The Fiery Serpent in the Wilderness

Numbers 21:4-9
“4 And 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.
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.
6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
7 Therefore the people 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.
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.
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.”

The Israelites spoke against Adonai and against Moses saying the Manna from Adonai was “light bread”. This was a blasphemous thing to say to Adonai our Elohim, to call His Bread “light”.

In Hebrew, “light bread” is:
“Light” = “qeloqel” (kel-o-kale') miserable, contemptible, worthless, insubstantial, light.
“Bread” = “lechem” (lekh'-em)  bread, the ordinary food of early Hebrews.

They were saying the Manna which came from Adonai for their sustenance was miserable, contemptible, worthless, and insubstantial, ordinary food.

Because of the way they were talking about the Manna Adonai gave them to eat, they were sinning and showing dishonor and ungratefulness to what He had provided for them. They were wanting more, they were showing their greed and showed covetousness towards the other nations.

These are all against the commandments of Adonai:
Exodus 20:12, 17
“12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
“17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.”

Since they had sinned against the Torah of Adonai, they were chastised (punished) by Him. Adonai sent fiery serpents into their camp that bit them and killed them (verse 6). The children of Israel repented and came to Moses saying they had sinned in speaking against Adonai and Moses. They asked Moses to ask Adonai to take away the fiery serpents. Moses then prayed to Adonai (verse 7).

Instead of taking away the fiery serpents, Adonai kept them there but also gave them a way to stay alive. Adonai told Moses to make a fiery serpent and put it up on a pole in the camp so that when they were bitten by the fiery serpents they could look upon the serpent on the pole and they would not die (verses 8-9).

There are two different terms used for “fiery serpent” in these verses:
“Saraph”:
The term “fiery serpent” used in verse 6 in Hebrew is the word “saraph” (plural): burning, poisonous serpent; a saraph or symbolical creature (from their copper color) -- fiery serpent, seraph.
“Nachash”:
The term “fiery serpent” used in verse 9 in Hebrew is the word “nachash”: bronze image of serpent.

“Pole”:
The word “pole” used in verses 8-9 is the Hebrew word “nes”: pole, supporting serpent of bronze; miracle; banner, distinguishing mark, sail, signal, standard, warning. From “nacac” - a flag; also a sail; by implication, a flagstaff; generally a signal; figuratively, a token -- banner, pole, sail, (en-)sign, standard.

“Look upon”:
The term “look upon” used in verses 8-9 is the Hebrew word “nabat”: cause to behold, consider, look down in respect, regard, have respect, see; looking with consideration upon (a) Human subject.
A primitive root; to scan, i.e. Look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care -- (cause to) behold, consider.

This is why it is so important to research every word used in the Bible for its Hebrew meanings. These words have different meanings in Hebrew, and the Israelites understood them for which word was meant when it was spoken to them.

From this passage we can see:
1. The children of Israel sinned when they spoke against Adonai and against His chosen mediator Moses.
2. Adonai sent many fiery serpents (copper in color) to chastise the children of Israel for their sin in being disrespectful to Adonai (our Father Abba) and His chosen mediator.
3. These fiery serpents were sent to bite the children and many of the children of Israel died.
4. Only when the children repented of their sins and asked for forgiveness did Adonai send relief from the serpents through a bronze fiery serpent.
5. The bronze serpent was to be place on a “pole” – the banner of a miracle, a distinguishing mark and signal, it was a warning to the children of the standard that they would need to be saved from death.
6. When the children were bitten, they were to look upon the serpent on the pole and they would not die. They still were bitten, but they wouldn’t die from that bite if they were to look intently at, behold, have respect for, and look with consideration upon their Salvation (Human subject).

From this list we can see Yeshua in His True Glory:
1. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of Adonai:
a. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
b. 1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
2. Adonai chastises His children. If you are not chastised, you are not His children:
a. Hebrews 12:6-7 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”
3. From the fiery serpents we can see the enemy and how he poisons us with his lies and deceitful ways, deceiving us into disobeying Adonai’s Torah. We can also see our burning death if we choose not to repent for our sins and come back to Adonai and His Ways (His Torah).
4. Only when we realize we have sinned against Adonai and ask forgiveness for our sins can we be forgiven of our sins (transgressions against Adonai’s Torah).
5. The bronze fiery serpent placed on a “pole” – the banner of a miracle, a distinguishing mark and signal, a warning to the children of Israel of the standard that they would need to be saved from death – shows Yeshua and the kind of death He came to fulfill, death on the cross for our sins of transgressing Adonai’s Torah.
6. When we are bitten (when we sin against Adonai and His Torah) we are to look upon Yeshua and His death on the cross for our sins (serpent on the pole) and we will not die. We may still be bitten, but we won’t die from that bite if we look intently at, behold, have respect for, and look with consideration upon our Salvation (Yeshua - Human subject).

Yeshua came to pay our debt, the debt of our death because of our sins. He didn’t come to take sin away, He came to pay our death on the cross for our sins (transgressions against Adonai’s Torah). Sin is still sin, what Adonai said is sin in His Torah is still sin today and will always be sin. That will never change.

With all of this in mind, we can take a new look at the following passage…

John 3:9-18
“9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

In verse 14, we see Yeshua referring to the serpent in the wilderness. He is telling Nicodemus that the Son of man (Yeshua Himself) must be lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness was lifted up. The serpent was lifted up so that the children of Israel could look intently at, behold, have respect for, and look with consideration upon their Salvation and not die. Yeshua is showing us we can all look upon, have respect for, behold, look intently at Him with consideration for His death on the cross for our sins and we won’t die.

Verses 15-16 tell us that Adonai (Yeshua’s Abba/Father) loves us so much that He gave us Yeshua (His only Son). Yeshua is telling us that He wasn’t sent to condemn the world. Yeshua was sent so that, through Him, we can be saved. Yeshua is telling us we must believe on Him, that He is the Son of Adonai, and that He is our Salvation for our sins. He will keep us from dying for our sins if we believe He has died in our place for our sins, but we must repent and come back to Adonai and ask Yeshua for forgiveness and salvation. Those who don’t believe He is Adonai’s Son are condemned already.

John 12:23-36
 “23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.”

We are to Confess the Name of Yeshua:
1 John 4:1-6
“1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

We are to follow Yeshua (John 12:26 above). If we truly know Yeshua, we will keep His commandments (Torah – Yeshua is Torah in the flesh).
1 John 2:1-7
“1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.”

Yeshua Himself tells us we must keep Adonai’s commandments if we love Him:
John 14:15, 21
“15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
“21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
John 15:10
“10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.”

Adonai will show us mercy if we keep His commandments:
Exodus 20:6
“6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

This is part of Adonai’s first Ten Commandments:
Deuteronomy 5:6-10
“6 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.”

Still Some Won’t Believe:
John 12:37-50
“37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”

Yeshua spoke the Word of His Father (Torah), the commandment Adonai gave Him (verses 49-50 above) – Yeshua is the Word (Torah) in the flesh…
John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

This is the manner of love Abba has shown us, that He gave His only Son Yeshua to die for our sins of transgressing His Torah. We are to repent of our sins and purify ourselves by obeying Adonai’s Torah to the best of our human abilities with the help of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaChodesh)…

1 John 3:1-10
“1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

Are you a child of Adonai (Abba, our Father in Heaven) who does righteousness in following His Torah, who has the seed (the Ruach, Holy Spirit) of Abba in him (verse 9 above)?

Or, are you a child of the enemy (verse 10 above)?