Snake On A Pole

By Ray Watson

Bitten by the serpent? Under spiritual attack? In the midst of your wilderness, hurt or pain, don’t look at your problem, look upon Jesus. He is the solution to every need.

This article was developed out of a prophetic sermon that Ray gave the church during a worship service.

Context - In Numbers 21, we learn about how Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and out of slavery. The people greatly rejoiced when they were finally free. However, as they walked through the desert towards the promised land, they grew impatient and began to grumble and complain. So God sent poisonous serpents into their midst and many people got bitten and died. The Israelites knew they had sinned and asked Moses to pray to God to save them.

So Moses prayed and the Lord told him to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and live. Moses obeyed and the people were saved. (Numbers 21:4-9)

Ray's exhortation - Quoting from the Old Testament, when the Israelites were bitten by snakes and they were dying as a result of the poison that entered their system, Moses commanded them to make a bronze serpent and told them to put it on a pole and to look at it. And Jesus said (John 3:15) “Just as Moses lifted up the brass snake (speaking of judgement for sin) in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life."

This morning you may have come here and all you can see is your shame, your pain, your loss, your suffering and Jesus said “I judged all that. I made a case for it in the court of heaven. I declared you not guilty. I judged it. All you have to do is look at Me. Your shame, your healing, your pain, your suffering. I’m the one raised up in your wilderness. In the midst of your confusion, in the midst of your bewilderment, suffering and sorrow. I am lifted up in the midst of your wilderness, now look at Me. Don’t look at your problem. Look at Me. Don’t look at yourself, look at Me. Look on Him who they crucified.

All we have to do is look this morning. That’s all we have to do. What must I do, to do the works of God? Believe in Jesus Christ whom He sent. Believe in Him whom He raised up on a pole (the cross). All we have to do is look. All we have to do is look at the snake on a pole. We don’t have to do anything. We don’t have to clean up our act. We don’t have to try harder. We don’t have to do or be anything. All we have to do is look. Look at Him, stop looking at ourselves.