Numbers 21:8-9: The Israelites, after complaining against God, are punished with venomous snakes. When they repent, God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Anyone who looks at the serpent is healed. This shows God’s provision of salvation when the people turn to Him in faith. John 3:14: Jesus refers to the story of the bronze serpent, explaining that just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must He (the Son of Man) be lifted up. This is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ crucifixion, where those who look to Him in faith will be saved from spiritual death. 2 Kings 18:4: King Hezekiah, in his reforms, destroys the bronze serpent because the Israelites had begun to worship it as an idol. This reminds us that even good things can become objects of idolatry if they take the place of God. 1. The bronze serpent was a symbol of God's mercy, pointing to Jesus as the ultimate healer. 2. Just as the Israelites looked to the serpent for healing, we are called to look to Christ for eternal life. 3. Hezekiah’s action warns us against allowing symbols or traditions to replace genuine faith in God. The story is a reminder of the dangers of ignoring God’s guidance and turning to harmful alternatives in times of despair.