“So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.”
Numbers 21:9
Moses: the ministry of death; the ministry of condemnation.
“Who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.”
2 Corinthians 3:6-9
So Moses made
The ministry of death and the ministry of condemnation cannot make the fire of God, so they made bronze (condemnation); they cannot make wine, so it turned into vinegar.
“Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.”
Psalm 69:20-21
Bronze H5178: copper; something made of metal that is a fetter. From H5154, from H5153: from the red color of the throat of a serpent.
Serpent H5175：a snake. From H5172: to hiss that is whisper a manic spell; to prognosticate; enchanter.
“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”
Romans 3:13-20
“So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”
Galatians 3:24
And set it on a pole.
“None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
1 Corinthians 2:8
“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:30
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’”
Galatians 3:13
And if a serpent bit anyone: Anyone who is bit by the tongue of condemnation (because of their own accusations, they are also accused).
“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
Romans 8:33-34
“Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.”
Job 14:4
“For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”
Romans 11:32
He would look at the bronze serpent
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
John 1:29
“So Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The LORD will provide’; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.’”
Genesis 22:14
“As it is written, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’”
Romans 9:33
“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:”
John 16:8
“For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’”
1 Corinthians 1:19
And live.
“Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
Proverbs 9:6
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:7-9