Name: Lucas Weishar
Date: 08/28/2020
Section: BIBL 104-B06
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 Both the NIV and the KJV state
they traveled from Mount Hor through the
Red Sea around Edom.
Verse 5
NIV: "we detest this miserable food"
KJV: "our soul loatheth this light bread"
Verse 5 Both NIV and KJV state the people
spoke against God and Moses
Verse 6
NIV "Lord sent venomous snakes"
KJV "Lord sent fiery serpents"
Verse 7 Both NIV and KJV stated the
people sinned against the Lord and Moses"
Verse 9
NIV "Moses made a bronze snake"
KJV "Moses made a serpent of brass"
C. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying
1. Main characters: (List them)
Moses, people of Israel, The Lord
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
The children of Israel left the city with Moses to be free. They marched around the
land of Edom. They were very tired, weary and began to curse God for taking them
away from their home and were without their usual enjoyments. The Lord provided
them food, yet they were discontent with it and didn’t enjoy it. God sent fiery
serpents that began to bite them and many of them died. The children of Israel began
to feel regret for how they talked bad about the Lord and Moses. The Lord told Moses
to make a serpent out of bronze and set it upon a pole, and those that were bitten and
looked upon the bronze serpent would not die.
3. Narrative structure: (50-100 words)
Hint: Be sure to consult the section on narrative/story structure given in the tutorial
for this assignment.
Introduction:
The children of Israel and Moses traveling to Edom by the Red Sea.
Inciting incident:
The children of Israel were discouraged because of the bread and lack of water.
Rising action:
The children of Israel began to curse God and Moses for their pains and sufferings.
Climax:
God sends serpents to bite and kill the children of Israel.
Falling Action:
The children of Israel repent and comes to Moses and the Lord for help.
Resolution: The Lord tells Moses to make a serpent of bronze those that look upon it will
not die from the snake bite.
D. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation.
1. Who:
Moses
The Children of Israel
The Lord (speaking to Moses)
2. What:
Moses took the children of Israel out of the land of mount Hor by the Red Sea to
arrive in the land of Edom.
The children of Israel were very angry because they had very little water and the
bread that was given to them didn’t taste good.
The children of Israel began to curse God and Moses for their pains and
sufferings. God sent serpents to them, bit them and many died. The people were
repentant and asked Moses for help.
Moses asked God for help, God told Moses to build a serpent out of Brass and
anyone that looked upon it and was bit, would not perish.
3. Where:
Mount Hor
The Red Sea
Land of Edom
Israel
Between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.
4. When:
1407 BC.
During the Times of Moses
5. Why:
Why were the Children of Israel traveling to the Land of Edom?
To get away from the oppressor.
Why did they start rebelling against God and Moses?
They had barely any water and food.
Why did God punish the Children of Israel by sending snakes?
They cursed God and Moses for their problems instead of having faith.
6. How:
How did God punish the Children of Israel for their lack of faith?
He sent serpents to bite them.
How did God fix the problem with the serpents after the children of Israel repented?
He told Moses to build a serpent out of bronze and to have the children who had
been bitten, look at the serpent and would not die.
II. Interpretation
A. Determine the author’s main point. In 1-2 paragraphs (100-400 words) explain what you
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 the faith needed in God no matter what the
circumstances would be. The author tells the story of a group of people that are struggling and
following who they believe is a prophet of God. Times get rough and their faith waivers and they
began to wonder if who they are following is who they think he is.
They forgot so easily all the other miracles Moses did through the power of God and
began to curse him and God. God decided to give them a harsh lesson in not having faith in him.
A lot of people died from snake bites. They were in such bad shape that when Moses told them
all they had to do was have faith and look at this bronze statue he made they would not die.
Sometimes we need a little nudge in the right direction and our faith may be on the fence until
we see something crazy like this. I am surprised they had such little faith after everything they
saw.
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 is a God of forgiveness. God will always forgive you if you humble yourself, ask for
repentance, do what he says, have faith and follow his prophets. If you forget he will
humble you and let you remember he is the one who is in charge.
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.
This story fits very well with the metanarrative of the bible. That metanarrative is that God is the
ruler of all things, he is triumphant in whatever he does and is forever at war with Satan. This
type of story I believe deals with the fall and redemption of man. Man fell when they decided to
go against God and Moses when they complained about the food rations and their safety. They
were then redeemed when they repented and had faith in Moses again after looking at the serpent
to be saved from the venom of the serpents God sent down to punish them from certain death.
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.
The principle I chose was that God is a very forgiving God. This principle is very prevalent
throughout the Old Testament. Even though we don’t understand how forgiveness is taken care
of until the New Testament there are plenty of times God had forgiven those that were humbled
and asked for repentance. "God was merciful to his people. He forgave their sin and did not
destroy them. Many times, he held back his anger and restrained his fury" (Psalm 78:38). Or “In
accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them
from the time, they left Egypt until now." The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you
asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole
earth.” (Numbers 14:19-21).
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.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect life; he loved all souls and wish harmed on no man. Because of Jesus
Christ we can all be forgiven. Without his sacrifice we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be
forgiven because we needed a perfect individual that would take on all the sins of the world.
"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool" (Isaiah 1:18). The
children of Israel were mad and cursed god for their afflictions, upon god's justice, they humbled
themselves down, asked for forgiveness and were forgiven once they decided to obey again.
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
What should I do during this life when it comes to forgiveness? All men should be
forgiven even though it will be extremely hard sometimes and feel almost impossible. I heard
someone say once, "to sin is man, but to forgive is divine." Even Jesus Christ said to Peter
when he asked, "Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my
brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not
seven times, but seventy-seven times." Meaning endless amount of times. It's our opportunity
to forgive everyone that’s all we can do, now weather Christ wants to forgive them is on him.
B. The question of character
The character of God shows just how merciful he is. When we choose what character we
want to be we can look to the scriptures and ask ourselves, can we humble ourselves enough to
forgive those that betray, hurt, or somehow cause us pain? Moses could have left them to die in
the desert. God could have just not given them a way out with the bronze serpent. Sometimes we
forget that just because we aren’t blood related doesn’t mean we aren’t a family. Put yourself in
someone else's shoes and try to empathize with them. Empathy will humble your heart into
feeling more love for others.
C. The question of goals
The children of Israel's faith began to fail, to the point they cursed a prophet of God and
the God himself. These people had the opportunity to follow with complete faith and put all that
faith in the fact that God would protect them and not cause them to die. If these people focused
more on doing this, they would not have chastised their prophet and god and things would have
went easier. Goals are so vitally important in this life. We must have small daily goals as well as
annual and life goals. If we don’t, we will not have a purpose or motivation to reach something
special.
D. The question of discernment
In these times we have endless amounts of choices. Discerning what is right or wrong,
the right road to choose to follow, or the correct choice at a very critical time in your life will
come one day or another. How do we go about choosing the best way? What goals do you have?
And will these choices take you to these goals or put you farther away? If you have good
wholesome goals, you will be able to discern the right choice at the needed time. When in doubt,
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and
it will be given him." (James 1:5)
