They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭16‬
[Jesus speaking]
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

A little research shows that the Canaanite king of Arad who attacked the Israelites and captured some of them in the first part of Numbers 21, lived in Negev. Negev was in the southern wasteland under Beersheba. So they likely traveled from there, up and over Mount Hor and into the province or area of Edom. This was about a 50 mile trek. If it was all flatlands, it would likely take about 8 to 10 days. But going up and down the mountain might have added 4-5 days to this trip. After today’s text, the Israelites went on to defeat King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. These were major victories for them.

In this passage, we find the Israelites in a place of hardship. They had traveled 15 days out of the desert, up and over a mountain, and had run out of food and water. They were worn out, hungry, and their faith was wavering. The common term “Hangry” (a combination of hungry and angry) comes to mind. If ever there was a time to justify being Hangry, this might be the one.

Have you been in this position or do you know someone who is? It is hard to understand, when following God, why times come when it seems that everything that can go wrong, does, and we are left “hung out to dry”?

But God was having none of it! He expected more faith than what his people demonstrated. When they became impatient and spoke against God and Moses, who had a history of delivering them from desperate situations, they went a step too far.

So God judged them. He sent venomous snakes, who bit the people, and many died. Then the people repented and asked Moses for help. (The one they blamed before, was now the one they asked for help from.)

God provided for them by telling Moses to make a snake figure on a pole. He said anyone who looked at the snake after being bit would live. And they did.

A few things I notice about this story: 1) God let the Israelites choose whether or not they would be faithful to him and trust him in the trial. He does this with us too. 2) The Israelites insulted God’s past faithfulness and that of God’s mouthpiece, Moses, and rebelled against him. In doing so, they got a just judgement. 3). God was gracious too, and once they repented he made a way out for them. They had to look upon the bronze serpent on a stick.

Jesus compared what he did on the cross to looking upon the bronze serpent, and how all mankind who believe in him will be saved. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of our faith.” So it sounds like a good part of faith is fixing our eyes on Jesus. Fixing is a state of permanence. It is not just a gaze or glance.

This also reminds me of the story of Peter in the boat when he asked Jesus to call him to walk on water. At first he succeeds when his eyes are fixed on Jesus; but then, when he notices the wind and the waves and takes his eyes off of Jesus, he begins to sink.

A.W. Tozer, in his book The Pursuit of God, says this: “When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on earth.” We have the beautiful opportunity to meet the Almighty God of the Universe in our hearts. We just have to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus!

Lord, teach me to fix my eyes on you in the challenges and situations of my life. You always give me the energy and power to excel!