The answer is: True

Num 21

In the book of Numbers, we find an interesting episode involving Moses and a brass serpent. This story appears in Numbers 21:4-9, and it unfolds during a particularly low moment for the Israelites (classic Bible drama!). After their lamentations about food and drink, God sent venomous snakes in response. Talk about divine discipline! When the people were bitten and realized their mistake, they turned to Moses to intercede on their behalf.

God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it high on a pole. Isn’t it fascinating? Anyone who looked at this serpent after being bitten would be healed. It’s a striking image—a symbol of sin and healing all at once. Not only does the serpent represent the Israelites' rebellion against God, but its elevation reflects how healing often comes through looking outside oneself.

Furthermore, this bronze serpent echoes through the New Testament, where Jesus refers to it in John 3:14-15, comparing His own crucifixion to the serpent being lifted up. This concept of lifting something related to error for the healing of the people didn’t just die in the desert; it morphed into a profound theological metaphor.

Trivia time! The term "Nehushtan" refers to this bronze serpent, which later became a stumbling block when the Israelites began to worship it instead of God (2 Kings 18:4). It's a reminder that symbols can become idols if we're not careful!