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The Bronze Serpent

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The Bronze Serpent SESSION 2 The Bronze Serpent Summary and Goal During their time of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites became ungrateful and impatient. As a consequence, God sent poisonous snakes into their camp. In response to their pleas for mercy, God commanded Moses to lift a bronze serpent on a staff. Whenever someone looked at the serpent, they were healed. Jesus later claimed this story pointed forward to His being lifted high on the cross. By trusting in His identification with sinners, we are given eternal life and are called to be His ambassadors. Main Passages Numbers 21:4-9 John 3:14-15 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Session Outline 1. The bronze serpent points to punishment for sin (Num. 21:4-9). 2. The bronze serpent points to Christ’s rescue from sin (John 3:14-15). 3. The bronze serpent points to the foundation for mission (2 Cor. 5:20-21). Theological Theme Christ became sin to conquer sin. Christ Connection Just as the Israelites looked upon the bronze serpent lifted high on the pole and were healed, so also we look with faith upon Jesus Christ lifted high on the cross and are saved from the punishment of our sin. Missional Application Because Christ has become sin for us, God calls us to plead with others to look upon the cross and receive spiritual healing. Date of My Bible Study: ______________________ 19 © 2015 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser. Session Plan The Bronze Serpent Session 2 Introduction Begin by noting the human tendency to collect trinkets. If helpful, use the writer’s examples of a worry stone, a rabbit’s foot, and a four-leaf clover. (Perhaps you have such items and could pass them around, or similar such trinkets.) Then point out that as Christians, we believe in God’s sovereignty and providence rather than in “luck” (leader p. 22; personal study guide [PSG] p. 19). What are some items or activities people turn to for comfort? Recap the previous session on the Israelites’ refusal to enter the promised land and God’s condemnation of them (leader p. 22). Then summarize this session on the bronze serpent (leader p. 22; PSG p. 20). 1. The bronze serpent points to punishment for For Further sin (Num. 21:4-9). Discussion Point out that this story takes place in the 40th year of wilderness wandering, What are some of and the Israelites have been provided with everything they needed by God the overwhelming circumstances that you (leader p. 23). Read Numbers 21:4-9. Explain how the people’s rebellion in have allowed to guide you this instance shows up in a very simple word: impatient (leader pp. 23-24; in your past? PSG pp. 20-21). How have these circumstances caused you to demonstrate unbelief? When have you allowed impatience with God’s work in your life to cause you to grumble about what He has done? What are some gifts we quickly take for granted? Emphasize that the Israelites’ breaking their trust of God was a serious offense. While God was quick to act against this behavior, He nevertheless provided a way of restoration (leader pp. 24-25; PSG p. 21). What is the significance of God’s command to the people to gaze at the snake? What truths were the people to consider? 20 Leader Guide • Spring 2016 2. The bronze serpent points to Christ’s rescue from sin (John 3:14-15). Point 2 Option Have your group members Note that Jesus Himself referenced the story of the bronze serpent, using it to make a list on a piece of explain how the Son of Man must be lifted up. Read John 3:14-15. Talk about paper of things they have how the original story of the bronze serpent pointed to Jesus’ work and what substituted in the place of Christ in their lives. the phrase “lifted up” means in this passage (leader p. 25; PSG pp. 22-23). Encourage them to pray for wisdom and strength When you think about Jesus being lifted up on the cross, do to destroy the idols that might rise up in their lives. you think of this primarily as humiliation or exaltation? Why? (You might provide an opportunity for groups of How can it be both humiliation and exaltation at once? 2-3 to discuss what they have written for the sake of accountability, and Use Hezekiah’s experience with the bronze snake in 2 Kings 18 to highlight encourage the small groups to pray for one another.) our tendency to look to idols, not to the Savior. Further comment on Then have group members the eternal life Jesus provides to everyone who believes (leader pp. 26-27; tear up their lists and throw PSG pp. 23-24). them away. Conclude this option with prayer that we would destroy our idols and What sinful behavior might cause you to question God’s choose to look to Christ. wisdom in giving eternal life to “everyone” who believes in Jesus? How can we fight against this tendency toward favoritism? For Further Discussion 3. The bronze serpent points to the foundation How does understanding for mission (2 Cor. 5:20-21). the character of God give us more power Ask a volunteer to read 2 Corinthians 5:20-21. Describe the role of an as ambassadors for Christ? ambassador and how Christians are called to this work on behalf of God’s kingdom (leader p. 28; PSG p. 25). Consider enlisting a volunteer prior to the meeting to research and report on the qualifications and role of an ambassador. What is the relationship between Christ’s becoming sin for us (v. 21) and our mission to plead with others to be reconciled to God (v. 20)? Christ Connection: Just as the Israelites looked upon Explain how 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us about the exchange made on the the bronze serpent lifted cross—Jesus exchanged His goodness for our wretchedness, and by our faith high on the pole and were in Him, we exchange our sin for His righteousness (leader p. 29; PSG p. 26). healed, so also we look with faith upon Jesus Christ lifted high on the cross What does Christ’s becoming sin for us communicate and are saved from the about God’s character and love? punishment of our sin. ........................................................ Conclusion Missional Application: Because Christ has become Emphasize that Jesus’ death on the cross demonstrated a deep love for us, and sin for us, God calls us to this love compels us to proclaim that He has done everything necessary for plead with others to look upon the cross and receive sinners to be cleansed (leader p. 29; PSG p. 26). Apply the truths of this session spiritual healing. with “His Mission, Your Mission” (PSG p. 27). Session 2 21 Expanded Session Content The Bronze Serpent Session 2 Introduction Voices from At some point during my childhood, I was given a worry stone. I don’t the Church quite remember who gave it to me or why. But there it was in my junk “We know that Jesus drawer. It was a green, flat, teardrop-shaped stone that fit in the palm of read the Old Testament believing that it was all my hand. In the center of its shape was an indention where the holder of pointing to him. There the stone could rub his thumb against it. I didn’t carry it often. But I do were pointers and types and foreshadowings remember the sensation of moving my thumb back and forth across its everywhere. But we might smooth surface when I was nervous. It was the closest thing I had to a expect him to skip this one. It is shocking to compare rabbit’s foot or a four-leaf clover. the Son of Man to a snake. Throughout history, humans have demonstrated a tendency to collect But Jesus doesn’t skip this one. He goes out of trinkets we think will bring about good in our lives. It is the inherent his way to choose it to need we have to stave off bad circumstances. We know that life is not 1 help Nicodemus.” in our control, and we hope to find a way to convince the powers of the –John Piper universe to be kind to us. As Christians, we don’t believe in “luck,” but we do believe in God’s providence. By His power, He declares what is right, judges what is sin, and draws the rebellious back under His sovereignty. This was a lesson the Israelites needed often—as do we. What are some items or activities people turn to for comfort? Session Summary In the previous session, we saw how, after refusing the opportunity to enter the promised land because of a discouraging report brought by some Israelite spies, God’s people had been condemned to wander for 40 years. In this session, we see how during their time of wandering, the Israelites became ungrateful and impatient. As a consequence, God sent poisonous snakes into their camp. In response to their pleas for mercy, God commanded Moses to lift a bronze serpent on a staff. Whenever someone looked at the serpent, they were healed. Jesus later claimed this story pointed forward to His being lifted high on the cross. By trusting in His identification with sinners, we are given eternal life and are called to be His ambassadors. 22 Leader Guide • Spring 2016 1. The bronze serpent points to punishment for sin (Num.
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