Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole and everyone who is bitten when he sees it shall live. Numbers 21.8
This past week, I had an interesting experience as I intently focused upon the majesty of Jesus. As my attention was fixed upon Him, I was totally unaware of anything else. When my thoughts shifted, I become aware of a pain in my back that had been bothering me for some days, and immediately was prompted by the Holy Spirit of the above scripture.
Let’s consider the word “sees” from verse eight . This word speaks to revelatory seeing. We understand the serpent was a type and shadow of the sin Jesus became for us. Anyone bitten was to be healed as he “sees”. A personal revelation of Jesus offered as the lamb slain from the foundation of the world, becoming sin, and His flesh being the bread that gives us life is the first step towards healing.
Verse nine ~
So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would “look” at the bronze serpent and live.
The second word “look” from verse 9 means, to look upon, pay attention to, consider, to look intently at. So this is so much more than a race to the pole see the snake and live, this is a focused determination, in the midst of chaos you have to stand to focus your attention on this snake. I heard a preacher paint a picture of the chaos in this setting. Snakes loosed in the camp, everyone running around, moms screaming, children crying, people dying, soldiers killing snakes: Pandemonium. In the midst of which one had to “hold” the revelation that this pole, with a snake on it, would heal you IF you looked on it intently.
Can you imagine the pressure to stand and stare at a snake with that crazy scenario taking place? Can you imagine the fear and panic that had to be overcome to do that? Yet it was required to focus, consider and look intently upon this serpent (sin).
One ‘seeing’ produces a hope for salvation and healing, the other works genuine repentance as sorrow fills the heart over the evil committed. Both benefit healing and life.
Today, we have the same offer for healing. Jesus Christ crucified, has born our sicknesses and carried our diseases and by his stripes we were healed. We are to live from this revelation and as we look at his cross, death and resurrection, understand all He has provided.
As we behold him, there is freedom and we live.