As Moses lifted up the serpent

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. 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. – Numbers 21.8-9

No one who was there could possibly have imagined the importance of this event as a picture of the future. The Israelites were punished for their incessant sin by having venomous servants released would dii. But, in the midst of God’s wrath he showed mercy.

God told Moses to make a fiery serpent and set up on a pole. If anyone was bitten by the snakes he could lift up his eyes and look at the serpent and he would live.

It was a simple as ‘look and live’ to be delivered.

Jesus made the application in His dialogue with Nicodemus in John 3. He shared how the way of salvation today was the same as it was for the Israelites in the wilderness. 

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’

There was nothing the Israelites could do to be saved but look up the serpent. There is no way of salvation today except to look up to Christ on the cross believing that He paid the price for our sin.

There is a great old hymn that I haven’t heard in ages. It is a lovely reminder of the worlds, and our, need to look and live.

I’ve a message from the Lord, hallelujah!

This message unto you I’ll give,

’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!

It is only that you “look and live.”

Refrain:

“Look and live,” my brother, live,

Look to Jesus now, and live;

’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!

It is only that you “look and live.”

I’ve a message full of love, hallelujah!

A message, O my friend, for you,

’Tis a message from above, hallelujah!

Jesus said it, and I know ’tis true.

Life is offered unto you, hallelujah!

Eternal life thy soul shall have,

If you’ll only look to Him, hallelujah!

Look to Jesus who alone can save.

I will tell you how I came, hallelujah!

To Jesus when He made me whole—

’Twas believing on His name, hallelujah!

I trusted and He saved my soul.

- William A. Ogden, 1887