Topical Bible: Types of the Saviour: The Bronze Serpent

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Introduction

The concept of typology in biblical theology refers to the interpretation of certain events, persons, or institutions in the Old Testament as prefigurations or foreshadowings of Christ and His redemptive work in the New Testament. One of the most profound and illustrative types of the Saviour is the Bronze Serpent, an event recorded in the Book of Numbers. This typology is explicitly affirmed by Jesus Himself in the Gospel of John, providing a rich tapestry of theological insight into the nature of salvation and the work of Christ.

Biblical Account

The account of the Bronze Serpent is found in Numbers 21:4-9. As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, they became impatient and spoke against God and Moses, lamenting their lack of food and water. In response to their rebellion, the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many Israelites died. Recognizing their sin, the people came to Moses and confessed, asking him to intercede with the LORD to remove the serpents. The LORD instructed Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, promising that anyone who was bitten could look at it and live. Moses obeyed, crafting a bronze serpent, and those who looked upon it were healed.

Typological Significance

The Bronze Serpent serves as a powerful type of Christ, illustrating several key aspects of His salvific work:

1. Judgment and Salvation: The serpents were a judgment upon the Israelites for their sin, yet the means of their healing was also a serpent. This paradox highlights the dual nature of Christ's work on the cross, where He bore the judgment for sin and became the means of salvation. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

2. Faith and Healing: The act of looking upon the Bronze Serpent required faith. It was not the serpent itself that healed, but the obedience to God's provision. Similarly, salvation through Christ requires faith. In John 3:14-15, Jesus draws a direct parallel: "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life."

3. Lifting Up: The lifting up of the Bronze Serpent prefigures the crucifixion of Christ. The serpent was lifted up on a pole for all to see, just as Christ was lifted up on the cross. This act of being "lifted up" is central to the Gospel message, as it signifies both the crucifixion and the exaltation of Christ (John 12:32).

4. Universal Offer of Salvation: The offer of healing through the Bronze Serpent was extended to all who were bitten, symbolizing the universal offer of salvation through Christ. Romans 10:13 affirms, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Theological Reflections

The typology of the Bronze Serpent invites reflection on the nature of sin, judgment, and redemption. It underscores the necessity of faith in God's provision and the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work. The Bronze Serpent, a symbol of both judgment and healing, encapsulates the mystery of the cross, where justice and mercy meet. Through this Old Testament type, believers are reminded of the profound truth that salvation is found in looking to Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

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Numbers 21:9
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it on a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
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John 3:14,15
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
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Library

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... sight from the Lord, [2841] became types of the ... she became a fellow-citizen of the
Saviour; and now ... memory "a monument more lasting than bronze," [3017] which ...
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