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God’s mercy finds a way for sinful Israelites to live, and a pole with a snake foreshadows Christ’s crucifixion.

BibleGateway: Numbers 21:4-9

ESV Text: Numbers 21:4-9


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 0:31 and ends at about 1:51

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     4 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. 5 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. 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 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. 8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 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.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 447:
Fight the Good Fight

— Organ Audio

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1. Fight the good fight With all thy might; 
Christ is thy Strength and Christ thy Right. 
Lay hold on life, and it shall be 
Thy joy and crown eternally. 

2. Run the straight race Thro’ God’s good grace; 
Lift up thine eyes and seek His face. 
Life with its way before us lies; 
Christ is the Path and Christ the Prize. 

3. Cast care aside; Upon thy Guide 
Lean, and His mercy will provide; 
Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove 
Christ is its Life and Christ its Love. 

4. Faint not nor fear, His arms are near; 
He changeth not, and thou art dear. 
Only believe, and thou shalt see 
That Christ is All in all to thee.