BIBL 104 Old Testament Narrative Bible Study Assignment Bronze Serpent
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Liberty University *
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B37
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Religion
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
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6
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Name:
Tasha Kuester
Date:
February 8, 2021
Section:
Bible 104
Studying the Old Testament Narratives
Passage: Numbers 21:4-9
Instructions:
For this assignment, you will be studying the Old Testament story of The Bronze Serpent found
in Numbers 21:4-9. You will use the template below in order to complete a study of this passage.
In your study, you will use the skills of Observation, Interpretation, Correlation, and Application
that you have become familiar with through your reading in
Everyday Bible Study
.
I. Observation
A. I have read Numbers 21:4-9 in both a formal translation (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, or
CSB) and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer. You
will find a copy of the NASB,
ESV, CSB, and
NLT in your myWSB Library.
o
Yes
o
No
B
Having read the passage in both formal and functional translation, list at least 2 similarities
and 3 differences between the way both translations cover this story. You may list as many
similarities and differences that you find as long as you meet the minimum amount.
Similarities
Differences
Verse 4
Speaking of the Israelites demeanor during
the journey, the ESV and NLT both refer to
them as “impatient”
Verse 5
ESV: The Israelites refer to the food God has
given them as “worthless food”
NLT: The Israelites refer to the food from
heaven as “horrible manna”
Verse 7
The Israelites come to Moses in both ESV
and NLT saying “We have sinned”
Verse 6
ESV: God’s wrath defined as “fiery serpents”
NLT: God’s wrath defined as “poisonous
snakes”
Verse 8
ESV: God commands Moses to make a “fiery
serpent and set it on a pole...”
NLT: God commands Moses to make a
“replica of a poisonous snake...”
C
Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying
1. Main characters: (List them)
•
Moses, God, Israelites
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
As Moses leads the Israelites around the land of Edom, they grow weary and start
complaining. The Israelites speak out against God and Moses so God sends
snakes to punish them for their unfaithfulness. They ask Moses to pray to God, so
they may be saved from the serpents. God tells Moses to build a bronze serpent
and place it on a pole so that whoever is bitten by a snake can look at the bronze
serpent with faith and live.
3. Narrative structure: (50-100 words)
Introduction:
Moses leads the Israelites from Mount Hor to the Red Sea in order to bypass Edom.
Inciting Incident:
The Israelites speak out against God.
Rising Action:
God sends poisonous snakes to bite and kill the Israelites.
Climax:
The Israelites cry out to God and ask Moses to pray to save them from the snakes.
Falling Action:
Moses errects the bronze serpent, as God commanded, to save the Israelites.
Resolution:
God extends mercy to the Israelites and allows them to live after their transgressions.
C. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation.
1. Who:
•
God
•
Moses
•
Israelites
2. What:
Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt after the exodus when they begin to
rebuke God for leading them into the wilderness.
God responds by putting them in a situation where they have to rely on him for
survival. God does this by sending snakes into their camp.
The Israelites realize their transgressions and ask for Moses to pray to God for
their salvation.
God delivers his people with the erection of the bronze serpent.
3. Where:
•
Mt Hor
•
Red Sea
•
Edom (around the land)
4. When:
•
During the time of the exodus from Egypt
•
After Moses was given the Ten Commandments
•
Before the reign of Hezekaih
5. Why:
Why did Moses lead the Israelites around Edom?
Edom refused to grant Israel passage through his land.
Why did the Israelites speak out against God?
They were tired of the daily struggle to survive and, given their fallen
nature, they forgot everything God done for them.
Why did God send poisonous snakes to bite the Israelites?
The Israelites needed to be in a position where they were forced to rely on
God for salvation from the snakes.
Why did Moses build the bronze serpent?
God instructed Moses to build the bronze serpent so that whoever looks at
it will be saved.
6. How:
How are the Israelites angering God?
They complain that slavery was better than trusting in God to deliver them
from the wilderness.
How does God react to their unfaithfulness?
God sends snakes the bite the Israelites
How do the Israelites respond to the snakes?
They call out to God for forgiveness and ask Moses to pray for their
salvation.
How does God offer salvation from the snakes?
He commands Moses to build the bronze serpent and whoever looks at it
will be saved.
II. Interpretation
A. Determine the author’s main point. In 1-2 paragraphs (100-400 words) explain what you
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think the author is trying to communicate in this passage. Remember, the Old Testament
narratives frequently communicate truth by showing it to us in story form instead of
telling it to us by way of teaching or sermon. Please remember that words like “I,” “We,”
“Us, and “Our” are application words and not interpretation words. Interpretation is about
“then and there” and not “here and now.” We were not there so the passage is not about
us. Our “part” in the passage is application or how we will respond to God’s Word.
The story of the bronze serpent emphasizes Gods desire to bring his people to salvation.
The Israelites are God’s chosen people and still they were unable to be good enough long
enough to be worthy of his presence. Even though the Israelites rebelled against God, He
did not abandon them; He continued to offer salvation. The bronze serpent is an analogy
for Jesus Christ in that it was a sign from God that was visible to all and whoever looks at
it in faith will be granted His grace. God did not need the bronze serpent to heal the
Israelites; He wanted His people to respond to the call of redemption by cooperating with
Him.
B. Based on your answer above, write out one principle from this passage. You should be able
to express this principle in 1-3 sentences.
God desires his people to be saved through His grace. Despite the human condition, we
are God’s chosen people and we must respond to Him to be saved. It emphasizes how
God redirects us when we turn from Him and how we can be saved only through Him.
III. Correlation
A. How does this Old Testament narrative fit within the metanarrative of the Bible? State what
type of story you believe this to be (creation, fall, redemption, or new creation) and
explain why you believe this to be so. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200
words) in length.
The story of the bronze serpent fits within the redemption theme of the metanarrative of
the Bible. It showcases God’s grace and willingness to save his people if only they
respond to His call of salvation. God delivers the Israelites from the snakes in the
wilderness by having the bronze serpent visible to all. God will go on to redeem all of
humanity with the symbol of Christ on the cross. In this story, God’s chosen people
rebuke him because they have forgotten how he delivered them from slavery in Egypt.
The snakes are simply God’s reminder that our attention should be on Him and only
through His grace will we find redemption.
B. How does your principle fit with the rest of the Scripture? This principle is the one you have
written out in 1-3 sentences in the Interpretation section. If your principle is a true
Biblical principle it will be reflected throughout the Scriptures. Where is the principle
discovered in this Old Testament narrative found elsewhere in the Scriptures? Your
explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
We will never be able to enter the kingdom of God without His saving grace. In
Leviticus God gave the priests certain rules to follow in order to be in His presence but
throughout Israel’s walk with God they continued to sin and defy God’s commands. God
used the symbol of the bronze serpent to remind the Israelites they must repent of their
sins and come to Him with a faithful heart. When the Israelites called out to God and
asked Moses to pray for them, they were admitting their sin and because they looked to
God, He saved them through a mediator. In this case the mediator was the bronze serpent
but in the wider scope of the biblical stories, Jesus is our one true mediator to the Father.
C. How does this Old Testament narrative reflect the person and work of Jesus Christ? State
and explain at least one way that the principle of this narrative can be identified in the
person and work of Jesus Christ. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200
words) in length.
In the book of John, Jesus references the bronze serpent when speaking with Nicodemus.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted
up that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)
. In the wilderness
the bronze serpent was a symbol that anyone who believed in God and looked at it would
be saved. It is the same as someone looking at Jesus on the cross with faith. God uses
these symbols to show all people, not just the Israelites, that through Him they may be
redeemed. Jesus shed his blood on the cross for all humanity but only those that believe
and answer the call of redemption will be saved.
IV. Application
What points of application can be made using the Four Questions for Application? State and
explain 1 point of application for each of these four questions. Your explanation for each of
these points should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
A. The question of duty
The bronze serpent was the tool God used to redirect His people. Sometimes God uses
His acts of wrath to remind us where our faith should rest. In John 3:18, Jesus says,
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not
believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only son.” It is
our duty as Christians to remember that God delivered the Isrealites with the use of the
bronze serpent. God has delivered us from sin through the life, death, and resurrection of
His son Jesus Christ. God’s requirements of his people are simple; we can find
redemption only through Him.
B. The question of character
Through the narrative of the bronze serpent, Moses exhibits the characteristics of a Godly
man. He was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of captivity and when the Israelites
begin to abandon their faith, Moses is there praying. He prays that God will deliver His
people and obeys God’s command to build the bronze serpent. Moses stays faithful to
God even when the Israelites speak out against him. It would have been easy for Moses
to give into the will of the people and speak poorly of God given their circumstances. We
learn through the character of Moses that as long as we remain faithful, God will deliver
us. This narrative also showcases the character of the nation of Israel. They were
delivered from slavery, watched the Egyptians drowned in the Red Sea, given food from
heaven, and guided by a pillar of cloud and even still they were unfaithful. We should
learn to avoid these traits because questioning God’s will and complaining only lead
them further into rebellion and further away from God’s grace.
C. The question of goals
Moses’ goal through the narrative is to lead God’s people to the promised land. Along the
way the Israelites’ modify their goals and begin to stray from the path of righteousness by
speaking out against God. God could have turned His back on the Israelites but instead he
offered salvation through Moses and the bronze serpent. In order to remind His people to
keep the faith and stay the course, He puts them in a position where they must call on him
for forgiveness. God does this to keep his people faithful so that they can someday enter
into the promised land. Our mission is to be reminded that God can deliver us from our
worldly troubles if we continue to believe in Him.
D. The question of discernment
The Israelites believed that if they turned around and went back into slavery that they
would be happier than they were following God. They could not stop thinking about their
worldly needs and even complained about the food they received from God. We often
complain about our jobs and daily responsibilities, hoping we will “catch a break”. We
need to stop thinking only of ourselves and have faith, like Moses, that God will deliver
us from our worldly toils. We should seek to discern our personal comfort from the
salvation God has provided us through Jesus Christ. God did not promise his people
would not suffer but he did promise salvation and this is shown throughout the narrative
of the bronze serpent.
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