Israelites' rebellions

In the gospel reading today, we read of
So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me." (John 8:28) Jesus was applying the 'Bronze Serpent' typology in Numbers 21 on himself.
The middle section of Numbers records a string of rebellions of the Israelites in their wilderness journey (Numbers 10:11-21:25). The 'Bronze Serpent' is the last one recorded in this section of Numbers.  Maybe it is beneficial for us to reflect on these incidents which were very human indeed.

To improve the living standard

In Numbers 10, the Israelites had already received the 10 commandments and God had started supplying them daily with manna. Now, they were not satisfied with manna only. They wanted meat. To improve the living standard was a totally legitimate request. Therefore, God instructed Moses to gather 70 elders to bear the burden of the people with Moses (Numbers 11:16-17). Then God gave them quails (Numbers 11:31).

To escape from freedom

Then they sent men to spy out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:2). After 40 days, the spies returned and reported that it was truly flowing with milk and honey (Numbers 13:27), but was heavily fortified and guarded by giants. In face of such difficulty, the Israelites decided to make another captain to lead them back to Egypt (Numbers 14:4). God was angry and sent the people in a zigzag circuit for 40 years, everyday a year (Numbers 14:34) instead of occupying the Promised Land directly and immediately. God spent 40 years to purge the Israelites of their slavery mentality developed for 400 years in Egypt. They preferred the security and comfort of slavery to the risks and hardship of freedom. Erich Fromm, a social psychologist who authored The Art of Loving (1956), first wrote The Fear of Freedom (1941) to explore man's struggle with this gift from God.

To demand democracy

Then came the rebellion from a group of Israelites led by Korah, Dathan and Abiram. They were joined by 250 leaders of the congregation (Numbers 16:1-2) to challenge the authority of Moses.
and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them; why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" (Numbers 16:3) Their argument was legitimate though their motives were not. In the end, the earth opened up and swallowed them and their households alive (Numbers 16:32-33).

To demand living water

Then came the Meribah incident in Numbers 20. This time, the Israelites demanded water in the wilderness and Moses fell. God instructed Moses:
"Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water; so you shall bring water out of the rock for them; so you shall give drink to the congregation and their cattle." (Numbers 20:8) Instead of telling the rock to bring forth water, Moses told the people
"Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:10) Water gushed out when Moses struck the rock twice with his rod.
And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." (Numbers 20:12) This incident cost Moses his own entry into the Promised Land. How Moses fell! How Moses fell!

Becoming impatient

After their victory over Canaan, the Israelites became impatient and rebelled for the last time.
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 we loathe this worthless food." (Numbers 21:5) God sent fiery serpents among the people to bite them and many died. Fulfilling the role of the Prophet, Moses prayed for the people
And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live."
So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. (Numbers 21:8-9)

The Ancient Serpent tempted Eve and Adam and man fell from the state of grace. Jesus became the Healing Serpent to restore our state of grace and beyond. The Son of God won for God adopted sons and inheritors who are willing to confess their faith in God.
Praise be Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen.