Old Testament History

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 3, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 21.

Old Testament History.

SIN AND ITS REMEDY.

(Lesson 24, June 15, 1889.)

1. What troubled the people of Israel as they journeyed from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea? “And they journeyed from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom; and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.” Num. 21:4.

2. What did they at once do? “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.” Verse 5.

3. In the face of what special help from God did they thus wickedly murmur? “And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities; and he called the name of the place Hormah.” Verses 1–3.

4. What punishment did the Lord send upon them for their murmurings? “And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” Verse 6.

5. When the people confessed their sin, what did the Lord tell Moses to do? “Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” Verses 7 and 8.

6. What was the result? “And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” Verse 9.

7. By what were those saved who looked upon the serpent?

8. Of what was the lifting up of the serpent a figure? “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.

9. When the people murmured, against whom were they rebelling? “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.” 1 Cor. 10:9.

10. Then when the people looked upon the brazen serpent, what did their act signify?—That they now trusted Christ, their great Leader, and acknowledged that their punishment was due to lack of faith in him.

11. Until what time did the children of Israel preserve the brazen serpent? “Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea, son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.” 2 Kings 18:1–4.

12. How did they come to regard it? Verse 4.

13. What did Hezekiah call it?—Ib., margin.

14. In thus worshiping the brazen serpent, what did the people do? “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.” Rom. 1:25.

15. When people lose faith, what will they inevitably do? “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Rom. 14:23, last part.

16. How alone can men live righteous lives? “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” Hab. 2:4. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.