It is always striking and saddening to read of Israel's failure and Numbers is one of the books which shows us Israel's failure and makes us aware of our similarity to them.
In Numbers 20 and 21 we read of two incidents that in the New Testament are taken and viewed as precursors, shadows of Christ. As God provides water from the rock, and then after Israel's rebellion and subsequent judgement God provides a means of salvation by faith in looking at the snake.
It tells us of God's holiness and the necessity of his punishing sin, we also see that he does not separate the sin and the sinner, he judges and punishes the people for their sin. However we see again the love and gracious mercy of God as he provides a way of salvation by faith. In John's gospel Jesus answers Nicodemus question 'How can this be?' by picking up and reminding him of this incident with the snake and applies it to his own lifting up, just as salvation is by looking to the snake by faith so whoever believes in Christ will have eternal life.
Salavtion is by faith alone in Christ alone.
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