Every Jew knew the report in Numbers... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:14.15.

Every Jew knew the report in Numbers ch. 21:4 and the background to it. God had then sent poisonous snakes as a judgment on the dissatisfied people of Israel, many of whom were bitten and faced death. In His grace God granted them a single means of healing: they could look at the brazen serpent that Moses had made; then God would grant healing.

When Jesus referred to this occurrence, He first said that He himself would be "lifted up". And so it happened three years later at the cross of Calvary. There the Saviour hung for all to see.

If the Israelites could then look up to the brazen serpent, today everyone who senses the harm caused by sin in his own life can look up to the Saviour "lifted up on the cross".

Please do not say, "What has that old story to do with me?" Jesus Christ was not crucified for any guilt of His own. He underwent death as the substitute for others who have sinned against God. That means all of us, for no-one has lived entirely for God, quite apart from the matter of the many sins of commission and omission. Eternal perdition is the sentence for it according to God's Word.

Read the Lord's powerful statement above once again! There is the promise of eternal life for all who look up to Him and trust Him. It is worth thinking that over!

Today's reading: 1 Chronicles 15:1-24 · Psalms 88:1-10