Nehushtan, The Cross, And The Hadza Tribe - A Nous.

Nehushtan, The Cross, And The Hadza Tribe - A Nous.

1Peter 2:24 reads, "He Himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness."

Colossians 2:14 reads, "He (Jesus) erased the certificate of debt, with it's obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the Cross."

Romans 6:10 reads, "For the death He died, He died to sins once for all time; ..."

John 19:30 reads, "It is finished."

The above verses all point to the Cross of Christ on the Calvary and the work of the Redemption and the Salvation that Jesus did for our sake. In other words or the way I understood it as, "There is no sin beyond the Cross of Calvary; absolutely no sin". The Cross of Christ is the prophetical fulfillment of the Brazen Serpent of Moses.

Book of Numbers 21:4-9, gives us an idea of sin, it's consequence and the redemption of the sin. The Israelites murmured against God and His will, the consequence was that, they were bitten by poisonous vipers. The remedy is looking upto the Bronze Snake that Moses made according to the Lord's saying and installed it on the pole; and whoever saw that in faith were recovered and lived. This Brazen Snake that was installed on a pole continued to be a standard of healing amidst Israelites till king Hezekiah (approximately 715/716 - 687/686 BC). It was at this moment that Sennacherib (705 - 681 BC) king of Assyria, launched a war against Judah in 701 BC. King Hezekiah asked God for forgiveness and, "He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the Bronze Snake that Moses made, for until then Israelites were burning incense to it. It was called Nehushtan ["nahash" (Heb) means Snake; "nehset" (Heb) means Bronze] 2Kings 18:4.

The archaeological evidence of 8th century BC records, "two bullae" (clay seals) which seems to be royal seals depict features of winged serpents with names of the cities Tza'ananim (Judges 4:11) and Apheka (Joshua 15:53) on each of the bullae, which are mentioned in the Bible.

In another archaeological evidence of the same time in the city of ancient Calah (Nimrud), archaeologist Austen Layard (1817-1894) found from Sennacherib's booty (Assyrian king in the time of king Hezekiah) a bronze bowl depicted with two snakes with wings mounted on poles. Among the same group of items, was a bowl with the name "I'hyw", corresponding to "YHWH", the sacred name of the Lord on the rim of the bowl. It was a Judean booty taken by the king Sennacherib in 8th century BC.

This is a clear evidence that Sennacherib has attacked Judah. However, our interest is not about the evidence or the booty he collected, but about the "Nehushtan", which is a prelude to the "Cross of Calvary". "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up" (John 3:14).

Today, in a world of innovations, science, and robotics, it might be difficult for someone to believe in such a redemptive plan of God for us. But an African tribe belief in a technique or in an operation will help us understand the redemptive plan of God. The "Hadza tribe"(?) ["Hadzabe" as known by the locals] of northern Tanzania are known for hunting poisonous snakes for food apart from other animals like antelopes, wild boar, baboons etc. What's interesting is this part, as they have no permanent houses they used to live in the hallowed-out or the burl of a Boabab tree. They even dry the hunted meat, store honey on the branches of the tree. They sometimes make delicacies with the fruit of the tree. In a simple sentence, the Boabab tree is an essential lifeline as well as sacred to them. These tribes, sometimes hang dead snakes on the lintel of their tree houses. They believe that by doing so, they would keep the other poisonous snakes like Puff Adder from entering their house. This would also secure their food on the top of the tree as well. It really works for them (Watch videos - the links provided at the bottom of the article).

My point here is to make you understand how by doing a task will keep you secure and peaceful. This is the same application with the Cross of Calvary too. By laying His life, Jesus kept us safe and secure from sin and it's consequences. "It is finished" (John 19:30) for sin now, and as said above "There is no sin beyond the Cross of Calvary; absolutely no sin". By His Sacrifice, we can now live confidently. We are free from Hell, and now, Heaven is our eternal home forever. Come to Jesus now, and make Him your Lord and Savior. 

God bless.

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