The reason Jehovah sent snakes into the Israelite camp is because the people had cast God aside, treating His deliverance from Egypt as nothing. Death comes in when we turn our backs on God and reject the salvation He has accomplished. Life can only be found in His presence, and the result for Israel is that “many of the people of Israel died” (Num. 21:6).

Judgment is a punishment, but it also serves to raise awareness and draw the sinner back to the Lord. The snakes have the desired effect on the people, as seen by the Israelites’ confession, “we have sinned.” Confession is a necessary first step to restoration. But what can a holy God do with those who have sinned? He would not be righteous in ignoring or passing over it as though it did not happen.

In their ignorance, the people merely ask for the snakes to be removed, but God has a much more effective solution in mind. Removing the snakes would do nothing to help those who had been bitten, and as it relates to the poisonous venom of sin, we have all been bitten. Even if God could deliver us from the presence of sin, the effect of it runs deeply in every person, and we are under a death sentence as it runs its course (cf. Jas. 1:13–15).

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:14–15). This is the only solution that satisfies God’s holiness and demonstrates His immeasurable love. The death of the Lord Jesus stands forever as the only means for curing sin’s venom. He laid down His life so that we could pass from death to life.