Nehushtan

From: Christian Treasury: Volume 1

Numbers 21:4‑6 • 2 min. read • grade level: 7

What a peculiar word is Nehushtan. It means a piece of brass. The serpent of brass that Moses made had been kept all those many years from Moses to Hezekiah. He called it Nehushtan.

In the journeys of the children of Israel through the wilderness, we read that, "The soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way." Num. 21:4⁴And 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. (Numbers 21:4). Then, "The people spake against God, and against Moses." Num. 21:5⁵And 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. (Numbers 21:5). Because of their murmurings, "The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died." Num. 21:6⁶And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. (Numbers 21:6).

The people confessed their sin and asked Moses to pray unto the Lord to take away the serpents.

Moses prayed for the people and then the Lord instructed him to make a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole. When anyone was bitten, all he had to do was to look at the serpent of brass and he lived.

What saved the people was the faith to believe the word of the Lord, and not that piece of brass.

In the beginning of Hezekiah's reign, "He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it." 2 Kings 18:4⁴He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. (2 Kings 18:4). So they worshipped that visible, material object and forgot the word of the Lord.

Would men do such things today? Is it possible that the cross could become an object of veneration? Or might a sepulcher or some so-called holy place in the so-called holy land be worshiped?

John's last word in his first epistle is, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." Also in 1 Cor. 10:14¹⁴Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:14) we are told, "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Material things contribute nothing to a Christian's worship today. Although we are on earth, actually our worship is in heaven where Christ has gone, "now to appear in the presence of God for us." Heb. 9:24²⁴For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24). There, "into the holiest," we are invited to, "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." Heb. 10:19-22¹⁹Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; ²¹And having an high priest over the house of God; ²²Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19‑22).

Let us be sure that we, "worship God in (by) the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Phil. 3:3³For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3). How easily and quickly the flesh will make an idol! "The flesh profiteth nothing." John 6:63⁶³It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63). Ed.

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.