The Old Testament contains many symbols and objects through which God communicated His truth to the people of Israel. One of the most fascinating is the bronze serpent—later known as Nehushtan—a symbol that began as a divine instrument of healing but eventually became an idol that had to be destroyed. Its story, recorded mainly in Numbers 21 and 2 Kings 18, teaches powerful lessons about faith, obedience, and the danger of turning God’s gifts into objects of worship.
1. The Origin of the Bronze Serpent
The story begins during Israel’s journey through the wilderness. As they traveled from Mount Hor toward the Promised Land, the people complained against God and Moses about food, water, and the hardships of the desert.
Numbers 21:6–7 describes the judgment:
God sent fiery serpents—poisonous snakes—into the camp. Many were bitten and died. Recognizing their sin, the people confessed and begged Moses to pray for God’s mercy.
God’s Instruction
Instead of removing the snakes immediately, God gave a symbolic solution:
“Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that everyone who is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”— Numbers 21:8
Moses obeyed, crafting a bronze serpent and lifting it on a pole.
A Lesson About Faith
Anyone who looked at the bronze serpent would live, no matter how severe the bite. It became a powerful picture of God’s grace in the middle of judgment.
2. The Symbolism of the Bronze Serpent
From the beginning, the bronze serpent carried deep symbolic meaning.
A. A Picture of Sin and Judgment
The serpent symbolized:
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The deadly consequences of sin
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God’s righteous anger against rebellion
The very image of what was killing them became the tool through which God provided healing.
B. A Prophetic Symbol of Christ
Centuries later, Jesus referenced this event while speaking to Nicodemus:
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”— John 3:14
Just as the Israelites were healed by looking at the serpent, people today receive salvation by looking in faith to Jesus Christ, who was “lifted up” on the cross.
C. A Reminder of Obedience
The bronze serpent teaches that God’s healing often comes through simple obedience to His word.
3. From Holy Symbol to Idol
Over the centuries, the bronze serpent continued to exist among the Israelites. Instead of remembering its original purpose, the people began to treat it as a sacred object.
A. Worship and Incense
B. King Hezekiah’s Reform
During a time of spiritual revival, King Hezekiah took bold action:
“He brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made.”— 2 Kings 18:4
He even gave it a dismissive name: Nehushtan.
Meaning of “Nehushtan”
The word means:
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“A piece of bronze”
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or “A bronze object”
By renaming it, Hezekiah reminded the people that it had no divine power. It was only metal—not a god to be worshiped.
4. Lessons from the Story of Nehushtan
The history of the bronze serpent gives several important spiritual lessons:
1. God’s Gifts Must Never Replace God Himself
Even a holy object can become an idol if people worship it instead of the Lord.
2. Symbols Are Meaningful Only When They Point to God
The bronze serpent was powerful only because it pointed to:
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God’s mercy
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Faith
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Obedience
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The future work of Christ
3. Obedience Leads to Life
4. Idolatry Can Happen Subtly
This warns us to guard our hearts against:
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Over-reverence for objects
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Rituals without faith
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Tradition replacing truth
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Spiritual pride in religious symbols
5. Christ Is the Ultimate Fulfillment
The bronze serpent pointed forward to Jesus Christ, who provides the greater healing—healing from sin and eternal death.
Conclusion
The story of Nehushtan reveals both the mercy and the justice of God. A bronze serpent lifted on a pole became a powerful symbol of healing when Israel trusted God. But when people turned that symbol into an idol, it became dangerous to their faith and had to be destroyed.
The bronze serpent stands as a reminder that:
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God alone deserves worship,
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His gifts should lead us to Him,
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and salvation comes through looking to Christ, who was lifted up on the cross.
Its journey—from divine instrument to idol—teaches every generation the importance of true worship, humility, and unwavering faith in God alone.
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