Look and live • Deshen Daily

And as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of man be lifted. (John 3:14, KJV)

Let’s journey back to an extraordinary event that unfolded in the wilderness. The Israelites faced a life-or-death decision dictated by whether they chose to look upon a bronze serpent. This peculiar narrative finds new life in the New Testament, where Jesus parallels it with His crucifixion.

The tale of venomous serpents in the desert, unsettling as it is, harbors prophetic implications. Following a transgression by the Israelites, God responded with a swarm of deadly snakes. Amidst the ensuing suffering, God commanded Moses to craft a bronze serpent and raise it on a pole. Then came an instruction that seemed bizarre but held profound spiritual significance: those bitten were to look upon the bronze serpent, a simple act promising life while ignoring this directive spelled certain death.

While the text leaves it unsaid, we can infer that some Israelites, possibly skeptical or unable to fathom the connection between gazing at an image and a miraculous cure, opted not to look, ultimately succumbing to their deadly snake bites. Whether grounded in theological doubt or not, their reasons led them to disregard God’s command, costing them their lives.

In the New Testament, Jesus recasts this narrative, aligning the act of looking at the bronze serpent with faith in Him. The Son of Man lifted on the cross, offers salvation to all who look upon—believe in—Him. This echoes God’s clear message to humanity: look upon my Son on the cross and live.

We, as believers, have already looked and, therefore, we live! We must maintain our gaze on Jesus, irrespective of our circumstances. With our eyes steadfastly on Him, we can confidently face and overcome life’s challenges!

Meditate

Consider why God elected to use the snake symbol to represent Jesus on the cross. Contemplate the significance of what occurred when Jesus was crucified. (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Apply the Word

Stand fast in your faith, keeping your gaze firmly on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Stay firm in your unwavering belief in the Word of God.