Moses' brass serpent symbolic - Church News

Numbers 21 relates the story of the Israelites who were bitten by poisonous serpents, and then saved by looking on the brass serpent that Moses had made as a test of the people's faith and obedience.

"The miracle of healing associated with the `serpent of brass . . . put . . . upon a pole' has intrigued many generations," writes Daniel H. Ludlow in A Companion to Your Study of the Old Testament. "The symbol of the American Medical Association (serpent entwined around a pole) derived from this incident."Jesus used the symbolism to refer to His own resurrection (John 3:14-15), and Book of Mormon prophets also likened the incident to the life-giving resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Hel. 8:14-16)

"Some archaeologists who believe in the Book of Mormon have wondered if the titles for God used by early middle-American cultures (such as Quetzalcoatl, `bird-serpent') might not have originated when Jesus Christ (whose resurrection was symbolized by the serpent raised up by Moses) appeared to them by descending out of heaven like a bird.

"Ellis Rasmussen has provided the following commentary concerning the incident:

" `Another complaint again about manna brought punishment in the form of venomous serpents. Escape from death was provided through a little test of faith and obedience: Moses made a bronze serpent upon a pole and gave instructions that all who would look up at it should be saved. Another Israelite writer says later that because of the "simplicity" of the cure, the obstinate refused to comply and receive salvation.' "

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