The Fiery Serpents

Numbers 21:1-9

INTRODUCTION:  This lesson deals with two great themes.  It shows the danger of discouragement among God’s people and it gives a wonder picture of salvation.  You may not be able to teach both topics in depth.  Pray for the Lord’s will as to which approach you take in teaching this lesson. 

I.          BATTLE WITH THE CANAANITES (21:1-3)

            A.            Israel’s Loss to the Enemy (v.1)

            B.            Israel’s Vow to the Lord (v.2)

            C.            Israel’s Victory Over the Canaanites (v.3)

II.          THE SIN OF THE PEOPLE (21:4-5)

            A.            They Were Much Discouraged (v.4)

                        1.            Discouragement: a loss of courage, hope, confidence moral energy

                        2.            They were discouraged in the way (their circumstances)

                                    a.            Miriam had died (Num.20:1)

                                    b.            The people had rebelled (Num.20:2-3)

                                    c.            Moses and Aaron had sinned (Num.20:11-12)

                                    d.            Edom had refused passage (Num.20:14, 17-18)

                                    e.            Aaron had died (Num.20:24, 29)

                                    f.            The people had fought Arad (Num.21:1-3)

                        3.            God’s purpose for the way

                                    a.            To prove Israel (Deut.8:2-3)

                                    b.            To prove Himself to us (Ps.37:5, 23, 34)

                                                (1)            Commit your way to God (v.5)

                                                (2)            Delight in God’s way (v.23)

                                                (3)            Keep God’s way (v.34)

            B.            They Spake Against God (v.5a)

                        1.            Against God’s man (Ex.16:2,8)

                        2.            Against the Lord (Ps.78:19, 41, 56)

            C.            They Spake Against Moses (v.5b)

            D.            They Complained about God’s Provision (v.5c; Ex.16:14-15, 31)

                        1.            Complaints about water (Ex.15:23-24; 17:1-3; Num.20:1-4)

                        2.            Complaints about meat (Ex.16:1-3; Num.11:4-6)

                        3.            God’s wondrous provision (Deut.29:2-5; Josh.5:11-12)

                        4.            The need for contentment (1Tim.6:6-8; Heb.13:5)

III.          THE JUDGMENT OF GOD (21:6)

            A.            The Lord Sent Fiery Serpents Among the People (Jer.8:17; Am.9:1-3)

            B.            The Serpents Bit the People

            C.            Many Israelites Died in God’s Judgment  (Jn.3:18, 36)

IV.         THE REPENTANCE OF THE PEOPLE (21:7)

            A.            They Made a Complete Confession

                        1.            Confession – admitting sin (1Jn.1:9)

                        2.            Acknowledgement – naming sin (Ps.32:5; 51:3)

                        3.            Repentance – leaving sin (Mt.3:7-8; 2Cor.7:9-11)

                        4.            Cleansing – sin forgiven (1Jn.1:7)

            B.            They Requested Moses to Pray for Them (see 1Sam.12:18-22)

            C.            Moses Made Intercession for the People (Ex.32:30-32)

V.        GOD’S PLAN TO HEAL THE PEOPLE (21:8-9; Jn.3:14-18)

NOTE: According to John 3:14, the lifting up of the serpent in the wilderness is a direct picture of God’s offer of eternal salvation through the death of Christ on the cross.  This section of the outline compares the healing of the Israelites in Numbers with the statement of the gift of salvation in John 3:16.

A.   A Divine Remedy

             1.   Numbers 21:8  – “The LORD said”

             2.   John 3:16 – “For God”  (1Pet.1:18-21)

B.   A Simple Remedy

             1.   Numbers 21:8 – “a fiery serpent…upon a pole”

             2.   John 3:16 – “his only begotten Son”  (Jn.12:32)

C.   An Instantaneous Remedy

             1.   Numbers 21:8 – “when he looketh”

             2.   John 3:16 – “”shall have” (Ac.16:30-32)

D.   An Effectual Remedy

             1.   Numbers 21:8 – “he…shall live”

             2.   John 3:16 – “everlasting life”

E.   An Individual Remedy

             1.   Numbers 21:8 – “every one that is bitten”

             2.   John 3:16 – “whosoever” (Rom.10:13)

F.   The Only Remedy

             1.   Numbers 21:9 – “when he beheld the serpent of brass”

             2.   John 3:16 – “in him”  (Jn.14:6; Ac.4:12)

G.   A Free Remedy

             1.   Numbers 21:9 – “when he beheld”

             2.   John 3:16 – “he gave”  (Rom.6:23)

VI.            VICTORY OVER DISCOURAGEMENT

            A.            The Power of Discouragement

                        1.            A disease of the soul (Num.21:4)

                        2.            A disease of the heart (Deut.1:28)

            B.            The Causes of Discouragement

                        1.            Daily difficulties (Num.21:4 – “the way”)

                        2.            Major obstacles (Deut.1:28)

                        3.            Other people (Deut.1:28)

            C.            The Dangers of Discouragement

                        1.            Leads to greater sins (Num.21:5)

                        2.            Leads to delays in God’s blessing (Num.14:33-34)

                        3.            Leads to loss of reward (Num.14:36-37)

            D.            How to Defeat Discouragement

     1.       Count your blessings (Ps.126:3; Eph.5:20)

     2.       Focus on goals (Phil2:12-13)

     3.       Survey God’s promises (2Pet.1:2-4)

     4.       Screen your companions (Pr.13:20; Ac.28:15)

     5.       Surrender to God’s will (Pr.3:5-6)

     6.       Commit to hard work (Pr.16:3; Eccl.5:10-12)

     7.       Spend much time with God (Isa.26:3-4; 1Sam.30:6)

     8.       Claim the victory by faith (Jn.11:40; 2Cor.2:14)

[Check out Daily Portion on Vision of Faith - Hebrews 11:1-12]

     9.       Remember past victories (Gen.20:27; Rom.5:3-5)

    10.      Wait patiently on the Lord (Pr.27:13-14)

MEMORY VERSES:

John 3:14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:”

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Psalm 78:41 “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.”

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