“Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!”
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Numbers‬ ‭21‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Once again, the people of Israel grew disenfranchised with God and his leadership. In due fashion snakes were dispatched as a result of this. Interestingly, the snake is considered a very specific enemy, as he associated with Satan directly in Jewish culture. This punishment was most likely seen as a direct attack by Satan himself. That said, the salvation from this attack was novel. This time, without Aaron to atone for their sins, they needed another means by which to purify. However this atonement needed no blood or sacrifice. All it needed was an act of faith. They only needed to look at the snake upon a staff. Interestingly, this imagery would’ve evoked Satan in Eden, rather than Christ on the cross. They were forced to stare at the devil they had chosen to follow that had led them into their punishments. The metaphor is more clear now as we understand that Christ in the cross was a voluntary association with man’s sin. He took on the nature of the serpent and crucified it. People need only have faith in him to be saved. But they must first remind themselves of who they were associated with and who had been tormenting them. Both images are present for a believer who has sinned and who has been saved.

Punishment for Disobedience: Snakes were sent as a punishment for the Israelites’ disobedience, symbolizing Satan’s direct attack.

Salvation through Faith: The Israelites were saved from the snakebites by looking at a bronze snake on a staff, emphasizing the power of faith.

Symbolism of the Snake: The bronze snake represented both the serpent in Eden and the crucified Christ, highlighting the contrast between sin and salvation.