THE OBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE--Part 7

Now, The Events of Numbers 21;7-35, are Great Spiritual Landmarks, WHICH MUST NOT BE
IGNORED;

1. Israel's Conversion [Verses 7-9] came by her looking at The Brass Serpent, because she had already been delivered by blood and power--Exodus 12;1-4-[Turn].

2. Israel journeyed toward The Sunrising [Verses 10-16] because her conversion led her in the right direction, since it pointed to God's Purpose--
JOSHUA 1;15-''Until the LORD hath given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them; then ye shall return unto the land of your possessions, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.''

3. Israel's Conflicts were now, THE WARS OF THE LORD [Verses 11-14].

4. Israel's Song came from HER INWARD SATISFACTION [Verse 17].
Here is the Subjective Experience of The Holy Spirit's expressing Himself in Testimony.

5. Israel sought to pass through enemy territory, PEACEABLY [Verse 22 and 20;17].

6. Israel defended Herself, but she was not the aggressor [Verses 23-32].

7. Israel was victorious because God had delivered the enemy to her [Verses 33-35].

The only other reference to The Serpent of Brass is;
2 KINGS 18;1-4-[Turn].
Here, that which had been designed for a good purpose, became a great evil.
The Serpent of Brass had not been mentioned for almost 800 years.

Hezekiah, the 7th good king of Judah, set out immediately, to restore what Ahaz, his wicked Father, HAD DESTROYED.
Hezikiah has been called a Jewish Iconoclast-One who attacks cherished beliefs and traditional customs, based on error, or superstition;
or, a breaker, or destroyer of images.
Among the things he destroyed was The Serpent of Brass, made by Moses.
He called it ''Nehushtan'' [ a piece of Brass].
The King saw A LIFELESS, SENSELESS, piece of BRASS, that the people accounted as a ''god'' and burned incense to.

The Serpent of Brass WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE AN OBJECT OF WORSHIP.
It was an object lesson, pointing to something greater.

Now every symbol loses its significance and true value, if it is made into an idol.
[Noah's Ark will be found and worshipped in the Tribulation period.]

The Serpent of Brass suggests to us, the danger of going beyond God's command, in what some call, Religious Duty.
God commanded the serpent to be made and used, but there is no record that He commanded its preservation, as He did, regarding, The Golden pot, that contained the manna, or Arron's rod, and the tables of the covenant.

Now, this emphasizes the importance of Christian observances and Duties being fulfilled, according to God's Word, rather than according to peoples' superstitious ideas [Acts 17].
Failure to maintain What God has set forth, to be observed in His Churches, is just as erroneous [ Baptism, Lord's Table, anointing with oil].

King Hezekiah manifested honesty and boldness when he called The Brass Serpent ''Neushtan''.
Why was he so bold'
2 Kings 18;5-7-[Turn].

Things should be called by their correct names;
and no man of God should ever low-key idolatry, heresy, or wickedness.

Calling things by their proper names today, is a virtue.
The Preacher should lift up his voice as a trumpet, to show people their sins-Few do it, today.