Lifted UP

(Excerpt from Adventure in Biblical Thinking Study Series, Volume 1, 2021)

We will begin with a short story within a larger story which is actually part of a greater story. Explanation: the short story, of the serpent, takes place in the larger story, children of Israel in the wilderness, which is included in the greater story, the Word of God.

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived (Numbers 21:4-9).

The main characters in the story are the people, the serpents, Moses and God. The event is the people are grumbling about the conditions. They accuse Moses and God of bringing them into the wilderness to die and they loatheth manna.

The Lord’s response was to send a judgment of poisonous snakes among the people and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. The people wisely repented and asked Moses for help. Moses responded by making a bronze serpent and putting it on a pole so that it was lifted high and could be easily seen. Then an amazing thing happened, if a person would look at the bronze serpent as Moses had told them: any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

This is an interesting short story but there were many short stories that could be pulled out of the larger wilderness story. What is the significance of this story?

The significance of this story is Jesus referred to this story in John chapter three where we have the story about Nicodemus, being born again and the precious John 3:16 verse. Let’s look at Jesus’ reference to the serpent.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:14-15).

We notice the word: as. This little word tells that two things have a similarity. What two things?   Moses lifted up the serpent and the Son of man be lifted up There is an equivalency to be explored. The result of looking upon the serpent by the person who was bitten was he lived.  The result of looking unto Jesus and believing is eternal life. A.W. Tozer explains this equivalence in a scenario that occurs when person is looking at the verses, John 3:14-15 and rightly concludes:

Our plain man, in reading this, would make an important discovery. He would notice that look and believe are synonymous terms. “Looking” on the Old Testament serpent is identical with “believing” on the New Testament Christ. That is, the looking and believing are the same thing. And he would understand that, while Israel looked with external eyes, believing is done with the heart. I think he would conclude that that faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God. (p. 295).

Now is good time to look closely at John 3:16.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Here is a sobering thought. What happened to those who were bitten by the serpent? They died. What happens to those who do not believe on the only begotten Son (Jesus)? They perish. In each situation a choice is made. A decision is made. There is an “either/or”. To look or not look. To believe or not believe. Here is a confirming verse:

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36).

I pondered why the Lord did not just eliminate the serpents. Then I realized that the continued presence and threat of the serpents met another parallel in the verses. Judgment and death, as represented by the presence of the serpents, still reigns in this present world setting, where belief in Jesus is offered as the rescue.

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).

Picture this: A wilderness camp with a mass of people and in their midst are poisonous serpents going about biting the people resulting in their death. Picture this: A world full of people all who are on their way to perishing because they were born sinners and therefore under the wrath of God. Both are hopeless scenes except for the repenting heart that will look or believe.

People in the wilderness camp “whoever” would look to the brass serpent that was lifted up would not die. People in the world “whoever” would look to Jesus who was lifted up and believe they would not perish but they would have eternal life. The message is look and see and believe.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9).

It is easy to visualize a brass serpent lifted up on a tall pole. It was easy for anyone to see. But what does Jesus lifted up mean? The first image that may come to mind is Jesus lifted up on the cross. However, at the resurrection He was lifted up from death. Later at the ascension He was lifted up into heaven. I am inclined to believe that the lifted up includes all three of these events but also probably more. Jesus said:

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me (John 12:32).

When someone or something is lifted up, it is above.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name (Philippians 2:9).

Something else to think about: The time frame. These verses in John 3 where Jesus is speaking all take place before the cross, the resurrection, or the ascension. Jesus is revealing His plan for providing salvation and eternal life to “whosoever”. You and me!

More adventures in Biblical thinking about lifted up.

These exercises can be used for reflection on the content of this adventure in Biblical thinking or they could be used as discussion starters for a small group Bible study.

1. Can you think of a time when you suddenly looked up and saw something that previously you had been unaware? How about the stars or moon? Other examples?
2. Think about times when you have been lifted up. Can you name them. Examples: elevator, air plane.
3. Think about looking and seeing with the eyes of your heart. pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18 NASB). Can you relate to any personal experience like this?
4. Reflect on the either/or factor demonstrated in this adventure of looking or not looking and believing or not believing. Think about the stark difference.

Tozer, A. W., (2018). Three spiritual classics in one volume, Moody Publisher, Chicago.