Messiah and the Serpent, what's the relationship? Num 21:6; John 3:14

SYMBOLISM IN THE “SERPENT” (Num 21:6; John 3:14)


When we read about “The Serpent” in the Torah/Bible, we are reminded of Satan. “The Devil is the Serpent.” 99% of the time, it DOES symbolize “HaSatan.” But what about the other 1%. If it isn’t HaSatan, then, who can it be? Are you thinking about Messiah? Really? Seriously? Well, let’s see.

We read in the Torah when the people of Israel sinned and complained, that Adonai sent “fiery serpents” to bite the people. Some translations say that they were “Seraphim” angels of fire, or perhaps the “Seraphim” directed the serpents to bite the people. One can only wonder. Yet when the people repented, Adonai directed Moshe to erect a bronze serpent on a pole and whoever looked at it, would be healed of the serpent poison.(Numbers 21:6-9)

In John 3:14, Yeshua speaks saying; “As Moshe lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the Son of Man be lifted up.”

Does this mean that the serpent, in this case, is Messiah? Or is the bronze serpent “likened” unto Messiah in being “lifted up?’

Here are some things to ponder on. The people were poisoned by the serpents’ bites, yet the same serpent on the pole, when looked at, healed the one looking at it. Scientists take snake venom and make serum out of it, so as to heal people who are bitten by that same snake. The venom that kills, is the venom that heals.

In our case, sin kills, yet Messiah Yeshua carried our sins on the cross, so being filled with our sins, we who look and trust IN Him, who carried our sins, are healed! What else can we see?

In Hebrew gematria. The words we look at are; “Nachash” (serpent) and “Mashiach” (Messiah). When we add up the number values, they both equal “358”. “Nun, Chet, Sheen” = 358, “Mem, Sheen, Yod, Chet” = 358.

Then we look at the symbolism in these numbers. 3 = Elohim, 5=grace, 8=new beginning. What can we see in the number 358 then? One way we can look at it is; “Elohim gives grace in our new beginning” (as born-again believers, we are saved by “saving grace”. 3+5+8 = 16. 1=Echad, 6=man. “Elohim who is “Echad” (the Unity of ONE) became man (to save mankind from the curse of sin). “16” 1+6=7. “7” is perfection.

What then can be the whole message? “Elohim, who is “echad” ONEness in three, in his grace toward mankind, became a perfect man, without sin, so that mankind, whosoever that “looks up” to HIM, might be saved and have a “new beginning”.


Shalom... Ben Avraham

"The way of a snake up a rock"
Climbing a rock by making a vacuum with its belly against the rock:
"I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: you therefore, wise as serpents and harmless as doves."
To seek God in our heart and continually return to Him, to become One with "The Rock that is higher than I." With Patience unaffected by circumstances we find the Way; avoiding the sand of the world, that would break oneness between us and the rock and cause our downfall. Not to be blinded by self-sufficiency and resist the operations of Grace: to suffer all things with a single eye to please Him, "Harmless as doves." Neglect of Interior Life is not remaining in Him who Is the Life of the vine, the God of all comfort. "You shall seek Me and find, when you search for Me with all your heart."

Firstly, this is all way out of my depth, so forgive me the ignorance which may well follow.

In Exodus 7 staffs become serpents but Aaron's staff then becomes a serpent and "swallows up the other staffs".

And maybe Jesus's Soul/Spirit had to drag His flesh, against its will, to be crucified.

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” (John 12:27&28)

So, Jesus "overcame the world", said "Father receive My Spirit" and said He will send the Spirit to us if we will believe in Him, thereby empowering us also to overcome the world.

"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:5 )

And so, now we too have to put to death the works of our own flesh and offer ourselves spiritual sacrifices to the Lord which we do precisely by keeping our eyes on Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24)

Let us more and more find our joy in doing the beautiful and pure Will of God and not serving our own self/flesh.

( My apologies if this offended anyone. )

Amazing insight, you said it well. Yes Jesus dragged His flesh against the will of the flesh and our flesh as well. We need to be like the thief on the cross, with free will taken away, so that we put away our divided spirit, just as you sais.

Or maybe, precisely of our own free-will, we 'choose' to serve God's will, and so, like Jesus, and precisely by keeping our eyes on Him, we drag our own flesh with its opposing will, to the cross.

(btw, thank you for your kind words)

Are you then saying OP, that the "One who Bites", is also the "One that heals?"

I can understand a truth that "One's anger, or wrath, can be another's evil and calamity." Especially, when it comes to Elohim!
Where just the mere ire of "the Unity of One", destroys whole star systems!

Not to say that Elohim doesn't have enemies. Because He/They do indeed!

Is that there is this "governmental structure" of the Kingdom of God, and Kingdom of Light, that in the wisdom of Elohim, just plum evades the mind of man!

I believe there is much of a man's sub-conscious, where the "spirit world" resides, that doesn't need to be, or remain there. But, has been more er less chased there. As it seems, that that which is seen? Because it is always seen? Over time, supersedes that which is not seen.

I would offer. I think like all parables (faith issues) they teach us about the things not seen . The mystery of faith revealed .

The Serpent is used to represent the father of lies. Poison represents lies as false prophecy or false doctrines .Like the false prophecy below Genesis 3: 4)

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Genesis3: 4

False prophecy will not affect the elect clothed with the armor of God as shown as a sign that follows after those given the faith to believe. like in the example in Mark.

Mark 16:16-18 King James Version (KJV) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Christians who do have the born again Spirit of Christ, like the noble Bereans in Acts, they when Paul prophesied were moved daily by the Spirit in them, working with them searching to see if those things are so. or like we are informed (2 Timothy 2:15) to study to show oneself approval onto God .he is the teacher comforter who also brings to our minds that which he has taught us.( the antidote to the poison of false prophecy.)

Brass represents Judgement. The brass image as that seen pronounced judgment on those who refuse to hear the word of God and therefore beleive. They refused to believe by not turning to look showing our Father in heaven was not drawing them. For no man can come unless they are given the faith that alone comes from hearing God to move.. You could say the demonstration is a reversal of the garden where faith from God not seen lost it place to please God.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.John 3:14-15

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness the Holy Spirit working in the heart drawing man to turn and look by a faith (when he looketh upon it, shall live Numbers 21:9).the same applies to Christ we look by faith.

Those in Numbers who did not turn to look had no faith needed to move them .

They are the ones that the next generation that turned that sign of rebellion into a idol image as a sign against those who refuse to believe prophecy .They were made to grind it into a powder and drink it to symbolized drinking the judgment or wrath of God. A punishment no man could bear, only Christ as the lamb of God slain from before the creation of the world who demonstrated His love through the Son of man Jesus.

Yes I agree, the Grace of God is sufficient to enables us to follow His will, to let Him take over in the presence of enemies. To: Stay on the cross and let Him invade us with Unconditional Love by His Spirit. Yet we are slow learners most of us, divided between pride of achievements and Grace, except for a few like Marry Magdalene...

wE YIELD TO THE WILL OF OUR fATHER IN FAITH. wE DO NOT DO ANYTHING OF OUR WILL IN THE STRICTESS SENSE OF WILL.

Shalom to all, May you all enjoy this Sabbath's rest in HIM who set captives free, who, like the bronze serpent, was "lifted up"