There are two things that seem to characterize Christians in this closing time of the day of grace: weariness and discouragement. We find these also existed among the children of Israel in Numbers.
In the verses that follow, because of the people’s sin, fiery serpents come among the people and many die. But there was a remedy—only look upon the brass serpent (a type of Christ) and they would live. So, too, the remedy for our sin is found in Christ.
However, I would like to suggest another application of this portion. In Scripture, a serpent often pictures the enemy—Satan. Perhaps the people became vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy when their condition was one of discouragement and they no longer appreciated or enjoyed God’s gracious and full provision for them.
Attacks of the Enemy
So, too, I believe we Christians are more vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy when we get weary or discouraged. And though we still walk in flesh (2 Cor. 10:33For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (2 Corinthians 10:3)), we have to realize that our enemy will always try to give us wrong thoughts of God and the path of faith—the very thoughts that are prone to make us weary and discouraged. But let us remember that while we cannot prevent wrong thoughts from entering our minds, we can reject them—we can keep them from finding a place in our hearts and minds to take root.
Remember, too, the enemy may even try to fool us by using Scripture wrongly, as he did to the Lord Jesus (Matt. 4; Luke 4). If Scriptures that come to our minds are from the Lord, they ought to provide peace. Satan will never provide us with true peace. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:2727Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)).
Beloved brethren, let us consider, in view of our circumstances, the source of our thoughts related to them. Perhaps one may agonize over the future or have been hurt in a relationship. Maybe one has been stumbled by other believers. Perhaps you’re being tempted and pressured by the world. We read in 1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8), “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. ” There is a reason Scripture compares our enemy to the king of beasts. If you belong to the Lord, Satan will seek, at every opportunity, to destroy your testimony and your life. But there is every reason for encouragement, even in the darkest of times through which a believer may pass.
The Impossible Is Possible
How good to remember that “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:44Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)). It is not our portion to fight this enemy. “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle. . . . Stand . . . still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (2 Chron. 20:1717Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. (2 Chronicles 20:17)). We are to stand against his attacks of guile and subtlety by putting on the whole armor of God (see Eph. 6). In resisting the devil, he flees from us (James 4:77Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)). But it is our Lord that will fight the battle for us. “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chron. 20:1515And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. (2 Chronicles 20:15)).
M. Bruce (adapted)