Num 21:8 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live…”
The world is sinful, living in rebellion against its Creator. The presence of fiery serpents (plagues, calamities, wars etc) in the world are signs that something is wrong with the world, it is broken. How should we respond as believers? First, to accept reality should not weaken our faith. Faith does not deny reality, it sees possibilities, but the adversary of faith is fear.
God sent fiery serpents to plague Israel for complaining against Him, He likewise provided a remedy for their dilemma. God told Moses to make a bronze fiery serpent, and set it on a pole. The following simple instruction was “look and live”. That is, look to the fiery bronze serpent on the pole and live. Those that became preoccupied with the fiery serpent on the ground got bit and died, only those that obeyed Moses’ lived. The story of the brazen serpent was quoted by our Lord to Nicodemus (Joh 3:14). Our Lord came in the likeness of sinful flesh yet without sin (poison) in Him. He was lifted on the cross for our salvation. Whosoever directs to Him the look of faith shall have everlasting life. Faith silences fear for when fears knocks, faith answers the door. Let us look to the cross where Jesus was lifted up. 1Cor 15:57 “…thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”