Has Christ Saved You from Your Snakes?

© 2021 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

A man I once knew told me about a deadly Central American snake where he’d lived.  I don’t remember its name but I do remember what he told me about it.  The local tribes, there, knew that one bitten by that snake would die within seconds.  There was only one hope of survival if one was bitten in the arm.  The arm had to be immediately amputated above the bite before poison spread to the rest of the body.  Tribesmen carried machetes which were used to accomplish this when necessary.

The Bible describes a time when God used poisonous snakes to bring judgment upon His disobedient people.

“And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.  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.” (Numbers 21:6-7)

In response, God gave the following instructions to Moses.

“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)

Centuries later, God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, showed that this “serpent in the wilderness” actually symbolized Himself.  He showed that, as “Son of Man,” His imminent death on the cross would fulfill this prophetic picture of redemption.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)

Why would Christ be pictured as an evil serpent on a pole?  Christ was bearing the punishment for the poison of His peoples’ sins.

“… Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: … Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:21-24)

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that saved people are looking unto Jesus for their salvation.

“… let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith …” (Hebrews 12:2)

Those who don’t shall face His eternal judgment.  Are you looking unto Jesus?

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