The Bronze Serpent's Salvation

The Israelites' detour around Edom was long and difficult, and the people began to complain again, grumbling about the tedious journey and monotonous food. God sent venomous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. The people confessed their sin and begged Moses to pray to God. God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and mount it on a pole, so that anyone bitten by a snake could look at it and live. Moses did this, and everyone who looked up at the bronze snake was healed. This event became an important biblical symbol.