Adrian
Old-Sunday Worship August 3rd, 2025
  • I Will Sing of My Redeemer

      • Colossians 3:1–11NLT

      • Colossians 3:1–11ESV

  • Before The Throne Of God Above
  • Doxology

      • Numbers 21:1–9ESV

  • “Looking to Jesus”

    K. Adrian Scott
    August 3, 2025
    Numbers 21.1-9
    “Looking to Jesus.”
    K. Adrian Scott
    August 3, 2025
    Contextual Introduction.
    The preceding chapters of Numbers beginning with chapter 11 chronicle the deep dissatisfaction of the nation of Israel, or better said, their bitter disappointment with Yahweh since they had been delivered from the misery of slavery in the land of Egypt. They found every conceivable thing to complain about – “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we detest this worthless food?” (21.5). All three things the Israelites complained about were provided to them through miracles Yahweh performed on their behalf. God provided this miracle ‘bread from heaven’ every morning (Numbers 16) so the people would be sustained in their journey to the promised land. When the Israelites were weary of eating the manna from heaven, Yahweh then gave them quail to eat (Numbers 11). The Israelites also complained about the water or the lack thereof. Although the extended travel by the Israelites was their fault due to their disobedience, they complained to God and Moses about the hardships of travel. Next, after receiving the report of Israeli spies, Numbers 14 Israel complained about the physical size of the Canaanites who were still occupying the land of Canaan whom they were expected to defeat so they could possess the land.
    As we read in Chapter 21, the people of Israel even accused God of delivering them from Egypt only to see them die in the wilderness, and on and on and on. There is a cyclical history of sin by Israel, their eventual repentance, and then Yahweh’s merciful forgiveness.
    Question: Why do we complain? I say we complain primarily because of a short memory. Israel is a free people! God had miraculously intervened and released Israel from being enslaved in Egypt for centuries; daily having to bear the burden of incessant labor of building Egypt’s infrastructure in the blazing heat of the Egyptian sun, with no wages and even less consideration. But God heard Israel’s petition of mercy; their cry for help that only Yahweh could give them and in spectacular fashion delivered them from the hand of their oppressor! And having been released from their torture, they yet complain! My second question is, where do complaints come from? I believe they come from an ungrateful heart. A complaining spirit comes from not only ingratitude but a sense of entitlement. That kind of spirit says, ‘God, you owe me, pay up!’ Yes, we believe that we deserve more of God’s blessings than our character has earned, more of God’s goodness than our behavior has bought, and more consideration than our attitude has paid for! God owes humankind nothing; we owe God! The ESV Translation of Job 41.11 says, “Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?” Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.” The same verse according to the NET Bible reads like this, “Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.”
    The opposite of a complaining spirit can be seen in the story of the patriarch Job who suffered through some of the worst human tragedies imaginable yet did not accuse God. Instead, Job considered his losses when he spoke saying, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
    The Israelites have now moved closer to the land God promised them, Canaan. Now in return for God’s favor of a victory over the Canaanites, they promised the Lord they in turn, would repent and return to God in obedience.
    If they are going to successfully overcome the Canaanites, they strategized to travel to Canaan taking the shortest route, then attack once there. However, Israel would have to travel through Edom to facilitate this. However, when Moses requested permission from the Edomites, they were refused.
    What do we do when our plans do not seem to work? Rather than being frustrated, we thank God that God’s purposes are being worked out.
    “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16.9).
    Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19. 21).
    They then had to take the long way around the land of Edom along the Red Sea. It was an arduous journey for them. It was long and hot and weary traveling this dusty and rocky terrain. Additionally, Miriam, Moses’ sister and often his encourager, along with his brother Aaron, Moses’ right hand, both died in Chapter 20. Now in a moment of frustration and maybe anger, or even both, the Israelites spoke out against God and against Moses asking, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness” (v. 5).
    Those Israelites who were hardened and bitter by their life’s hard trials felt emboldened and perhaps some of the younger families joined in to hurl their insults at the very God of Israel who so recently miraculously and mercifully delivered from the hand of Egypt’s oppression. It was as if they were chastising God and shaking their fists at the Almighty because of their troubles. To dare chastise God is the highest and most audacious of human acts, and to compare mere human intellect to divine wisdom is evidence of a significant lack of faith and sound judgment coupled with an over abundance of arrogant, self pride.
    With this latest and most blatant attack on God’s good judgment “the Lord sent fiery serpents into the camp and bit the people, so that many of people of Israel died” (v. 6). A line had been drawn in the sand and Israel has crossed it. And even a casual reading of our text teaches us something basic – sin has terrible consequences. The campers are not only ungrateful, but they are tired, frustrated, bitter and angry, they possess a critical spirit, and now they are also sick and afraid and dying.
    Some of the snake bites were fresher than others. The older complainers, those who had seen more of God’s work among them and should have known better, were probably among the first bitten by serpents and their venom was working quickly and potently against their bodies. The depth of their misery was evident as life was passing from their bodies at a rapid pace. Old sinners, old enough to know better about God’s good character yet resorted to back-biting and gossiping about their God, Yahweh, and their leader Moses. The venom from their mouths was more potent than the venom from the snakes! And their words of discouragement had infiltrated the entire camp of the Israelites. Here is the picture of ‘sin’ or ‘falling short of the mark’ as sickness. We see it everywhere in Scripture. These lying spirits and forked-tongue deceivers were savagely bitten by the very evil enemy they emulated in with their behavior! It was as if God was saying, ‘If you want to act like the devil, I’ll give you the devil!’ There is not a more potent combination among God’s people than the wicked and the foolish who will not only rack up a tab too tall to pay, but they will also usher in God’s response to their complaints.
    In our minds eye we can envision fatalities strewn all over the Israelite camp. People are dying. It’s a mess! If something isn’t done everyone in the camp could potentially die. Death is everywhere!
    And because of their sin Israel is clearly seen as an undeserving people.
    With the death count of family and friends dying from poisonous venom, it. Is obvious there is something deadly in this serpent’s bite! Here is the true appraisal of sin – it is deadly. It seems that every tent and every family have its victims. In the book of Genesis we also see the consequences of giving in to the charm of the serpent, or the devil, and that is, all of humanity has been bitten in the heel by Satan’s deceptive ways and his bite is fatal – all after Adam were born “dead in their trespasses and sins” Ephesians 2.1 says, – “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.”
    Homes are quickly being left fatherless, motherless, and even childless. In this instance the evenhanded and non-discriminating arm of divine judgment is the chilly hand of death.
    Question: Is this serpent’s bite somehow a picture of the stinging, deadly nature of sin with its dire consequences of pain, sorrow, regret, and ultimate death and separation? And if so, are these Israelites the only once bitten by the serpent? All of humanity beginning with Adam’s fall, are “brought forth in iniquity” (Psalm 51) which speaks of humanity’s total ‘inherited depravity’ (F. F. Bruce) or the state of human beings at birth. “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3.23).
    We were injected with the venom of disobedience and rebellion against the heavenly authority and the effect of sin is, it still stings. Because of sin we live with the stress of balancing family and work life. That stings. The issues of aging poorly, crumbling family structure and personal relationships, ill health, and frail financial concerns, they all sting! The result of sin still stings.
    v. 7; “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he takes away the serpents from us.”
    Of course, here is confession.
    The people realized the snakes, these troubles, these fiery bites and deadly sickness; these feelings of self-righteousness, self-sufficiency and arrogance; this anger and bitterness and complaining will not leave on its own. “Pray to God that he takes away the serpents from us.” They need a God intervention! We need God to provide a remedy. Lord, help me was their cry! “If we confess your sins, He is faithful and just (or righteous) to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1.9).
    II. The Lord would help them, but it would require a measure of their own faith - “make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live” (v.8).
    This is God’s remedy for the sick and dying in Israel. There is no other solution; no other cure is offered, just this one.
    To look at a dead, lifeless figure on a pole was the only instruction for life and healing! It is a simple prescription, however! Here is a glimpse into the future death of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for the sins of the world!
    And to those who dared cast a saving look, God promised to forgive their sins, and they will live. They would not have to die without a Savior! They could not save themselves, but they were to look at one who had the power
    heal and save them in these dire circumstances!
    That serpent on the pole was an accurate representation of the fiery serpents whose sting had affected that whole camp. The serpent served as a mirror of their sin; the reason for their condition! They didn’t measure up to Yahweh’s standard of obedience!
    Oh, someone thought, ‘come on, this is too simple, and it does not make sense. The last thing I want to do is look at that pole and be reminded of my sin!’ But isn’t that the point? It served to remind them of their sin and guilt and remind them of the one who would take away their guilt and pain!
    They are weak and dying, the life is fleeing from their bodies. They cannot walk to the serpent, they cannot run to it, lest they think it's their efforts that saved them. So, a simple prescription must be written.
    Amid such pitiful conditions, such horrific suffering and numbing sorrow, Moses points them to the one lifted. Look to the one who heals in sickness, who soothes our sorrows, and lifts heavy burdens; the one who gives us peace in troubling times and sends us a wave of hope when we’re otherwise drowning in hopelessness. Look to that figure who is hoisted high and that hung long enough for everyone who dared look would live. ‘People of Israel, Look to the one exalted high above the chaos of this camp.’ Look to the one lifted up for us!
    This text has its biblical historical significance, but it is also clearly pointing us to the One hoisted upon a wooden beam 2000 years ago, whose whole purpose was to be a reminder of our sin but more importantly, he was acting as our substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ. Be reminded of the simplicity of the Gospel message - “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3.15).
    You can look at this One on the tree, stretched wide and hung high because this one has no poison, but brings life! Jesus did not represent death but life! “I have come that you might have life and that more abundantly” (John 10.10). He knew no sin! Notice that this figure on the pole has the power of life and death! If you will only look in faith. Look to this one lifted, elevated high above all others and fixed on the pole, you will not perish, but have life! This is a call to Israel’s obedience and saving faith in the word of God (unknown). So only look this way! Romans 5.6 says, “while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.” The right time is while there is still time. Don’t look at the pole, it can’t save you. Look at the One hung on the pole! Don’t look at the institutional Church, its members or officers; she can’t save you. Look to the One on the pole! If you’re tired, look! Frustrated? Look! Lonely?? Look. Heartbroken? Troubled? Hurting? Look! When you look, Jesus will work! And when they ‘looked that way’ death and separation was brought to its knees; sickness and pain was left fleeing, hopelessness took leave, and life replaced death! Because of that look death no longer had power of those who dared look to the One raised for them. This is the hope we have in Jesus, the beginner and finisher of our faith. Look at the one on the pole.
    The cross of Christ is the answer to the pain of sin.
    Christian, are you again weary of sin’s sting? Have you in your anger, bitterness or shame refused to look to Jesus our healer? Do you feel like you deserve the Lord’s forgiveness and healing? Isn’t that what. Maundy Thursday is all about? Our unworthiness?
    Saints and Sinners, I point you to Jesus.
    Look this way and you too can be healed and live.
    Because as someone once said, ‘a cross-less Christianity does not exist.”

      • Numbers 21:1–9NLT

      • Numbers 21:5NLT

      • Job 41:11NLT

      • Proverbs 16:9NLT

      • Proverbs 16:9NLT

      • Proverbs 19:21NLT

      • Proverbs 16:9NLT

      • Proverbs 19:21NLT

      • Ephesians 2:1NLT

      • Psalm 51NLT

      • Numbers 21:7NLT

      • 1 John 1:9NLT

      • Numbers 21:8NLT

      • John 3:14–15NLT

      • Romans 5:6NLT

      • Acts 3:19NLT

      • Daniel 9:9NLT

  • The Power Of The Cross

      • Galatians 1:3NLT

Adrian
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