THE BRAZEN SERPENT by Eld. A. S. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 21, 1881

THE BRAZEN SERPENT.

By Eld. A. S. Hutchins

BY ELD. A. S. HUTCHINS.

In the history of the travels of the children of Israel through the wilderness, we learn that they murmured against Moses, saying, "There is no bread, neither is there any water." Like other bitter complaints, this manifests the unreasonableness, injustice, and ingratitude of their hearts; for God in a miraculous manner provided them with both bread and water.

Hitherto a gracious providence had preserved them from the sting of fiery serpents, which beset their pathway; but now they fall a victim to their venomous bites. God pities them, and provides a remedy unto which they may look and live. Upon a pole the brazen serpent is set up as God directed Moses; and throughout the camp it is heralded: "And it shall come to pass that every one that is bitten, when he shall look upon it, shall live."

How simple, how effectual the provision, the remedy whereby the poisoned might be healed and live; and how easy the terms to be complied with to the believing heart. Yet in sight of this Heaven-sent remedy some perished.

On the subject of the cure of the serpent-bitten Israelites a good comment is found in the book of Wisdom: "But they were troubled for a small season that they might be admonished, having a sign of salvation, to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law. For he that turned himself toward it was not saved by the thing he saw, but by thee, that art the Saviour of all men." Chap. 16 : 67.

Of himself, says Jesus: "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.

In the brazen serpent there was no power to heal or save the suffering and dying. By the word and power of God they were healed. And yet they must look to the serpent that they might be saved. In Christ are blended the power and willingness to save the sinner. The sting, the poison of sin, may be removed. "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

But in the light of the gospel, with the history of rebellious, murmuring Israel before us, and ten thousand blessings smiling around us, we are liable to murmur and to forget all the benefits of the gospel provisions. Hence Paul most solemnly warns us: "Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them." "Neither let us commit fornication as some of them committed." "Neither let us tempt Christ as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured." "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." Conclusion. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Cor. 10 : 7-12.

Following ancient Israel into the promised land, we find them bowing around, and burning incense to, that senseless brazen serpent. It is now their god, or a god in their midst. Oh, what blindness! Oh, what a perversion of the use for which it was erected upon the ensign in the days of their fathers! And it was not until the reign of the God-fearing king of Judah, Hezekiah, that this serpent, "Nehushtan," was destroyed. 2 Kings 18 : 4.

How could this people give the adoration due to God, to this piece of brass? Christian reader, you will echo the question. How? But to come home, to come to our own hearts, to our high and holy respect for God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, does not sin lie at our own door?

Have we not allowed in our own affections, preferences, and practices, a rival institution to supplant the Sabbath of the Lord our God? Are not professed followers of the meek and lowly Lamb wont to thank God for the Christian Sabbath, while ignoring and trampling under foot the Sabbath of the fourth commandment? Where is the proof for this change?

Does it lie where a returned missionary from an island in the Indian Ocean, said in a sermon last summer, it lay? "Thank God," said he, "the Christian does not need a commandment to keep the first day Sabbath, it is the Christian's privilege to observe it."

But we say, thank the giver of the holy Sabbath that many are, on the very best ground, doubting both precept for, and privilege of, the Christian to observe the first-day as the Sabbath of the Bible, though some may fear to confess the truth on this point, as the parents of the man born blind feared to acknowledge that it was by the power of Jesus that he had been made to see, for fear of excommunication from the church.

As the man was born blind and lived in blindness until the compassionate Redeemer opened his eyes, so many of us were spiritually born blind and lived in blindness on the subject of the fourth commandment until the message of the third angel reached us, bringing the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

As the young man, though reviled, could exclaim: "One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see," so may we say touching the Sabbath question. And as he acknowledged Christ, so may we acknowledge the present truth. And as he went on his way rejoicing though an excommunicant, leaving timid parents behind to share the praises of men, so may we cut loose from opposing influences, leaning upon the arm of Christ for support, "rejoicing that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

It is as certain that truth will triumph over every error, as it is that Hezekiah broke in pieces the serpent of brass. And now allow me to ask the reader, are you walking in all the light God has given you? Said Christ to the Jews, "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." John 9 : 41. May the language of our hearts be:

"Lord, search my soul, try every thought, Though my own heart accuse me not Of walking in a false disguise, I beg the trial of thine eyes."