The Power of the Bronze Snake
Posted: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
by Swapna Nanda
This is a true story from the Old Testament which foretells about the BEST event which took place years later in the New Testament.
The Israelites, after being delivered by God were traveling through the wilderness towards Canaan. On the way they came across many difficulties and barriers. In every situation, God helped them and provided all their needs. He provided water, food, shelter, security etc. Yet the people were always ungrateful and disobedient and adamant. They were not willing to adhere to the laws of living given by God. Each time they would grumble and accuse God for even a tiny difficulty. Automatically for disobedience, they had to go through punishment too, because the Loving God also punishes in order to discipline His people.
When the next person was bitten, they quickly carried him to the foot of the pole hoisting the bronze snake. The person looked with a repented heart at the bronze snake and was healed. Those who looked at the bronze snake did not die.
This event was again repeated in the New Testament when Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross at Calvary. The bronze snake symbolized the atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus Christ died on the cross, so that our sins will be forgiven and we will escape the punishment of hell. Those who look up to Jesus and believe in Him and repent of any volumes of sin, they will certainly not be punished but receive a new life. This is the true meaning of Good Friday.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Swapna, you have a great way of telling the truths of the bible in todays language. good job!Thank you Ken for reading the story and commenting. I am encouraged. Swapna
Thank you for this, Swapna. I have never really understood why God used the symbol of a snake for the people's healing. But after reading this, I think I do. Let me know if my thinking is correct. The snake symbolizes sin and when Jesus died on the cross, He was made to be sin for us. He not only took our punishment for sin, but was actually made to be sin, though He had never sinned. Thus the symbol of the snake makes sense.Am I seeing this properly?Yes of course Mr. David. He was made sin for us so that we will become righteous. thank you for your observation and opinion which makes it more easier for people to understand this great mystry of the Cross. In no other Faith do we see any Saviour taking away sin on himself. This was only in Jesus Christ. Thank you once again for your response. Regards, Swapna
Swapna, beautiful. You explained this truth so well. I would just add that it is interesting that the symbol for american medicine is a pole with a snake on it.Blessings to you! Keep them coming :-) TeresaSame here too. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Swapna, well explained and you have correlated old and new testament and expalined what Jesus did on the cross for us. Please explain more biblical truths in this manner to make people understand the hidden meaning of various passages found in the Bible. God bless you!
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