THE VENOM OF SIN

Globally the picture of a snake curled around a pole can be seen on hospitals, ambulances and medics uniforms as a symbol of healing.  This logo dates back to Moses in about 1300BC when he was leading the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery.  [ Numbers 21:5-9 ]

Although God had been very good to the Israelites they were always grumbling!  One day He sent fiery serpents among the people so that whoever was bitten by a snake died.  The people soon realised God was punishing them so they came to Moses and said, “We have sinned against the LORD and against you, pray that He will take away these serpents.”  Moses did pray to God who told him to make a bronze model of a snake and put it upon a pole.  God then promised that if anyone who had been bitten by a snake looked up at this bronze snake, they would be healed. 

1300 years after this event, and shortly before Jesus was nailed to a wooden cross and lifted up to die He make this remarkable statement.  “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” [ John 3:14,15 ]

The snake’s venom that killed the bodies of the Israelites is like the sin that drags souls down to Hell.  But it is this sin that inflames our pride and deceives us into thinking we are good enough to go to heaven!  Probably many Israelites perished because they didn’t believe God’s word and look up to the snake on the pole.  This snake reminds us that on the cross Jesus became sin for us!  Out of love He paid the penalty our sins deserved!  Repent now and look up to Him as your Saviour.