God, He gives power against the enemy. Victory is more dangerous than defeat, however; and the people soon speak against God, and against His chosen leader. The lessons of the past have not been learned as they should, and therefore another lesson must be given to show that death is for them.
The Lord sent poisonous serpents among His people, which bit them dreadfully, so that many of them died. Then they came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us.” And Moses prayed for the people.
And the Lord told Moses to make a serpent of brass, and to put it on a pole, and that whosoever looked up at it, should live.
To us, the serpent of brass is a—figure of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was lifted up on the cross to make men well of the Serpent’s (Satan’s) deadly sting, and all who look to Him shall live eternally. A look to Jesus saves the soul for evermore, for it is eternal life He gives, and it is Satan’s power that He has destroyed.
But after this there is encouragement, and we find the people singing, and going on victoriously toward the home appointed for them.
ML 03/30/1924