有些人喜欢蛇，但很多人都不喜欢，我们视它们为危险，或者甚至是狡诈和诡秘的。
以色列民也不喜欢蛇。以色列民抱怨神之后，他们当中很多人被火蛇咬死。蛇通常在旷野出没，但它们也可以被视为能力的象征。以色列民埋怨说他们在埃及时比现在还好，或许有些人因此留意到蛇象征埃及的能力，因为蛇时常都在埃及王的皇冠上出现的。所以，人们认为神使火蛇出现，衪或许在说：“你们真的想回到法老王的痛苦、置人死地的权势下吗？埃及难道比这里更好吗？” 当然，蛇也会提醒我们伊甸园中欺哄人的那条蛇（创世记 3）。
神的医治方式，竟然是叫以色列民望一条高挂在杆子上的铜蛇，实在出人意料之外；以色列民仰望铜蛇，表明他们凭信心仰望耶和华的医治能力。惟有神才能医治他们，百姓需要以信心的眼目仰望衪。
在约翰福音 3:14-15中，耶稣说：“摩西怎样在旷野举蛇，人子也必照样被举起来，叫一切信他的都得永生。” 耶稣在十字架上被举起来，好叫我们得赦免和医治。你有没有信靠衪、好叫你也得拯救呢？
耶稣啊，你是被钉十字架的基督，我们敬拜你；今天当我们敬拜时，惟愿我们能以信心的眼目仰望你。奉你的名祈求，阿们。
民数记 21:4-9
4他们从何珥山起行，往红海那条路走，要绕过以东地。百姓因这路难行，心中甚是烦躁，
5就怨讟神和摩西说：“你们为什么把我们从埃及领出来，使我们死在旷野呢？这里没有粮，没有水，我们的心厌恶这淡薄的食物！”
6于是耶和华使火蛇进入百姓中间，蛇就咬他们，以色列人中死了许多。
7百姓到摩西那里，说：“我们怨讟耶和华和你，有罪了。求你祷告耶和华，叫这些蛇离开我们。”于是摩西为百姓祷告。
8耶和华对摩西说：“你制造一条火蛇，挂在杆子上。凡被咬的，一望这蛇，就必得活。”
9摩西便制造一条铜蛇，挂在杆子上。凡被蛇咬的，一望这铜蛇就活了。
"The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." - Numbers 21:8
Some people like snakes, but a lot of us don't. We see them as dangerous and even sneaky and suspicious.
Israel didn't like snakes either. Poisonous snakes caused many of the Israelites to die after grumbling against God. Snakes commonly live in the wilderness, but they can also be seen as a symbol of power. Perhaps because Israel complained that they were better off in Egypt, some people have noted that snakes were a symbol of the power of Egypt, for they were often displayed on the crowns of Egypt's kings. So people have suggested that in sending venomous snakes, maybe God was saying, "Do you really want to go back to Pharaoh's stinging, deadly power? Is Egypt better?" Of course, snakes can also remind us of the deceiving serpent in Eden (Genesis 3).
What's surprising is that God's cure for Israel was to look at a bronze snake lifted up on a pole. By doing that, Israel was looking in faith to the Lord's power to heal. Only God could cure, and the people needed to look to him with eyes of faith.
In John 3:14-15, Jesus said that "just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up," that whoever believes in him "may have eternal life." Jesus was lifted up on the cross so that we can be forgiven and healed. Are you trusting in him so that you can be saved?
Jesus, we worship you as the crucified Christ. As we worship today, may we look to you with eyes of faith. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
