But you initially said that God gave EVERYONE a chance to look at the pole. And that's false!
No it is not false. Because the moment the pole was risen, then everyone had the chance.
But you refuse to see this..
The people who were NOT bitten approached Moses to intercede for them after seeing their brethren (non-elect) die.
Lets look at the passage ok?
7 Therefore
the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
Nice try buddy.. But fail..
Excuse me,And what did these people ask Moses to do? They wanted him to ask God to REMOVE the snakes from the camp! This is how we know for certain that they had not been bitten prior to the creation of the serpent pole.
No. actually this is not true.. Yes they asked for moses to ask God to remove the snakes (the punishment remember THE SNAKES WHERE GODS PUNISHMENT
5 And
the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul [c]loathes this worthless bread.” 6 So
the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and
they bit the people; and
many of the people of Israel died.
Also. It says They bit the PEOPLE. and MANY died.
Please. for your own sake. learn to read!!!
If they had been bitten by poisonous snakes, they would have cried out for healing, not mere removal of the snakes! What good would removing the snakes from the camp when people are literally dying from their bites?
Because they thought it would save them, they did not know any better, Like most humans we do not know what is best for us. so we ask for things we think will help. But we have a God who does know what we need, and God sends a savior.
I know it is hard for you to understand but you need to look at the picture
1. Israel rebelled against God and Moses
2. God punished them by sending fiery serpents in which were causing them to die
3. They asked for God to remove the snakes (thinking that would help them)
4. God sent the thing that could really help them, and save them..
Of course, God did not give them what they asked for. He did not remove the snakes but instead commanded Moses to make the serpent pole, which very likely took Moses some time to do. It might not even have been completed the same day, since formed out of bronze. God's remedy was not removal, rather he used the horrible affliction and trial that he had sent upon the Israelites for their disobedience as a catalyst for faith. Faith is a gift of God and that gift can come in all various forms through God's providence, with all them, however, having as their object Christ. So, here we have another great example in scripture of God bringing good out of evil, as He did with Joseph, for example. Not only that but we have another example of how God's grace is greater than man's sin! And God is greater than man's [sinful] heart!
But you missed the whole point Jesus made.
Those who HAD FAITH and looked lived.
Those who did not would go on to die
Just like Jesus was risen on a Pole (cross)
those who have faith will live
those who do not will die
Faith is the cause of new birth..
You said Jesus never gave a cause. He not only gave it, He used an OT example to prove what he meant..
Anything else you want to know about the Bronze Serpent Incident?
You still do not get it
Make it fit with John 3.. Jesus did not wast his breath, he mentioned it for a reason.. You have failed to show that reason.