Matthew Henry Commentary Numbers 21:4-9

"And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 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, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And Jehovah sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Jehovah, and against thee; pray unto Jehovah, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And Jehovah said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a standard: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the standard: and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived." — Numbers 21:4-9 (ASV)

The children of Israel were wearied by a long march around the land of Edom. They spoke discontentedly of what God had done for them and distrustfully of what He would do. What will they be pleased with, whom manna will not please? Let not the contempt that some cast on the word of God make us value it less.

It is the bread of life, substantial bread, and it will nourish to eternal life those who by faith feed upon it, whoever may call it light bread. We see the righteous judgment God brought upon them for murmuring. He sent fiery serpents among them, which bit or stung many to death. It is to be feared that they would not have acknowledged their sin if they had not felt the sting of punishment; but they relented under the rod.

And God made a wonderful provision for their relief. The Jews themselves say it was not the sight of the bronze serpent that cured them; but in looking up to it, they looked up to God as the Lord who healed them. There was much of the gospel in this. Our Savior declared (John 3:14–15) that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up, that whatsoever believeth in Him, should not perish.

Compare their disease and ours. Sin bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Compare the application of their remedy and ours. They looked and lived, and we, if we believe, will not perish. It is by faith that we look unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). Whoever looked, however desperate his case, or feeble his sight, or distant his place, was certainly and perfectly cured.

The Lord can relieve us from dangers and distresses by means that human reason never would have devised. Oh, that the venom of the old serpent, inflaming men's passions and causing them to commit sins that end in their eternal destruction, were as acutely felt, and the danger as plainly seen, as the Israelites felt pain from the bite of the fiery serpents and feared the death that followed! Then no one would shut their eyes to Christ or turn from His gospel.

Then a crucified Savior would be so valued that all other things would be accounted loss for Him; then, without delay, and with earnestness and simplicity, all would apply to Him in the appointed way, crying, Lord, save us; we perish! Nor would anyone abuse the freeness of Christ's salvation while they considered the price it cost Him.