“A Type Was Raised Up in the Wilderness”
The brazen serpent held up by Moses was a type or shadow of Christ (see Numbers 21:5-9; John 3:14-15). Many who were bitten by serpents died, but those who looked to the brazen serpent were healed. In like manner those who look to Christ, after they have been poisoned by sin and waywardness promoted by the serpent, are freed from sin and live the abundant life. Some among the ancient Israelites, however, just like many in our day, refused to look to Christ, either because of the simpleness of the way (see 1 Nephi 17:41; Alma 37:46) or from disbelief (Alma 33:20).
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