Gospelimages is committed to share the Biblical message as widely as possible via paintings, but not for profit.
Via the webshop it is possible to purchase high quality reproductions printed on canvas (giclées) of the painting of your choice.
All royalty proceeds will be made available to GlobalRize, "reaching the world for Christ online".
www.globalrize.org You are now leaving this website.
Back to index
Download the image for free
prefer a print on canvas?
The Bronze Serpent
Numbers 21:8-9
And the LORD said to Moses: “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 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.Full bible text
Numbers 21 verse 4 to 9
4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way.
4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way.
5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food".
6 Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
7 And the people came to Moses and said: “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us". So Moses prayed for the people.
8 And the LORD said to Moses: “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live".
9 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.
6 Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
7 And the people came to Moses and said: “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us". So Moses prayed for the people.
8 And the LORD said to Moses: “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live".
9 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.
About this painting
Rebellion against God and unbelief in His promises caused the Israelites to stay in the desert for 40 years.
Now the moment approaches that the young generation may enter the Promised Land.
But then, due to the hardships of the desert, combined with an attack of the Canaanites, it all becomes too much for them. They start to murmur against God and against Moses, despite the manna, and complain about the lack of water.
Then God sends fiery snakes among the people, and many are bitten and die. The people confess their sin and Moses prays for them. The Lord then gives a means to stay alive after being bitten by a snake. He commands Moses to make a bronze snake, set it on a pole, on a high place, so that anyone can see it. If anyone who is bitten by a snake looks to the bronze snake, he will live.
Jesus mentions this story in His conversation with Nicodemus.
‘Be lifted up’ refers to the crucifixion of Jesus.
John 8 verse 28.
Satan, who is called ‘that ancient serpent’ in Revelation 12 verse 9, tempted man to sin.
Genesis 3.
Since that moment, every descendant of Adam is born as a sinner. This condition is comparable with the Israelite who is bitten by a fiery snake. Like the Israelite who could only be saved by looking to the bronze snake, so we can only be saved and have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
Now the moment approaches that the young generation may enter the Promised Land.
But then, due to the hardships of the desert, combined with an attack of the Canaanites, it all becomes too much for them. They start to murmur against God and against Moses, despite the manna, and complain about the lack of water.
Then God sends fiery snakes among the people, and many are bitten and die. The people confess their sin and Moses prays for them. The Lord then gives a means to stay alive after being bitten by a snake. He commands Moses to make a bronze snake, set it on a pole, on a high place, so that anyone can see it. If anyone who is bitten by a snake looks to the bronze snake, he will live.
Jesus mentions this story in His conversation with Nicodemus.
John 3 verse 14 to 17:
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
‘Be lifted up’ refers to the crucifixion of Jesus.
John 8 verse 28.
Satan, who is called ‘that ancient serpent’ in Revelation 12 verse 9, tempted man to sin.
Genesis 3.
Since that moment, every descendant of Adam is born as a sinner. This condition is comparable with the Israelite who is bitten by a fiery snake. Like the Israelite who could only be saved by looking to the bronze snake, so we can only be saved and have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
As the bronze snake looked like the poisonous snake, so Jesus, the Son of God, became like a human, except for sin.
2 Corinthians 5 verse 21.
In 1 Corinthians 10 verse 9 to 12 Paul reminds the Corinthians of this story:
We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
The reason Paul warned them was that some Corinthians failed to esteem the Lords Supper. Bread and wine point to the body and blood of Christ. It should be seen as spiritual food to strengthen faith in Him.
In Numbers 21 the Israelites despised the manna the Lord had given them, and grumbled about the lack of water in the desert. The manna and the water from the rock were spiritual food and drink. It pointed to Christ, the Bread from heaven, and the Rock from which flows living water. John 6 verse 30 to 35.
1 Corinthians 10 verse 4.
John 3 verse 36:
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 6 verse 40:
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
2 Corinthians 5 verse 21.
In 1 Corinthians 10 verse 9 to 12 Paul reminds the Corinthians of this story:
We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
The reason Paul warned them was that some Corinthians failed to esteem the Lords Supper. Bread and wine point to the body and blood of Christ. It should be seen as spiritual food to strengthen faith in Him.
In Numbers 21 the Israelites despised the manna the Lord had given them, and grumbled about the lack of water in the desert. The manna and the water from the rock were spiritual food and drink. It pointed to Christ, the Bread from heaven, and the Rock from which flows living water. John 6 verse 30 to 35.
1 Corinthians 10 verse 4.
John 3 verse 36:
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 6 verse 40:
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.