Today,
reply is on the divine use of material devices, and the operations of
faith exercised in the use of a bronze serpent on a pole, Nehushtan.
In the same way divine law for mankind also imparts the knowledge of
sin, Nehushtan, that was fashioned to provide healing and salvation,
also exposed and illuminated sin. Included were apostasy, idolatry,
and the defilement of both anointed rule (dominion) and consecrated
priesthood. That the Scripture accounts address the beginnings of
Israel as a nation is not to overshadow the fact that the holy
writings provide a record of revelation from GOD that includes
multiple divine appearances, as well as sacred events on the earth
that are yet to occur. Created beings and living creatures are
challenged to apprehend immortal, invisible, incorruptible GOD having
been endowed with sacred process, purpose, and spirit substance from
the makeup of GOD. Deity appears using flesh and human form (we say,
Incarnation); and divine deliverance, judgment, and eternal life are
to be discerned as certain, ongoing, and eternal. The fighter in the
“Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality public forum who uses
the ID “glenda” (Level 1 with 4 points, a member since March 16,
2018) posted the following:
What
the meaning of a bronze snake on a pole in the bible. number 21:4,9,?
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father,
save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven,
saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it
again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it,
said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus
answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your
sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of
this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what
death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of
the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son
of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? Then Jesus said
unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye
have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in
darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe
in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things
spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. (John 12:
27-36, King James Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: On Recognizing Divine Judgment (01/24/2018); Flesh As
Divine Vessels? (01/14/2018); Faithless Israel, Unfaithful Judah?
(08/18/2017); No Other gods? (08/14/2015); Why Prophets Were Sent to
Israel (11/23/2014); The Need for Prophecy Then and Now (11/24/2014);
Not Images Used in Worship? (09/14/2014); Death is a Divine Tool
(09/15/2014)
“glenda”,
when Moses appeared to Pharaoh, GOD used the prophet’s
staff to demonstrate divine authority, power, and sacred presence
that could not be displayed by the magicians of Egypt. Many
Christians believe this staff was a symbol of the Son of GOD who
eventually would appear on the earth in human form (we say,
Incarnation). When the staff became a serpent and swallowed up the
serpents from the magicians this signified that the Savior would
appear to destroy the idolatry, occultism, superstitions, and
spiritual confusion of Egypt, and of all mankind.
Among
Christian believers there are many points of agreement and
understanding shared regarding the accounts of Nehushtan (the serpent
on the pole) that appear in the Bible. Nehushtan first was used as a
material object that would provide a visible focus for the divine
operations of faith within those who left Egypt guided by Moses and
Aaron. Their deliverance, healing, and transformation to exist as a
nation favored by GOD would not be merely on the basis of the 12
tribes accepting divine law they would hear proclaimed by invisible,
unseen GOD. Their new life would be on the basis of their faith in
his grace, divine prerogative, promises, and sovereign will
demonstrated in multiple sacred events that included correction;
plagues of fiery serpents; the daily appearance of a pillar of cloud
by day, and fire by night; the falling of manna; and being granted
divine rest as the Sabbath day. The integrity of GOD in covenant
further appears as the recovery of the lost dominion of Adam through
fulfillment of the promises to David, that his household would reign
as a dynasty. The many errors of Israel among the heathen included
continuing the worship of man-made objects (we say, idolatry; the
worship of graven images) as they had done in Egypt. In the reign of
Rehoboam, son of Solomon, the dynasty of King David was ended by the
10 tribes who became the Northern Kingdom (also called Israel;
Samaria) while the 2 remaining tribes became known as Judah. Under
Jeroboam as their king, Israel discontinued worship at the temple of
Solomon, and would even revive worship of the golden calf from Egypt.
The account of Hezekiah also affirms the faithfulness of GOD in
covenant.
Consider
again the following that uses language from the holy writings:
(1.)
Numbers 21: 4-9, King James Version (KJV): 4 And they journeyed
from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of
Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the
way. 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses,
Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the
wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any
water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the LORD
sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and
much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses,
and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD,
and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he
take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8
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. 9 And
Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to
pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the
serpent of brass, he lived.
(2.)
2nd Kings 18: 1-5, KJV: Now it came to pass in the
third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah
the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 Twenty and five
years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and
nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s
name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. 3 And he did
that which was right in the sight of the LORD,
according to all that David his father did. 4 He removed the high
places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in
pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days
the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it
Nehushtan. 5 He trusted in the LORD God of
Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of
Judah, nor any that were before him.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (3.) 1st Kings 12: 26-31, KJV: 26 And
Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house
of David: 27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of
the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of
this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam
king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king
of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of
gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to
Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of
the land of Egypt. 29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other
put he in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went
to worship before the one, even unto Dan. 31 And he
made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the
people, which were not of the sons of Levi.) Even so, I trust this
fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE
BLACK PHOENIX
Washington,
DC
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