CHILDREN STS LESSON 4 THE BRAZEN SERPENT
Numbers 21:1-35
God has special love for the children of Israel because of His friend, Abraham. He did wonders in Egypt and in the wilderness for the children of Israel. This was to show His love and care for them. Unfortunately, the Israelites did not always trust God. They often disobeyed, murmured against and provoked God and His servants whenever they encountered little difficulty. But God, who is merciful, always forgave them whenever they repented and turned to Him (Psalm 78:38).
Our lesson today is about one of those occasions where Israel sinned by speaking against God. He therefore sent fiery serpents (snakes) to bite them. Many of them suffered pain and died. Then they realized their sins and cried to Moses to pray for them. God asked Moses to make the brazen serpent and hang on a pole. Whoever was bitten and looked to the bronze serpent would live. Although there is forgiveness with God, yet the consequences of sin are painful and grievous. This is why it is important to reject evil and cleave to Christ.
- POISONOUS SERPENT OF DEATH:
Number 21:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:9-11; Hebrews 3:10-13
God had just defeated the Canaanites and saved Israel from death and destruction. Then suddenly, discouragement, tiredness and thirst set in and the people murmured against God and Moses. God was very unhappy with the children of Israel because they often considered the bondage in Egypt as preferable to the freedom God through His mighty works, had given to them. They made a mockery of the “angel’s food” God had provided for them and called it “light bread”. You have to be careful what you say or do when you are faced with any kind of challenge. God appreciates a thankful heart. Israel was ungrateful and God was angry with them. He punished them by sending fiery, poisonous snakes to bite them. You cannot murmur against God and go free. God is righteous and will bring His judgment on everyone who disobeys or murmurs against Him. Our text says,
“and much people of Israel died.” (Numbers 21:6b) However, Israel, having suffered the consequence of their sins became sorry for speaking against God. They pleaded with Moses to pray and ask God to forgive them. God is of a tender heart. He is willing to forgive whoever repents and forsakes his or her sins and asks Him for forgiveness.
If you are fond of complaining and murmuring, God is calling you to repent now to avoid His fiery judgment.
- THE POWER OF THE BRAZEN SERPENT:
Numbers 21:7-9; John 3:14-16
The word ‘brazen’ means, made from brass. Brass is a yellow metal obtained by melting copper and zinc together. Musical instruments such as trumpets, trombones, and others are made of brass. God instructed Moses to mould from brass an image of a snake that resembled the fiery serpent that bit the children of Israel. Moses was to hang this image on a tall pole so that it could be seen from far. Those bitten by the fiery serpent had a role to play if they wanted to be healed from the poison of the serpent.
They were to look at the brazen serpent believing that by so doing, God would heal them. Whoever therefore refused to obey this instruction would still die. God’s mercy or forgiveness is not without conditions. You must be willing to repent and forsake your bad ways before you can enjoy God’s love and favour.
- PRAYER FOR SALVATION THROUGH OUR UPLIFTED SAVIOUR:
Numbers 21:8,9; Isaiah 45:22; John 3:14-18
What happened in the wilderness points to God’s plan of salvation for sinful humans? Jesus, the Son of God came into this world to save sinners. As He was about to begin His work, He declared “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) Just as God provided a way of healing, forgiveness and deliverance for the children of Israel in the wilderness, He has also provided the way of salvation from sin, sickness, Satan and eternal death for the whole world. This He did through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, who was nailed to the cross. Like the children of Israel, you have a part to play if you want to be saved from the poison of Satan, the old serpent. You must pray and tell Jesus all your sins, turn away from your bad habits and look to Jesus, that is, believe in Him as your Saviour and Friend.
Forgiveness and freedom from sin bring peace with God and hope of eternal rest with Jesus in heaven. It was after their repentance and God’s forgiveness, that Israel went forward to conquer Sihon, king of the Amorites and of the king of Bashan (Numbers 21:21-35). So, every friend of Jesus must daily overcome sin, Satan and all temptations to do wrong. This victory is possible if you watch, pray, read and obey God’s word. You must rise up and pray now that God will help you to daily look up to Jesus for grace and strength to always live a life that is pleasing to Him.
QUESTIONS :
- What did the children of Israel complain about?
- Why did God send fiery serpent to bite the Israelites?
- Who made the brazen serpent and for what purpose?
- Who was crucified and nailed to the cross for our salvation?
- What part must a sinful child play before he or she can be saved from sin and eternal death?
MEMORY VERSE: “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.” (Numbers 21:8)
LESSON: God hates murmuring and complaining.
THOUGHT: I will trust and believe God for all my needs.
ACTIVITY: Write in order the 3rd, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th letters of the word ‘serpent’: Pronounce the word you have formed meditatively. Kneel down, pray and tell Jesus all your sins and ask Him for forgiveness.
CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 158 – COME BELIEVING
CHORUSES: (1) Lift Jesus higher (2) Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (3) No, you can’t get to heaven without S. A. L. V. A. T. I. O. N
HOMEWORK: Write down the attitude of the Israelites towards God in each of these passages. Pray that God will help you not to follow their bad examples. Exodus 16:7; Numbers 21:5; Deuteronomy 1:27; Judges 2:12
BIBLE WORD SEARCH
Find the meanings of these words. You can use your dictionary.
- Unfortunately
- Provoke
- Brazen
- Fiery
- Salvation.