Numbers 21
The narrative of Numbers 21:5–9 may initially seem unsettling, but we have the benefit of Jesus Christ’s commentary in John 3, which illuminates its significance. Let us first explore Jesus’ interpretation, then examine the Numbers text in detail to uncover its application for us today.
In John 3, Jesus meets Nicodemus, a prominent Jewish leader, at night. He begins with a bold declaration of His authority as the Son of Man, affirming His divinity and His right to interpret the Numbers narrative (John 3:13). Jesus then presents the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 as an analogy for God’s redemptive plan. Frederick Dale Bruner explains, “Jesus identifies Moses’ saving hoisted bronze serpent as a parable and preview of the way God determined to reconcile his rebellious world to himself, definitively, when he sent his to-be-lifted Son Messiah.”[^1] Jesus asserts that the Numbers narrative foreshadows His role in God’s plan of salvation.
Jesus clarifies that His purpose is not to condemn but to save. Our fallen nature, marked by sin, already condemns us, separating us from God. The Law reveals our brokenness, showing that the entire cosmos is disordered due to the Fall. Sin, like serpent venom, poisons us, sentencing us to eternal separation. Jesus emphasizes, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17).[^2] Our deeds and aspirations, tainted by sin, reflect the venom in our veins. Yet, Christ offers a redemptive sacrifice, lighting a path out of condemnation for those who trust in Him.
Rather than fearing the exposure of our sinfulness, we should embrace the truth of God’s diagnosis. The Israelites in Numbers 21 grumbled against God, blaming Him for their hardships. Similarly, we may resent life’s difficulties, but Jesus calls us to look to the One lifted up on the cross, trusting in God’s provision through Christ.
Turning to Numbers 21:5–9, we see the Israelites in the wilderness grappling with their circumstances. They complain, claiming they have “no food” and despising the manna God provided (Num. 21:5). Their issue is not a lack of provision but dissatisfaction with God’s provision, revealing a deeper discontent with His plan. They question, “If God is good, why manna? If we are His people, why are we suffering?”
When God sends serpents, it may seem like retribution for their grumbling. However, a dualistic view—that God punishes the wicked with serpents while sparing the righteous—oversimplifies His sovereignty. God’s wisdom, not moralistic equations, governs life’s trials. Serpents, like suffering, occur within God’s sovereign plan, whether the timing feels right or wrong. Jesus’ commentary in John 3 clarifies that He does not inflict venom; our sinful nature and desire for control already poison us. The Law exposes our guilt, and death is the natural consequence of our fallen state, evident in our lies, complaints, and suffering.
In Numbers 21:7, the Israelites confess their sin, recognizing their plight and turning from blame to repentance and faith—a contrast to the first generation’s stubbornness. Jesus echoes this in John 3:20, noting that those who hate the truth avoid the light to conceal their sin (John 3:20).[^3] Confession requires honesty about our condition and trust in God’s remedy.
God instructs Moses to craft a bronze serpent, lifted up for the people to look upon and live (Num. 21:8–9). This act of trust parallels our need to look to Christ, crucified for our sins and raised for our justification. Iain Duguid summarizes, “Whether you are young or old, all you need to do is look to Jesus Christ and confess him who was crucified for your sins and raised for your justification. In that simple confession of faith is the gift of eternal life.”[^4] Jesus Himself connects this to God’s love: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).[^5]
The Numbers narrative offers several typological reflections. First, Moses serves as an intercessor, acting on God’s instructions to provide relief for the people. He foreshadows Christ but is not the complete redeemer; only Jesus fully secures salvation. Second, the phrase “if a person is bitten” (Num. 21:9) is ironic, as Jesus clarifies that all are bitten by sin’s venom. We are not facing potential death but are already condemned by our fallen nature. Christ, lifted up, antidotes our curse through His sacrifice.
Third, the narrative emphasizes trust during suffering. The Israelites’ faith amidst deadly trials mirrors the Psalmist’s laments, which often resolve in trust (e.g., Ps. 13:5). Habakkuk, initially protesting God’s plan, ultimately trusts His sovereignty: “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Hab. 3:18).[^6] Likewise, Job declares, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15).[^7] These examples teach that sin and suffering are resolved not through understanding but through trust in God’s plan, which culminates at the cross.
Finally, while the Israelites’ deliverance was temporary, believers in Christ receive eternal life. Trusting in Jesus, lifted up on the cross, frees us from sin’s curse, securing our place in God’s perfect presence where venom no longer prevails. The Israelites’ experience was localized; our redemption through Christ is eternal.
[^1]: Frederick Dale Bruner, The Gospel of John: A Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012), 196.
[^2]: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), 1336.
[^3]: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), 1336.
[^4]: Iain M. Duguid, Numbers: God’s Presence in the Wilderness (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006), 247.
[^5]: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), 1336.
[^6]: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), 1192.
[^7]: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), 628.