Types of Redemption in the Old Testament
The Brazen Serpent
Numbers 21 - Background

1. We see again the complaints of Israel against God and against Moses. By doing so, they stepped out from under the hand of protection of God. They were no longer heeding the conditions that were stated in Exodus 15:26.
   Fiery serpents came and bit the people and many died.
   
   
2. We see in verse 7 that the people were quick to repent and they begged Moses to intercede for them.
   God instructs Moses to make a fiery / bronze serpent and to set it on a pole. So that everyone who sees it shall live.
• The serpent on the pole is a type of Christ on the cross. Everyone who looked at the cross would live.
• Numbers 21:8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! (NLT)
  
  
3. God strongly desires that His people would be living in fullness of health. That is why He made a way for the people of Israel. That is why He sent Jesus for us. The people were healed when they fixed their eyes on the serpent. What about us today? Today we have the real thing. The true and real Jesus. If we fix our eyes on Him, He heals us.
• Numbers 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze], he lived. (AMP)