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“They left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt round Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against Elohim and against Moshe, 'Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the desert? For there is neither food nor water here; we are sick of this meager diet.'

·         The Israelites lost patience.

·         They spoke against Elohim and Moshe.

·         They later regarded their actions as sin and thus repented.

·         Elohim sent serpents that bit and caused death.

·         Moshe was asked to “intercede.”

·         Moshe was asked by Yahweh to make and raise a fiery serpent.

·         All who looked on the serpent at Yahweh’s request survived the serpent’s bite of death.

This scenario mirrors our walk in the faith today.  We can lose patience, we can speak against Yahweh and Yahoshua Messiah, and we can repent and turn to the One Yahweh gave us to look upon and be healed of our death stings.

 Moshe was Israel’s intercessor, and was asked to make and hold up, a *standard  which points to Yahoshua, our standard  and our intercessor today.

 Yahweh provides a way to save us, that is, believing in Messiah Yahoshua, who was raised up for us to “look at.” Yahweh told us through him, we are saved.  By faith in Yahweh’s words, we do what he has told us, to save our very lives.

 Let’s look at some scripture about Messiah Yahoshua and see if he truly does mirror this bronze ser pent image.

*Standard:  Something lifted up, a token to be seen far off

Messiah’s Words 
(In the book of John)

8:24- “I have told you already: You will die in your sins.  Yes, if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

 8:51- “In all truth I tell you, whosever keeps my word will never see death.”

 10:9- “I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe:”

 3:14-17- “as Moshe lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For this is how Yahweh loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. For Yahweh sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.”

 These are only a few of the verses that we see a mirror image of Yahoshua and the serpent on the pole.  As we see, the Messiah himself compares himself to it.  So in knowing this, we should study out this bronze serpent to learn more about the Messiah and how he fulfills this role of a standard and intercessor.

Let’s look at Moshe

 Moshe was Israel’s intercessor, and he also mirrors Yahoshua in many ways.  One thing to think about is that he was a man, not a Elohim (Mighty One) and Creator.  He was the instrument in which Yahweh worked through. In the Numbers 21 passage, we see that it was indeed SIN that the Israelites spoke against both Yahweh and Moshe.  Thus, it is also sinful to speak against our intercessor, Yahoshua Messiah.

 In these next two passages, we will see that Moshe indeed, was like a “Elohim” to the people, yet still was not above or equal to Yahweh and he could do nothing miraculous without Yahweh,

 Exodus 4:16- “Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of Elohim for him, telling him what to say.”

 Numbers 20:10-11 “Moshe and Aaron then called the assembly together in front of the rock. He then said to them, 'Listen now, you rebels. Shall we make water gush from this rock for you?' Moshe then raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the branch; water gushed out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank.

 Yahweh then said to Moshe and Aaron, 'Because you did not believe that I could assert my holiness before the Israelites' eyes, you will not lead this assembly into the country which I am giving them.'

 Yahoshua did not ever say, or act as if he is above or equal to Yahweh.  Moshe did, and was punished for it.  Thus a new leader was to come and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.  (See Joshua Who?) 

Let’s look at Messiah

 I hope those reading this can already see without a doubt, the parallel between Yahoshua to Moshe and the Serpent on the pole.  I find it fascinating that it is a Serpent that Yahweh used for them to look at and be healed.  I mean, don’t snakes represent Satan, that old Serpent in the garden?  Of course it does!  And Yahweh’s perfect and spotless Lamb took our sins on himself.  He took our bites in the desert and put death on himself.    See Isaiah Chapter 53!!!

 Romans 5:9-11- “How much more can we be sure, therefore, that, now that we have been justified by his death, we shall be saved through him from the retribution of Yahweh.  For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to Yahweh through the death of his Son, how much more can we be sure that, being now reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. What is more, we are filled with exultant trust in Yahweh, through our Lord Yahoshua Messiah, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.”

 Romans 3:25-26- “Yahweh appointed him as a sacrifice for reconciliation, through faith, by the shedding of his blood, and so showed his justness;”

 Romans 5:18- “On man’s offence brought condemnation on all humanity; and one man’s good act has brought justification and life to all humanity.”

Now what about that Serpent? 

Wisdom 16:5-7+10-12- “Even when the fearful rage of wild animals overtook them and they were perishing from the bites of writhing snakes, your retribution did not continue to the end.

 Affliction struck them briefly, by way of warning, and they had a saving token to remind them of the commandment of your Torah, for whoever turned to it was saved, NOT BY WHAT HE LOOKED AT, BUT BY YOU, THE SAVIOR OF ALL….  (Yahweh’s plan of action saves us if we listen and obey!!!)  But your children, not even the fangs of poisonous snakes could bring them down; for your mercy came to their help and cured them.  One sting-how quickly healed! To remind them of your pronouncements rather than that, by sinking into deep forgetfulness, they should be cut off from your kindness.  No herb, no poultice cured them, but your all healing word, Adoni.”

 2 Kings 18:4- “He (Hezekiah) abolished the high places, broke the pillars, cut down the sacred poles and smashed the bronze serpent which Moshe had made; for up to that time the Israelites had offered sacrifices to it; it was called NEHUSHTAN.” (Bronze/Brass Serpent)

 Friends, in so many ways Scripture teaches us NOT to worship ANY as Creator, other than Yahweh. Messiah fulfills Nehushtan, our example- the standard and intercessor!     

 Study deeply