Yogi Berra said, "You can observe a lot by just watching." Numbers 21:8 reads, "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.'" In this case, to look is not merely to observe, but to obey, therefore, it is an act of faith. Let me encourage you to take a look at this.

The people were discouraged. Numbers 21:4 reads, "Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way."
The people were discontented. Numbers 21:5 reads, "And the people spoke against God and against Moses: 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.'" Believers are commanded to "be content with such things as you have" (Hebrews 13:5b).

The people were disciplined. Numbers 21:6 reads, "So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died." The Lord chastens His children (Hebrews 12:3-11).
What the people disclosed. Numbers 21:7 reads, "Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, 'We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.' So Moses prayed for the people." The people repented of their sin and requested prayer on their behalf.

What the people discussed. Numbers 21:8 reads, "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.'" No doubt Moses led the discussion about this divine arrangement with the people.
What the people discovered. Numbers 21:9 reads, "So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived." Have you discovered that God keeps His word?

Vance Havner explains, "The Christian looks and lives even as the snake-bitten Israelites were healed by a look at the brazen serpent. 'Look unto me, and be ye saved,' is God's invitation (Isa. 45:22). Then we live the Christian life, 'off-looking unto Jesus' (Heb. 9:28)." Jesus said, "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. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:14-17).

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.