Christians. Why did God tell Moses to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole .....?

Question

and that anyone who looked to him would be healed? And why did Jesus say that just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent on the pole, so must the Son of Man be lifted from the earth? Obviously gazing at the serpent hanging on the pole for healing was symbolic of us looking to Christ who hung on the cross for our healing. But why would God liken Jesus to the serpent which represents Satan? Why didn't he choose a dove or lion for the Lion of Judah. Why a snake? I have my own thoughts and they have to do with why the bible says in one place that God incited David to take a census and in another place it says Satan incited him to take the census. 1 Chron. 21:1 and 2 Sam. 24:1.

All ideas welcomed please.

Lots of great answers. My take on it is that Christ's FLESH was crucified on the cross and our flesh represents Satan, not who Jesus was. Remember Paul said in Romans that our flesh is set against the spirit so that we can't do what we want to do, which is to sin. I think it has something to do with that.

As for the census it was both God and Satan. God tested David somehow with a threat of war and David became fearful. That's why he wanted to count all his warriors forgetting that you don't win battles with many warriors but through God alone. So God tested him and David gave into his flesh and it's fears.

Answer 1

the serpent is a representation of sin, and as our sins were put on the cross with Jesus, this was symbolic of the sins of the Israelites, and by looking upon the serpent they were acknologing their sins, much as looking at Jesus on the cross, we acknowledge that we have sinned and need forgiveness.

Answer 2

The following is a full quote from the Bible Encyclopedia Insight:

“The copper figure or representation of a serpent made by Moses during Israel’s trek in the wilderness. Near the border of Edom the people showed a rebellious spirit, complaining about the miraculously provided manna and the water supply. Jehovah therefore punished them by sending poisonous serpents among them, and many persons died from serpent bites. After the people showed repentance and Moses interceded for them, Jehovah told him to make a figure in the form of a serpent and to place it upon a signal pole. Moses complied, and “it did occur that if a serpent had bitten a man and he gazed at the copper serpent, he then kept alive.” Numbers 21:4-9; 1 Corinthians 10:9.

“Jesus Christ made clear the prophetic meaning of the wilderness event involving the copper serpent when he told Nicodemus: “Moreover, no man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up, that everyone believing in him may have everlasting life.” (John 3:13-15) Like the copper serpent that Moses placed on a pole in the wilderness, the Son of God was impaled, thus appearing to many as an evildoer and a sinner, like a snake, being in the position of one cursed. (Deuteronomy 21:22, 23; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24) In the wilderness a person who had been bitten by one of the poisonous serpents that Jehovah sent among the Israelites evidently had to gaze at the copper serpent in faith. Similarly, to gain everlasting life through Christ, it is necessary to exercise faith in him.”

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

Since Lucifer is the great deceiver, do you think it's possible that the serpent is actually a symbol for Christ and Lucifer used that form to tempt Eve?
Those who had faith to look upon the serpent shall be saved from the poison, is likened unto those who have faith in Christ shall be eternally saved.
In South America before Columbus their religions spoke of a bearded God, born of a virgin, who promised to return from amongst the clouds. Some ancient cultures use a serpent to represent Him
This sight has a few insights about that.
http://www.mormonwiki.com/mormonism/Book_of_Mormon_evidences

Answer 4

The snake on a pole is an interesting one... first note that that is the current symbol of the medical professions... some things are very old. The snake was what had been plaguing the people at that time (see numbers 21:8,9); the people were asked to do what made to sense... to look to the 'cause' of their pending death for cure from it. The same with Jesus... don't many consider him (and his followers - yuck!) to be the cause of great death? Like with the people with Moses, people must look to what they believe is the source of the problem for the solution... and it makes no sense to them.

As the the census... G-d kept telling David no, no, no, no, no, no, and finally said "fine, go ahead and do it; but don't say I didn't tell you not to".

Answer 5

Take a look at the symbol for doctors and dentists. A snake on a pole. If you want healing, you must look to Yahshua for that healing, not to the 'snakes on a pole'. Most people who say they believe will go to a doctor rather than to simply pray for healing.
Want more? Look at Galatians 5. Works of the flesh include witchcraft, which is the Greek word 'Pharmakeia', which we now get the english words PHARMACY and PHARMACEUTICALS from.
God is the healer, through Yahshua His Son. Period.

Answer 6

"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." -- Number 21:4-9 KJV

The significance of this passage was not only the physical healting that took place upon viewing the serpent of the rod; it was the ACT OF LOOKING UP to God that healed the Israelites' spiritual disobedience. This foreshadows the coming of Jesus not only as a healer, but as a Savior for all who have faith in Him:

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

In my own humble opinion, the snake on the rod is also a justful mockery of the devil, emphasizing that Jesus, not the devil, is the only way to complete redemption. We've been misled to believe all creatures like a snake could only be evil. God just punished the devil as a creature He created, the snake, to roam on its belly and eat dust til eternity. Never once did God intend a snake to be raised up. Only Jesus was raised up, for our sake. So, the snake is just a symbol, not of the devil, for God created all creatures perfect before the fall of man.

Answer 7

Wow. Interesting Q. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

The Israelites were bitten by lethally venomous serpents... maybe it was a brazen serpent because it related to the serpents that bit them.

The Israelites were coming from Egyptian culture. They were very prone to idol worship (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/s/45 ). Perhaps the serpent was some kind of cultural symbol, amongst Egyptians (from whom the Hebrews may have learned some of their culture), and meant something more to them than it does to us.

As for the dove... I can't see how a dove would have held any meaning to them, as the dove (as far as I know) became a symbol of peace because of Christ's baptism.

It seems to make more sense to me to raise an image of a lion or a lamb...

But Moses used his staff as a snake, too... Seems to be lots of snake imagery happening in that story.

What IS your take on it?

Edit:

Thanks to reading other people's responses, it has reminded me of this scripture:

God says to the serpent, in Genesis 3:15 - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/gen/3/15#15...
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Romans 16:20 - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/rom/16/20#2...
20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Modern revelation (LDS) teaches that Jesus Christ is the "seed" of Eve who would bruise the serpent's head. Perhaps the brazen serpent was a reminder of the victory that Christ would have over Satan... through his crucifixion, aka atonement.

Answer 8

In my opinion it was to reclaim the serpent from Satan's use. Satan used the serpent to tempt Adam and Eve, and now God uses the serpent as a symbol of redemption. I can't think of a better reason why, but I do hope to get God's own answer in person when I see Him.

Answer 9

Man was bruised by the Serpent in the garden. It is a reminder of why there is sickness.

Jesus defeated the Serpent on the Cross.

Answer 10

It was a foreshadowing of when Crist would come and be set up on the cross (pole) so that all who look on Him would be healed....

"He was bruised for our iniquities....and by his stripes we are healed".