The Beginning:
As Israel traveled through the wilderness, the journey became difficult and discouraging. The people spoke against God and against Moses, complaining about the hardship and the lack of food and water.
The Middle:
In response, the LORD sent venomous serpents among the people, and many were bitten and died. The people came to Moses, admitted they had sinned by speaking against the LORD and Moses, and asked him to intercede. Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD instructed him to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Anyone who was bitten could look at it and live.
The End:
Moses made the bronze serpent and lifted it up as commanded. When a serpent bit someone, that person looked at the bronze serpent and lived. The immediate crisis was relieved through the means God provided.
This account highlights God’s holiness and justice in responding to rebellion, while also showing His mercy in providing a way of deliverance. Healing was not achieved by human power but by trusting God’s word and turning to the provision He appointed. The story also anticipates later biblical reflection on God’s saving purposes, showing that life is granted through God’s initiative and a response of faith rather than self-reliance (cf. John 3:14–15).
Serpents were a familiar danger in the arid regions of the southern Levant, and snake imagery was widely recognized in the ancient Near East. The bronze serpent functions in the narrative as a God-appointed sign for healing, distinct from any magical practice, since its effectiveness depends on obedience to the LORD’s instruction.
“And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” — Numbers 21:9
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. What did the people of Israel do when the wilderness journey became difficult and discouraging?
2. According to the instructions given to Moses, what was someone who had been bitten supposed to do in order to live?