With the serpent’s deception (Genesis 3:1-7), sin entered the world. Romans 5:12 declares, ‘Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.’ Henceforth, humanity is smitten by sin.
In proleptic language (future events spoken in present form), Isaiah wrote of God’s cure through Jesus – ‘4Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities . . .’ (Isaiah 53:4,5a). This points to the Messiah’s suffering and sacrifice for humanity. How deep indeed is the love of the Father Who ‘spared not His own Son’ (Romans 8:32).
An appropriate response is for us to be smitten by the love of God. Jesus said in John 3:14,15, ‘14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.’
Clearly, Jesus was referring to Numbers 21 when God sent serpents among the Israelites who spoke against Him. Admitting to their sin, Moses prayed for the people and God instructed him to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole so that anyone who looked upon it would be healed. Interestingly, The World Health Organisation’s logo is that of a serpent, which speaks of healing. For spiritual healing, we are to look to the cross.
The world is smitten by sin. Jesus was smitten by God for us. As we go through the Year of the Snake, may we once again be smitten by the beauty of God’s love through the ugliness of the cross.
Richard Lai
